Trade body suggests changes to Irish whiskey rules

A commerce group has submitted proposals to amend the rules governing Irish whiskey in a bid to supply producers ‘better readability and suppleness’.

The Irish Whiskey Affiliation (IWA) proposed the adjustments to the Irish whiskey product specification, which defines the class’s manufacturing course of and the principles governing the all-island geographical indication (GI). These guidelines be certain that sure merchandise might be labelled and marketed as Irish whiskey.

The proposal was submitted to the Irish authorities’s Division of Agriculture, Meals and the Marine, and the UK’s Division for Surroundings, Meals and Rural Affairs (Defra), in addition to the authorities liable for the class’s GI.

The IWA stated the urged amendments will make sure the class displays its ‘wealthy heritage and traditions’, and assist sustainability.

The adjustments embody an growth of the definition of pot nonetheless Irish whiskey, permitting as much as 30% of different cereals for use – particularly, oats, wheat or rye.

The IWA stated this displays extra conventional pot nonetheless mash payments and can ‘tremendously improve’ the subcategory by widening the style profile and providing a singular promoting level.

Moreover, the group can be calling for the removing of the 30% most malted barley requirement from the class’s grain definition.

Traditionally, the next malted barley content material has been utilized in grain manufacturing, the IWA famous. This transfer would help in additional sustainable grain whiskey manufacturing sooner or later as distilleries would be capable to use extra power environment friendly processes, in accordance with the commerce physique.

The revisions have been developed by the IWA’s technical committee, with session from the commerce group’s members.

Chair of the IWA’s technical committee and Powerscourt Distillery’s grasp distiller and blender, Noel Sweeney, stated: “Irish whiskey’s standing as a protected geographic indication has performed a key function in driving the worldwide revival of Irish whiskey gross sales over current years.

“Our GI is constructed on a robust algorithm, in line with Irish whiskey’s heritage and traditions. These proposed adjustments search to supply better readability, effectivity and suppleness to Irish whiskey manufacturing processes in keeping with these heritage and traditions, whereas additionally selling a extra sustainable business.”