The Irish Whiskey Association (IWA) has lauded the approval of planning permission for a £12 million whiskey distillery in Ebrington square in historic Derry town.
The Northern Ireland facility will also include a visitor centre.
It will be operated by local company Niche Drinks, and is expected to have first distillations completed by early 2018.
The drinks company has been producing and exporting Irish cream liquors since 1983, a process which will continue side-by-side with the new distillery.
Head of the IWA, Miriam Mooney, said: “This is fantastic news, and is further evidence that the renaissance of Irish whiskeys is occurring throughout the island of Ireland, creating jobs and supporting local economies.
"Irish whiskey is now the fastest growing premium spirit category in the world, with exports valued at €505 million last year, an increase of more than 300% in the last 10 years."
She added that in 2013, only four distilleries existed in Ireland - this number has increased to 16, with 14 more distilleries in the planning stages.
IWA initiatives, such as the creation of an Irish 'whiskey trail' across the country, seek to triple whiskey tourism by 2025.
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Karen Henderson. Click subscribe to sign up for ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
