Nine Twenty are seeking a Master Distiller for a rare opportunity in Ireland!
We have seen the rise in Irish Whiskey over the last decade where industry invested €1.55bn in the all-island economy from 2010 to 2020, while the value of Irish whiskey exports from the island of Ireland reached €890m in 2019 Global sales have grown from 60m bottles to 144m bottles. It created an aggregate value of Irish whiskey exports of €890m. The sector employs around 1,640 people.
Nine Twenty Engineering & Manufacturing are proudly supporting an innovative and growing Irish Business, Killarney Brewing & Distilling Co in their search for an experienced Master Distiller/Distillery Manager to join their vibrant team at an exciting time. They are almost complete in the building of their new state of the art facility that includes a 1m LPA pot & column still distillery, a craft brewery, restaurant, and visitor centre.
Karen Stewart & Tina Smith met with Barry Spellman, General Manager of Killarney Brewing to discuss the business, the opportunity and to hear more about what life in Killarney may look like for anyone interested in relocating for this rare opportunity.
Barry, tell us more about Killarney Brewing and Killarney Distilling:
Paul Sheahan, Tim O’Donoghue, and Liam Healy founded Killarney Brewing & Distilling in 2013 and opened the town centre location in 2015. They restored the old Killarney Mineral Water drinks facility to its former glory; it is now one of Ireland’s most exciting independent craft breweries and taprooms.
“We specialise in the production of what we believe is Ireland’s finest range of craft beers” according to Paul Sheahan. All of their beers are named after local myths and legends, evoking emotions of all things Killarney. The unique layout and design oozes warmth with a meshing of old-world charm and new world ambience: we pay homage to “old school” Killarney yet in a sleek, industrial setting. We specialise in the production of what we believe is Ireland’s finest range of craft beers.
The Brewhouse was manufactured by BrauKon, an iconic name in the production of micro-brewing equipment. The BrauKon equipment was engineered and manufactured in Germany, to the exacting standards for which our European neighbours are known, and to the specific requirements of the Head Brewer.
“Our mission is to bring a new level of excellence and appreciation to beer drinking the world over” according to Barry Spellman General Manager.
Where Does Whiskey come into this?
They are now embarking on an exciting expansion and new venture in the production of Single Malt and Pot Still Irish Whiskeys. Killarney Distilling Company is being built at the gateway to the world-famous Ring of Kerry and will open its doors in Summer 2021. The distillery enjoys panoramic views of the McGillycuddy Reeks and the spectacular Gap of Dunloe.
Working with locally-based architects Davide Mosca Design, they have commissioned a striking design for the new craft distillery, craft brewery, and visitor center. While the modern design of the facility exemplifies the new age of distilling in Ireland, the three traditional copper pot stills pay homage to the classic methods of Irish Whiskey distillation and to those who developed the craft, placing Irish whiskey at the pinnacle of world spirits.
So, you are looking for a Master Distiller, tell us more about this:
With this being a new start-up plant, we are looking for someone who will come in with experience in being in a new environment, someone who understands what needs to be put in place, and someone who can build and lead successful teams. The technical aspect will be important and someone who has a background in distilling in malt and grain would be ideal however, someone with strong knowledge and experience in one of them will still be considered as it’s the person that we are focussing on rather than just the technical skills.
Distilling, manufacturing, leadership, quality, compliance, innovation are all important parts of this role as well as the ability to firefight, think on your feet, and make decisions…..we are not asking for much!
Here in Killarney Distilling, our standards are high, it's all about an unyielding commitment to excellence and our reputation is important. Someone who has a passion for setting high standards and pushing the boundaries for innovative flavours will be welcomed. Of course, our teams will be lean to start with, so someone who doesn’t mind rolling the sleeves up along with the team will also be key.
We expect this person to also play a role in marketing the brands to an extent and be able to liaise with VIP visitors and speak with the media.
We have created a special culture in the business where our employees are passionate about the company and their roles and everyone understands what needs to be done. It’s a real team effort and as we look to grow, we want our Master Distiller to build their own team in line with the culture and values in place.
I would say we are looking for a unicorn but in return, this role is rare. We offer autonomy, an opportunity to be in the distillery from the very start, an opportunity to build your own team, to be able to be creative with our blends – we are high energy, we want to be different and trendsetters, not followers, this will be reflected in the person we hire.
These types of roles in this size of facility do not come along very often, what a wonderful opportunity. It is likely the person will need to relocate for this opportunity so can you give us an insight into Killarney and all that it has to offer?
Killarney is the jewel in the crown of Irish tourism, it’s the second most visited town outside of Dublin, our season starts in March and ends in October. The place is bustling at peak season and offers many hotels, cafes, bars and restaurants. Not to mention we are surrounded by gorgeous scenery and the largest national park in Europe, in fact, the rooftop beer garden in our new facility has scenic views of the mountains we are surrounded by.
The Ring of Kerry is a scenic tourist route that lasts around 4 hours and this starts and ends in Killarney. Other local paid indoor visitor attractions to get around half a million paid visitors per season so we are excited that our offering will add something new and interesting for the many visitors.
To apply for this amazing opportunity, click HERE!