New Single Malt from Northern Irish distillery

Echlinville Distillery in Northern Ireland is launching a new 10-year Single Malt Irish whiskey. The new malt, to be known as The Echlinville, is the latest development at the distillery, based at Kircubbin in county Down, following the success of its rejuvenated Dunville VR in the recent World Whiskey Awards and new export business in Europe.

Dunville VR, once one of the biggest selling Irish whiskey brands, was chosen as the Best Irish Single Malt 12 years and Under15 years. The company is already supplying the whiskey in Britain and Ireland. The most recent deal, with a distributor in Switzerland, is the first major deal for Dunville in other parts of Europe.

The whiskey, once a market leader particularly in the US, gained the recognition in the recent prestigious World Whiskies Awards 2015. It was re-launched earlier this year after over 80 years out of production. Production ceased in 1936 when the distillery producing.

Echlinville Distillery, based at on a family estate at Kircubbin in county Down, is Northern Ireland's second licensed distillery. It was established by successful local entrepreneur and whiskey enthusiast Shane Braniff in 2012. He had previously set up Feckin' Irish Whiskey. Mt Braniff secured the Dunville brand last year with a view to reviving production at the Kircubbin distillery, the first to obtain a license to distill whiskey in more than a century. It's now the second licensed distillery in Northern Ireland after Old Bushmills.

Commenting on the new contract, Mr Braniff says: "This is immensely encouraging business that gives us an important position in a very affluent and discerning market and will help as we seek to expand into other neighbouring countries.

"The recognition in the World Whiskies Awards, the first time we had entered, is another significant boost for our export strategy. The success will be immensely important as we seek to grow sales of Dunville VR. It re-establishes the pedigree of this historic whiskey."

The World Whiskies Awards are part of the prestigious World Drinks Awards programme, launched in 2007 with the World Whiskies Awards and World Beer Awards. Presented by TheDrinksReport.com, the world's No. 1 online resource for drinks professionals, The World Whiskies Awards select, reward and promote the best whisky taste and design to consumers and trade across the globe.

The awards are open to distillers, bottlers, producers, agents, designers, design agents, packaging agencies, brand agencies, importers, wholesalers and retailers of any whisky from anywhere in the world. With entrance facilities in Europe, the US and Asia, the World Whiskies Awards provides a truly international service to entrants.

The taste categories are based upon the commonly held whisky groupings which define both the style and process of whisky production.