Echlinville Distillery Creates 15 New Jobs

Echlinville Distillery in Kircubbin is investing £1.5 million with Invest Northern Ireland assistance to develop premium Irish Whiskey for markets outside Northern Ireland.

The new distillery, the first to be licensed by HM Customs and Excise here in 130 years, will create 15 new jobs in the Co. Down village over the next two years. Invest NI has offered Echlinville Distillery over £216,000 in management and marketing support towards the project. The company has also recently benefited from R&D assistance part funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

During a visit to the company, John Hood, Invest NI's Director of Food and Tourism, was briefed about the company’s plans by Shane Braniff, Managing Director, who founded Echlinville Distillery in 2012 on his own 18 acres Echlinville Estate at Rubane, near Kircubbin.

Mr Hood said: "This is a very enterprising investment by an established businessman who has been engaged in the Irish Whiskey industry for many years and also launched the successful Feckin brand in 2005 in the US and other international markets.

"Our support has been shaped to enable Echlinville Distillery to develop and bring its planned whiskey brands and other spirits to markets outside Northern Ireland as quickly as practicable. Shane Braniff's expertise in the whiskey business has enabled him to pinpoint substantial business opportunities particularly in the US and to set up the necessary distribution channels required to ensure success of the new premium spirits in what is a highly competitive marketplace.

"The assistance reflects our commitment to support entrepreneurial, innovative and export-focused businesses particularly in predominantly rural opportunities that will help in creating sustainable employment opportunities and overall wealth for the local community," he added.

(CD/IT)