TOPIC:

So why even mention the less than 1800 stills and the court?

Will

Because if you're a small distiller (ie 1800 litre batches) you need court certification. If you're big (1819L+), you don't. My reading is that 1800L is the minimum size and there's an extra hoop to jump through if you're going to be that small.

The most depressing thing about this, I think, is the way they expect you to fully scope out, spec and draw up the plans for your premises and system, and then they tell you not to buy any of it until you have approval. I imagine lots of phone calls to vendors saying "Sorry, not heard from the Revenue yet", followed by things being sold out from under you, followed by having to start the whole application process again <!-- s:x --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_mad.gif" alt="" title="Mad" /><!-- s:x --> It must be nearly impossible to start a commercial distillery other than as an add-on to an existing business where you already have room to spare for it. I certainly don't envy the Porterhouse with their project.

&amp;quot;TheBeerNut&amp;quot;:3lcyd0zq wrote: The most depressing thing about this, I think, is the way they expect you to fully scope out, spec and draw up the plans for your premises and system, and then they tell you not to buy any of it until you have approval. I imagine lots of phone calls to vendors saying "Sorry, not heard from the Revenue yet", followed by things being sold out from under you, followed by having to start the whole application process again <!-- s:x --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_mad.gif" alt="" title="Mad" /><!-- s:x --> It must be nearly impossible to start a commercial distillery other than as an add-on to an existing business where you already have room to spare for it. I certainly don't envy the Porterhouse with their project.[/quote:3lcyd0zq]

I suppose it's like everything else, you need good partners. I know if someone came in here who was serious about setting up a distillary we would definitely work with them every step of the way and not sell/lease a building from under their noses. But then there are people who would, however you are starting a business which is, by it's very nature, taking a risk.

I'd read the 1800 litres as the revenue ensuring that you put appropriate capital into a project that you are less likely to run off with a load of duty-able (made up word <!-- s:-) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s:-) --> ) produce. Basically, covering their arses. They do the same thing for bonded warehouses, less warehouses the less checking they have to do.

How do you explain Kilbeggin? (I just visited last Thursday and despite having the old broken stills on display, they're brewing from a VERY small still that is no where near 1800 Liters. It would seem that SOMEHOW it's possible to distill legally with a still capacity lower than 1800 liters.


Adam
P.S. I have to recommend AGAINST the 2007 Kilbeggin that they're selling at the distillery right now; it's VERY rough, but it is interesting to see what whiskey MIGHT have tasted like long ago.

A while back I read something about a certain well known brewer continually lobbying the government and Dept of Finance to change laws and taxes in order to make it harder for anyone to distill whiskey, on several premises such as whiskey consumption leads to more drunkenness than beer, and were usually successful. Some of these date back to British times.

I think it's time for some organisation to start seriously lobbying the government for a reform of all these silly laws that are preventing Ireland from becoming the whiskey (and beer) capital of the world, on the basis that it would help get us out of the hole we're in, and keep us out of it.

&amp;quot;Biertourist&amp;quot;:tw6fom9j wrote: How do you explain Kilbeggin?[/quote:tw6fom9j]Joint certification with Cooley, perhaps.