The Trouble with Irish Whiskey
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20 NEW! Supplier directory .ie starts on p20 Ireland’s Food & Drink Platform FFT“Beer is made by men, wine by God.” Martin Luther Aug 2017 The Trouble with Irish Whiskey In Conversation with Local Focus: West Cork In Conversation With Emerging Beer Styles Is the Irish whiskey renaissance Dim Sum and more at the Part two of our look at the idyllic West A bright Ember shines in NEIPA and sours are this year’s everything we’re led to believe? .. p8 Lucky Tortoise ............................ p10 Cork area .................................... p14 Milltown ...................................... p16 buzz words................................. p17 The Trouble Say Hello to Grand Cafe Coffee’s New Look with Irish Whiskey – Part 1 CC Coffee UK & Ireland seed to sip. Customers can feel e recently published has revealed the re- confident Grand Café supports an article about the Uvamped packaging for coffee farmers, their families Wso-called ‘renais- Grand Café, its most popular and their communities with the sance’ of the Irish Whiskey sec- out of home coffee range. certification that comes with tor. With a bewildering number As well as offering great fla- each blend in the range. of brands emerging, it was en- vour in the cup, Grand Café is The newly repackaged titled Don’t Believe the Hype, renowned for its ethical cre- Grand Café is available to buy and called for honesty, integrity dentials. Every pack of Grand now, and comes with a full and an emphasis on quality. Café coffee is sustainably suite of marketing resources The article stated as suspect sourced, so it has a positive to support operators at the the near-universal opinion that impact on farmers’ lives from point of sale. To celebrate its Irish Whiskey is booming and diversifying on a level unseen since the 19th century, a vision the Irish whiskey category: identify; be they established much extolled by many in the “Maintaining export growth will distilleries with mature stock industry. We are not alone in require further product devel- (3+ years), completed distill- our assessment; in its Exports opment and innovation to meet eries with no mature stock as- Performance & Prospects Re- consumer demand for more yet, distilleries that are under port 2016-17, Bord Bia (the authentic experiences”. construction, and even distill- state agency whose aim is to Eager to dig deeper into the eries that remain a dream. promote sales of Irish food/hor- subject we’ve therefore con- We have also contacted all ticulture/beverage produce) tacted all the Irish Whiskey dis- the independent bottlers we had the following to say about tilleries and brands we could could identify (more on those ... cont on page 8 ... cont on page 2 Taoiseach Promoting Ireland in Toronto aoiseach Leo Varadkar is Canada have grown by almost growth for 2017 and in the visiting Canada this week 28% since 2014, correlating years to come. A number of Tand on Monday 21st Au- directly with a significant in- factors are working in our fa- gust, took the time to support crease in direct flights from vour, including more airline Tourism Ireland’s promotional Canada to Ireland. seats than ever before between efforts, when he met Canadian Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tour- Canada and Ireland – with tour operators and airlines who ism Ireland, said: “In 2016, we about 8,000 seats on 33 flights programme and sell holidays welcomed a record 203,000 now available each week to Ireland. Canadian visitors to the island during the summer months, an Canada is one of Ireland’s of Ireland. Tourism Ireland is increase of 26% over summer top ten tourism markets and confident of continued strong 2016.” 2016 we welcomed 203,000 Canadian visitors, up 11% on 2015. Visitor numbers from This Copy Belongs To: Where Ireland’s Food & Drink Professionals Get Their News & Views 2 News @FFTresource | Aug 2017 Strong Year for Dublin’s Mespil Hotel ... cont from page 1 ublin’s Mespil Hotel, which is seeing record rates Say Hello to which was recently ren- and occupancy numbers. Grand Cafe Dovated and given an im- Operating profits for the year proved four star status, posted jump 15% to €2.63m. Coffee’s New strong gross profits of €8.42m Look in the 12 months to September The hotel is owned by the 2016, up 16% compared to the Lee Hotel Group, which also new branding, Grand Café is previous period. owns the Sligo Park Hotel. The offering a free sample to new The hotel, located along the Sligo Park Hotel fared less well customers – operators can re- Grand Canal in Dublin 4, was during the period, recording quest a sample at https://www. approved by Fáilte Ireland as a pre-tax profit of €437,431 – ucc-coffee.co.uk/ Grand Café may have a a four star destination in early down 34% compared to the fresh new look, but customers 2016 following improvement previous year. Revenues rose can expect to experience the works to the property. The slightly from €4.57m to €4.64m. continues to be extremely dif- tion with Brexit are regarded… same great taste the brand is improvement in revenues and “Although trading has seen ficult. Uncertainties relating to as the principal risk facing the known for. profits point to the continuing an uplift in the past two years, how the region will recover company,” said the manage- Nicole Hartnell, brand man- boom in Dublin’s hotel sector, the competitive environment and currency risk in conjunc- ment notes in the accounts. ager, UCC Coffee UK & Ireland commented: “We’ve refreshed the Grand Café brand so that Kronenbourg Blanc Launches in Ireland its packaging reflects its mar- ket leading status, ethical cre- ronenbourg Blanc, a new colours of the dentials, and great taste. The citrus and coriander in- brand, and the new look makes Grand Café Kfused wheat beer, has standout azure coffee worthy of a place in been officially launched in Ire- blue bottle the spotlight on display in our land. were inspiring customer’s outlets, rather than Kronenbourg Blanc wheat creative assets hidden behind the counter. beer is cloudy, pale golden to work with,” Our seal of approval from Fair- with a sparkling consistency he said. trade, Rainforest Alliance and and a light foam head, with Monge’s the Soil Association shows that aromas of ripe grapefruit and work can be we only choose coffee beans lemon, coriander and clove. viewed on from ethical sources, which To celebrate the launch www.instagram.com/mon- tion for those seeking a matters to our customers.” of Kronenbourg Blanc in the gequentin. premium drink experi- Irish market, French illustrator Brand Manager Sheena ence”. Rising Sons Scoops Quentin Monge has created O’Buachalla said: “We are Kronenbourg Blanc Five Gold Medals a contemporary collection of delighted to be introducing is available in an azure artwork inspired by the Blanc Kronenbourg Blanc to the Irish blue bottle (330ml), ork-based Rising Sons brand. market for the first time. As a and on draught at se- Brewery has picked up no “I love to research the his- lively wheat beer with fresh cit- lected bars and pubs Cless than give gold medals tory of a brand to gauge an un- rusy tones, it has been hugely as a pint or glass at 5% at the recent World Beer Awards, derstanding of how it evolved. well received all around the ABV. adding to its collection of awards Also, the bright and classic world and is an exceptional op- picked up in 2015 and 2016. The brewery was awared medals for its Midaza Irish Dry Contacts: In this Issue... Stout, Changeling Pale Ale, Stee- ple American Amber, Redemp- For any editorial, pr or content related queries please tion Irish Red and Mayhem Saison contact: [email protected] Tel: +353 1 254 9860 The Trouble with Irish Whiskey Is the Irish whiskey renaissance everything we’re led to beers. Changeling, Steeple and May- believe? .................................................................................p8 For subscriptions, accounts or general enquiries please hem also picked up best in coun- contact: [email protected] Tel: +353 1 254 9860 try awards. In Conversation with “We are extremely proud of Queries with relation to advertising should please be Dim Sum and more at the Lucky Tortoise ......................p10 what we have achieved and we addressed to: [email protected] Tel: +353 1 254 9860 owe this in no small part to the loyal and fantastic consumers All material copyright 2017. No part of this publication Local Focus: West Cork of our beer,” said Judy Wilkins, may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or Part two of our look at the idyllic West Cork area .........p14 General Manager of the Rising transmitted in any form or by any means without the Sons Brewery. prior consent of the Publisher. Opinions and comments In Conversation With herein are not necessarily those of the Publisher. Whilst A bright Ember shines in Milltown ..................................p16 every effort has been made to ensure that all information contained in this publication is factual and correct at Local Focus: West Cork time of going to press, the Publisher cannot be held Part one of our look at the idyllic West Cork area ......... responsible for any inadvertent errors or omissions p14 contained herein. Emerging Beer Styles FFT.ie, Top Floor, 6 Clare Street, Dublin 2. NEIPA and sours are this year’s buzz words .................p17 This Month’s Poll: Weird News Some of the stranger news stories from this month ......p18 Are you concerned about recruiting emough staff for the coming busy winter period? Letters Answers to [email protected] Your questions answered .................................................p19 Last Month’s Poll: Design... Has demand for new tonics (Fever Tree etc) increased in reent months? Clear Designs Telephone: 01 445 9363 [email protected] Yes: 31% No: 69% www.cleardesigns.ie Clear Designs Aug 2017 | @FFTresource News 3 6th Cliff Townhouse Oyster Fest Announced liff Townhouse has an- landscape using the ‘best of viding a new way for people to As well, Cliff’s downstairs month, each reflecting Ire- nounced details of its the best’ ingredients from experience the oysters them- bar Urcin will be creating five land’s diverse landscape.