New Midleton Distillery facts for kids

The Midleton Distilleries Complex is a huge place in Midleton, County Cork, Ireland, where famous Irish whiskey is made. It's owned by a company called Irish Distillers, which is part of a bigger company named Pernod Ricard. Right next to it is the Old Midleton Distillery. This old distillery started making whiskey way back in the 1600s! Today, it's a fun place for visitors called the Jameson Experience.

The Story of Midleton Distilleries

How the Distillery Started

Back in 1966, three big Irish whiskey companies decided to join forces. These were John Power & Son, John Jameson & Son, and the Cork Distilleries Company. They created a new group called Irish Distillers. The people in charge of this new company made a big decision. They wanted to close all their old, smaller distilleries. Instead, they would build one giant, modern distillery.

They chose Midleton for this new factory. Why Midleton? Because it was the only place big enough to build such a large new facility. In July 1975, the old Jameson Distillery in Dublin stopped making whiskey. Production then officially began at the brand-new Midleton complex.

Growing Bigger Over Time

The old distillery building in Midleton was turned into a special place for visitors. Since 2010, the Midleton distillery has grown much larger. Irish Distillers has spent over €200 million (that's a lot of money!) to make the factory twice as big. They also built a new storage area in a nearby village called Dungourney. This is where the whiskey rests and gets its flavor.

Making Whiskey at Midleton

Modern Production Methods

The Midleton distillery is one of the most modern whiskey-making places in the world. Its different production areas are all connected by special fiber-optic networks. This helps everything run smoothly.

The distillery has three very large pot stills. These are huge copper containers, each holding 75,000 liters! They are some of the biggest pot stills used anywhere. Midleton also has three column stills. These different types of stills are used together to create many kinds of Irish whiskey.

How Much Whiskey Can They Make?

Midleton can produce a massive 64 million liters of alcohol every year. This makes it the largest distillery in all of Ireland. They also have a smaller "micro distillery" with tiny pot stills. This smaller section can make about 50,000 liters of alcohol each year. It's often used for trying out new whiskey recipes.

Visiting the Distillery

The Jameson Experience

The new Midleton Distillery is right next to the old one. The old distillery is now home to the Jameson Experience visitor centre. It's a bit like the visitor center in Dublin at the Old Jameson Distillery.

The tour at Midleton tells the interesting story of Jameson Whiskey. You'll see recreated scenes from the original distillery in Dublin. There are also exhibition areas that show the seven steps of making whiskey. A video helps you imagine what the distillery was like when its creator, John Jameson, was alive.

Become a Whiskey Taster!

If you're lucky, you might get to join a special taste test. A small group of visitors can try Jameson Whiskey, Scottish whisky, and American whiskey. If you pass the test, you can become a "Qualified Irish Whiskey Taster"!

Learn More at the Academy

In 2013, a new place called the Irish Whiskey Academy opened at the Midleton Distillery. Here, people can take courses lasting one to three days. These courses teach you all about Irish whiskey. They are great for whiskey fans, journalists, and people who work in the drinks industry.

The old Master Distiller's House on the grounds also holds something very important. It's the official historical archive for all the Irish Distillers whiskey labels.

Whiskeys Made at Midleton

Because Midleton uses different combinations of stills, they can make many unique whiskeys. Some of the most famous brands produced here are:

• Jameson - This is the best-selling Irish whiskey in the world!
• Powers
• Paddy
• Redbreast
• Midleton Very Rare - In 2014, the distillery made a very special, limited edition of this whiskey. Only 117 bottles were made to celebrate 30 years of Midleton Irish Whiskey.
• Green Spot
• Red Spot
• Yellow Spot
• Blue Spot

Other Products Made Here

Besides whiskey, Midleton also produces other drinks:

• Cork Dry Gin
• Huzzar Vodka