Titanic Whiskey launched and new distillery for Belfast
Titanic Irish Whiskey has been launched to mark the centenary of the completion of the world's most famous ship in Belfast as part of a development which will see a new distillery built in the city.
The new whiskey has been developed by the Belfast Distillery Company and is the first new whiskey brand to emanate from the city of Belfast in nearly 100 years. The last distillery closed exactly 75 years ago which marked the end of the great era when Belfast was the most important whiskey-producing centre in the island of Ireland.
Belfast Distillery Company has also announced plans to build a new distillery in the city over the next two years, the first to be developed in Belfast in over 130 years.
The launch was hosted by Howard Hastings, Chairman of the N. Ireland Tourist Board at the Europa Hotel, Belfast & the enthusiastic guests sampled both the new Titanic 5 and 10 year Old whiskeys.
Derek Hardy of the Belfast Distillery Company said: "Titanic Whiskey is a tribute to the great history of ship building and whiskey distilling in Belfast and to the skill & endeavour of all those people who were involved in these great industries. Unknown to most people today, in the same era when Titanic was being launched, Belfast produced nearly half the total whiskey produced in Ireland."
The public launch of the new Titanic Irish Whiskey was held on the 100thanniversary of the launch of the RMS Titanic White Star liner at Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast on 31stMay 1911 which was witnessed by over 100,000 people and at the time was the largest man-made object ever moved in the world.
Peter Lavery, Belfast Distillery Company managing director, who has been working on this project for the last 2 years said: "The Belfast Distillery Company has as its long-term objective to once again establish the city as the distilling capital of Ireland. With our future plans we intend to again provide skilled employment for people in Belfast in producing world class Irish whiskey."
Mr Lavery, a National Lottery millionaire, has also brought his Danny Boy Irish whiskey brand into the newly formed Belfast Distillery Company. Danny Boy has already gained considerable success in the USA and other world markets since its launch. Mr Lavery is also associated with the Rita Charles Trust charity that helps foster important cross community initiatives in Belfast and throughout Ireland.
Pic Caption: Pictured L-R are: Peter Lavery of Belfast Distillery Company, Mark Sargeant, great-grandson of the chef who created the VIP lunch menu at the launch of Titanic in 1911 & Anthony Alken of Febvre & Co launch Titanic Irish Whiskey - Mark holding copy of the original lunch menu.