Tag: whiskey

Smart sensors in the stillhouse: Helping Irish whiskey keep its character

Irish distilleries are celebrated worldwide for their rich heritage, time-honored methods, and the distinct character of their spirits. While traditional techniques remain central to production, many distilleries are now embracing smart sensors and automation systems.

This combination allows them to uphold the authenticity of their craft while improving consistency, quality, and efficiency throughout the production process. By merging tradition with technology, distillers can better manage complex operations and meet the rising global demand for Irish whiskey.

Key Takeaways

Irish distilleries are integrating smart sensors and automation to maintain the character of their whiskey while enhancing production efficiency and quality.

  • Smart sensors track critical factors during distillation, enabling precise control without replacing traditional craftsmanship.
  • Automation systems improve consistency and reduce human error, supporting sustainability and energy efficiency.
  • Integration of modern technology in heritage spaces enhances visibility, safety, and traceability, while preserving traditional techniques.

Embracing technology without losing craft

The stillhouse has always been the heart of a distillery, where copper pot stills transform fermented wash into spirit. Traditionally, operators relied on sensory expertiseobserving temperature, listening to the drop of the spirit, and evaluating aromato guide the distillation process.

Today, smart sensors continuously track critical factors such as temperature, pressure, and flow, alerting operators if any variable deviates from its optimal range. This approach enables precise control without replacing hands-on craftsmanship.

Supporting quality and consistency

Automation systems help distillers achieve consistent results while reducing human error. Sensors allow for early detection of potential problems, preventing variations in flavor or yield. Moreover, these systems contribute to sustainability and energy efficiency by monitoring equipment usage and identifying opportunities to reduce waste. Midleton Distillery, for example, aims to become carbon-neutral by 2026, with sensor-driven efficiency playing a crucial role.

Integrating modern tools in heritage spaces

Many Irish distilleries operate in historic buildings, which makes installing modern technology challenging. Sensors, actuated valves, and programmable logic controllers (PLCs) must be carefully integrated without compromising the structure or artisan processes.

Despite these challenges, automation enhances visibility, safety, and traceability, supporting distillers expertise rather than replacing it. These systems also allow for remote monitoring, giving operators greater flexibility to oversee production.

Benefits beyond the stillhouse

Automation extends beyond the stillhouse to fermentation, cask handling, and maturation. Sensor networks monitor conditions in real time, helping distilleries optimize production while reducing energy use and minimizing waste. This technology ensures that products maintain consistent quality and meet environmental standards. In addition, the ability to track and record every step of production is increasingly important for transparency and regulatory compliance.

Supporting operators and craft

Far from replacing the skill of master distillers, automation serves as a supportive tool. Alerts and data allow operators to intervene quickly when an issue arises, maintaining smooth operations without diminishing the craft. This balance ensures that traditional techniques remain central to production while benefiting from the reliability and precision that technology provides.

The future of Irish distilling is likely to see more advanced integration of technology. Predictive maintenance, powered by sensor data, can anticipate equipment issues before they occur, reducing downtime and costs.

Data analytics can help optimize energy use, improve production efficiency, and fine-tune flavor consistency. As consumers increasingly demand transparency regarding provenance and production practices, these systems will support traceability and sustainability. Small craft distilleries can also adopt these technologies to maintain quality while scaling operations.

For a look at how technology is being embraced in other aspects of Irish distilling, see how Jameson launched an NFC-enabled bottle to connect tradition with modern consumer engagement. For a broader overview of Irelands whiskey offerings, explore this whiskey collection.

A future built on craft and data

The fusion of smart sensors with traditional manufacturing represents a new era for Irish distilleries. Technology provides operators with tools to maintain quality, enhance safety, and increase efficiency while preserving hands-on craftsmanship.

By balancing innovation with tradition, distilleries can meet global demand, improve sustainability, and continue producing high-quality Irish whiskey that retains its distinctive character. The collaboration between technology and artisanal expertise ensures that Irish spirits will remain a trusted symbol of quality for generations to come.

Former Google X tech controller raised €1.1m crowdfunding to speak at ‘speed-funding event’

Tony Foote, who co-founded Foxes Bow Whiskey with Alice Carroll is set to share his investment journey with other fresh businesses looking to grow at and event with Ireland’s top lenders at a speed-funding event next week/February 22.

The Show Me the Money event, at the Republic of Work in South Mall, Cork, being run by small business support platform and membership community Enterprise Nation, will help start-ups and small businesses get access to early-stage seed funding and growth investment.

The event is the penultimate speed-funding session to be held, with previous events in Dublin and Galway attracting hundreds of founders.  It will see small business owners hear from experts on a range of funding solutions from venture to angel investment, crowdfunding to retail banks.

Tony Foote spotted a gap in the market for a modern, contemporary, consumer-facing Irish whiskey brand while he was working as a controller at Google X – Google’s moonshot ‘factory’ in Silicon Valley.

Tony said: “I love whiskey, but whiskey wasn’t speaking to me. Every bottle was marketed based on traditional values, pictures of rolling hills and castles and a sea of black and green bottles. I felt there was an opportunity to give it a fresh perspective and reach a whole new audience.”

After the initial idea in 2020, Tony brought in childhood friend Alice, who was at the time living in Toronto and working for Pernod Ricard. The brand was initially bootstrapped by the founders, and they both left their high-flying jobs in 2021 to work on the business full-time.

In May 2022 they successfully crowdfunded €625,000 on Crowdcube, from a mixture of 400 Angel and individual investors.

Tony said: “Crowdfunding works really well for consumer brands, but the proposition has to be compelling enough to align with people’s ideas and mindset. Crowdfunding can become a massive marketing exercise that creates an army of unofficial brand ambassadors.

“But for anyone considering crowdfunding I would say it’s not a silver bullet –the first campaign was a full-time job for us both for three to four months. If you go in and you know the level of effort it takes, then crowdfunding becomes a great vehicle for investment. But be aware it’s non-stop.”

Very quickly, Foxes Bow Whiskey was stocked domestically in Musgraves and Tesco, and the pair were exporting to Germany, Italy and built valuable accounts in Northern Ireland. But then the opportunity quickly came for them to go into the US – and they had to go back to the funding drawing board.

Tony said: “It was 12 months ahead of schedule if I’m honest. It’s expensive to launch in the US, it’s competitive and money talks.”

They went back to Crowdcube and raised another €500,000, taking their total raised to €1.1m.

Foxes Bow is now stocked in Texas – where there is a population of 40m – including a listing in Texas’ largest liquor store chain – Spec’s Wine & Liquor.

He’s joined at the event by John Stapleton, who has co-founded food industry-challenger brands including New Covent Garden Soup Company and Little Dish.

He now shares his experience and invests and mentors via Redesdale Food & Beverage Fund, which recently invested in Cork-based supermarket-supplier platform start-up Kwayga.

Also speaking will be Evelyn Moynihan, CEO of Kilkenny Group and Nora Irwin, Cork-based founder of sustainable solid fragrance brand Arona.

Enterprise Nation’s quarterly Small Business Barometer found 74% of Irish businesses said they plan to access funding this year. Just over a third (37%) plan to borrow €10,000 or less with one in five (18%) planning to borrow up to €20,000 and another 11 per cent raising up to €30,000.

A fifth (22%) expect to use alternative lending, but the most popular option for investment is still the bank, with a quarter (24%) looking to Ireland’s banking sector for funds. Only seven per cent said they would crowdfund.

The events are part of Access to Finance, a broader nationwide initiative in partnership with SBCI, Sage, BPFI, AIB, Bank of Ireland and PTSB to support more businesses to improve financial management skills. Since its launch last year, it has already supported just under 2,000 businesses, with 40 per cent of those at the start-up stage.

The event is free, but booking is essential hhttps://www.enterprisenation.com/find-something/show-me-the-money-cork/

Funders available at the event include:

 

Mags Fullen, head of mortgages and business banking at the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI), said: “BPFI and our member banks are delighted to support the ‘Show me the Money’ event Cork. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play a crucial role in Irish society, accounting for around 60% of all employment in the economy. According to the CSO, most of these businesses, over 92%, are what we call micro enterprises, employing less than 10 people. It is absolutely vital that we support these small businesses, not only at the start-up phase but also to support them to grow and thrive, and it’s clear that access to appropriate funding plays an important role in this regard.

“Considering there are many different options available, we hope that this event will help business owners by providing a pathway to the information and support they need.”

Suzanne Sweeney, head of strategy, finance and operations at the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI), said: “Increasing access to finance, promoting sustainability and enabling small businesses to grow and prosper are our core objectives and define everything we do in the SBCI.

“Small businesses are the backbone of the Irish economy and play a vital role in job creation and innovation. However, they often face difficulties accessing financing due to limited collateral or high-interest rates. Our role is to provide dedicated financial support to Irish businesses by making it easier for them to get the finance they need to grow, innovate and prosper.

“Events, like ‘Show me the Money’ are vital to help businesses understand and demystify the wide range of fundings options available to them.”

Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation, said: “What is the best kind of finance for your business and how do you go about accessing it? Our Show me the Money event in Cork will help busy founders work out exactly that by listening to experts from different areas of finance.

“There are a dazzling array of routes to investment – venture capital investors, angel investors, crowdfunding, banks and alternative lenders.  We’ve got them all in one room so that small businesses can ask questions and learn the best route for themselves.”

The Access to Finance programme continues through to Summer,  with an online library of eLearning materials on how small firms can access funding and grow.