Bushmills owner Proximo Spirits opens state-of-the-art Causeway Distillery
The distillery takes its name from the Giant’s Causeway, a legendary Irish landmark
Bushmills Irish Whiskey and its owner Proximo Spirits are celebrating 415 years of whiskey heritage with the opening of a new £37 million (US$46.3 million) state-of-the-art Causeway Distillery.
According to the company, "The opening is part of Proximo's £60 million (US$ 75.15 million) investment in its Irish single malt distilling and ageing facility at Bushmills over the past five years. The 39,000 square-foot facility, situated on Ireland’s spectacular north coast, will blend high tech with ancient craft to double production at the Bushmills site and place Bushmills among the leading single malt whiskey producers globally."
The new Causeway Distillery deploys the latest thermal technology, which reduces energy usage by 30%, and state-of-the-art distilling innovations that have boosted material consumption efficiency by up to 10%.
"The distillery takes its name from the Giant’s Causeway, the legendary landmark just a stone's throw away, which has inspired Bushmills' whiskey-makers for centuries. The designers have sought to pay homage to this natural wonder on the distillery’s doorstep with a visually arresting structure made of local basalt and limestone, incorporating interlocking and geometric features."
Colum Egan, the master distiller at Bushmills, said, “We are obsessed with exceptional whiskeys - the ingredients, the processes, the wood, the ageing. Our second distillery represents a great step forward in ensuring generations to come will enjoy our renowned signature triple-distilled single malts alongside the innovations of the future.”
The investment in the Causeway Distillery marks Proximo’s commitment to accelerating the growth of the Bushmills portfolio, which saw depletions grow over 10% in 2022, passing one million case sales for the first time in its long legacy.
Gordon Dron, Managing Director EMEA APAC, Proximo, said, “This is a proud day for Bushmills and a major milestone since its acquisition by Proximo in 2015. Consistent with global premiumization, we are witnessing high double-digit growth of our unique Bushmills Irish single malts in all key segments and across a number of exciting new markets. The Causeway Distillery will enable us to meet the demand of new single malt consumers and seize this fast-growing value opportunity worldwide in the next decade and beyond.”
To celebrate the opening of the new distillery, Bushmills has introduced two high-end additions to its range of products – a 25-Year-Old and 30-Year-Old Single Malt.
Proximo is also set to capitalize on the area’s popularity as a tourist destination.
"Plans for a visitor experience at the new distillery signal an exciting boost for Irish whiskey tourism and the opportunity to engage new global whiskey lovers. Visitors can expect an immersive experience that includes Sharvagh House - linked to Hugh Anderson, one of Bushmills great whiskey pioneers - bridging the old and new worlds of whiskey-making in the region."
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