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"Biertourist":26sdar2s wrote: 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.[/quote:26sdar2s]

Kilbeggan is owned by Cooley Distilleries and is currently made in their distillery in Co. Louth as far as I know. Production only started mid nougthies in Kilbeggan so won't be ready for a few years yet. They would have applied for a sub 1800 licence through the courts as per Con's revenue email I would think if it is under 1800. Much easier to do when you have other well selling whiskey's in your stable and are able to point this out to the revenue! <!-- s:-) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s:-) -->

I know this is off topic, but while we're on Kilbeggan, I was talking to my father about Kilbeggan and he told me an interesting story about Lockes Distillery (the original distillers). In the 40's they were caught committing one of the biggest frauds in the state when they had a siphon under the road diverting whiskey away from their bonded warehouse to another warehouse. Of course, this was done unbeknownst to the revenue commissioners! It meant they were evading paying duty on a large portion of their produce. Sorry, back on topic now.

&amp;quot;donnchadhc&amp;quot;:3ocvwnob wrote: Kilbeggan is owned by Cooley Distilleries and is currently made in their distillery in Co. Louth as far as I know. Production only started mid nougthies in Kilbeggan so won't be ready for a few years yet. They would have applied for a sub 1800 licence through the courts as per Con's revenue email I would think if it is under 1800. Much easier to do when you have other well selling whiskey's in your stable and are able to point this out to the revenue! <!-- s:-) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s:-) -->[/quote:3ocvwnob]

It's also made in the Kilbeggan distillery for the last couple years; they're branding the Kilbeggan-made version "Distillery Reserve" or something like that (I'll have to check the bottle) but they charge a lot more for it and it's actually made in the small Kilbeggan distillery. (I've seen the new still with my own eyes and I've stood right over the actively fermenting wash, and I've bought the 3 year old whiskey and it's sitting in my cabinet; there's whiskey being made on premises for certain.)


-And they've set aside a barrel for President Obama, on a completely random note! <!-- s;) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!-- s;) -->

And I'm not saying it's an EASY or even fair process to get through but Kilbeggan is distilling on less than 1800 liters so it would appear that it is POSSIBLE to get through the legal/process 7th ring of hell to get approval for a <1800 liter distillery.

I AM curious about what progress has made at the "Dingle Distillery" and what size still they have. <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="www.thedinglewhiskeydistillery.ie/">www.thedinglewhiskeydistillery.ie/

-Their flyer says that they'll have the ability to produce 1250 liters in a day which makes me think that they're also below the 1800 liter still capacity number...


Adam

There's a historic licence and bond on the site, that may have something to do with it. And, as per Con Con's post, you can get a sub-1800 license via the courts. It's just an extra hoop to go through. Easier to do if you are a distiller with a good selling stable behind you.

&amp;quot;donnchadhc&amp;quot;:1bepkzze wrote: There's a historic licence and bond on the site, that may have something to do with it. And, as per Con Con's post, you can get a sub-1800 license via the courts. It's just an extra hoop to go through. Easier to do if you are a distiller with a good selling stable behind you.[/quote:1bepkzze]

The Dingle Distillery site's PDF (linked to from the homepage) has some GREAT insight into their business model and plans for any aspiring possible Irish Craft Distillers.

Produce alternative products available immediately for sale while waiting on the distilled product to mature in the barrels: they've got an Irish Cream and a spiced aperitif. They've also got the data on how they're getting capital and investors in the PDF. Pretty interesting read for sure. (No rocket science stuff but always good to see what people are actually doing.)


Adam

I have been looking into setting up a micro distillery and my contact in the revenue department informed me you need a 1800l still but he's going to find out how the dingle distillery are getting round it.

He did say the only way he knew you could get a smaller still was if you had an existing licence and need to replace your still due to damage, finance situation etc.

Anyway ill let you know how i get on.