Ireland: Irish Distillers to pause whiskey production in Midleton from April until summer time

Irish Distillers Ltd has confirmed that it will pause whiskey production at its Midleton Distillery from early April 2025 until summer time to “support the sustainable global growth of its portfolio of Irish whiskeys”, Agriland reported on March 6.

The distillery usually pauses production for one month in the year for maintenance, however it stated that the extended period has been allowed for to conduct a “routine, periodic review”.

In a statement, Irish Distillers said: “This review demonstrates our ability to be agile with our production cycles and has been enabled through improved operational efficiency and state-of-the-art production facilities.”

It added that the company remains “fully committed” to the production of Irish whiskey and that the change has been communicated to suppliers, customers and contractors “to enable forward business planning”.

The adjustment from Irish Distillers comes at a difficult time for tillage farmers, with farmers in the midst of growing malting barley for the season and recent cuts to malting barley contracts at Boortmalt.

Bobby Miller of the Irish Grain Growers Group (IGGG) told Agriland that farmers are “hearing this news while they are at work in the field” and that the timing is “poor”.

“We can’t afford lower prices for malting barley. We’re seeing nervousness in terms of tariffs in America. Sales of whiskey in America are very important to the industry. We’re seeing the impacts on the ground already as tillage farmers,” Miller said.

“Farmers are going through the process right this minute of putting seeds in the ground, so it’s urgent that we get absolute clarity,” he added.

Miller said that there is no point in farmers growing “excess” malting barley and that they “need to know now where they stand”. He said “margins” are currently “too tight” and that “calls would have to be made soon”.

06 March, 2025