Great Northern Distillery (GND) has signed a long-term cooperation agreement with Tsingtao Brewery to supply and develop Irish whiskey for the Chinese market. The deal, finalized in Dublin on 30 July 2026, marks the Dundalk-based producer’s expansion into China through one of the country’s leading beverage companies.
Under the agreement, GND will supply mature Irish whiskeys across its full portfolio, ranging from three-year-old to 21-year-old expressions. Tsingtao plans to introduce the range of Irish whiskeys through its distribution network.
The two companies will also collaborate to develop whiskey labels designed for Asian consumers. A specialist blending team has been established to create styles tailored to Chinese tastes.
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READ THE STORYGND will additionally provide technical expertise and support to Tsingtao as it develops its own Chinese whiskey distillery.
Founded in 1903, Tsingtao Brewery is one of China’s most recognized beverage companies and ranks among the largest beer producers in the world. In 2025, the company recorded beer sales of 7.648 million kiloliters, operating revenue of approximately €4 billion, and net profit attributable to shareholders of approximately €574 million. Tsingtao products are sold in more than 120 countries and regions.
Great Northern Distillery operates two distilleries on a 5.5-hectare site in Dundalk, County Louth. The facilities have an annual production capacity of eight million liters in pot stills and 12 million liters in column stills.
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The company is 100% Irish-owned and controlled by the extended Teeling family. It was established in 2014 by John Teeling, Jim Finn and David Hynes, and produces the full range of Irish whiskey styles for customers in more than 60 countries.
“This agreement represents a tremendous opportunity to participate in what I believe will be the next great growth market for Irish whiskey,” said John Teeling, chairman of Great Northern Distillery. “Over the coming years, perhaps one billion people across Asia will join the middle class. As incomes rise, consumers increasingly seek premium international products and experiences, and Irish whiskey is exceptionally well placed to meet that demand.”
Teeling added: “Irish whiskey’s smooth, mellow and slightly sweeter character makes it particularly well suited to Asian consumers. There can be no better partner than Tsingtao Brewery.”
Jerry Buttimer TD, Minister of State for Community Development, Charities and Rural Transport, welcomed the deal as “a strong example of the opportunities that exist when Irish and Chinese businesses work together.”
