Lir Irish Whiskey Makes its Way To U.S. Markets

Ireland’s Glens of Antrim Distillery recently announced its inaugural whiskey, Lir Green Crest, will be in the U.S. this summer.

The Cushendall-based distillery, in County Antrim, actually launched in the spring of 2022, and the Glens of Antrim Distillery’s Irish whiskey has been available across Ireland for purchase and in bars and restaurants.

Speaking of their foray into America, Michael McKillop, co-founder of Glens of Antrim Distillery, said it was during a recent visit to New York and New Jersey where he met with dozens of new clients and forged relationships with new customers.

“Irish whiskey has been at the forefront of the alcoholic drinks sector for the past decade,” said McKillop, “consistently recording the highest growth among all spirits. Projections indicate that Irish whiskey sales will soar to an impressive 300 million bottles per year by 2030. We firmly believe that our brand will strike a chord with American consumers who value the tradition and craftsmanship inherent in every sip of our whiskey.”

For their product launch, the three year old Lir Green Crest was triple casked and blended. It was made using traditional Irish distilling techniques. The distiller noted that the whiskey features hints of apple, toffee and cacao on the nose, and toffee, vanilla and chocolate notes on the palate.

Co-founder Mary McKillop said, “Scaling our brand and embracing new opportunities has always been our vision! We are currently in the planning stages for our forthcoming distillery building at our cherished home in Cushendall. This new endeavor will present a captivating tourism experience in the Antrim Glens, featuring distillery tours and a restaurant, while also generating employment opportunities in the local community.”

For more information, check out www.glensofantrimdistillery.com.