Replay: Meet The Makers – Michelle & Gareth McAllister, Founders of Ahascragh Distillery

 

Have you ever wondered what it might take to build a distillery? Have you dreamt of perhaps one day being involved in a distillery yourself? Considered packing it all in and moving to Ireland to pursue your whiskey dreams? Well, that’s just what our guests on this month’s Meet The Makers Event (we added an “s” because we have two guests!) did!

We have the pleasure of being joined by Michelle & Gareth McAllister, a husband and wife team from Dublin, Ireland. Having lived and worked in countries across Europe, the US and Asia, they returned to Ireland recently with the dream of turning their passion for craft Irish spirits into a family business. They set their sights on opening a whiskey and gin distillery in the West of Ireland and when they visited the old mill in Ahascragh, (pronounced Ah-Hass-Crah) County Galway, fell in love with its story: the beautiful stonework, the history of the buildings and the character of the small village drew them in.

They are well and truly down the road of building Ahascragh Distillery and will share that journey with us – its highs, its lows, and their vision for the site they are transforming. Ahascragh Mill dates back to the early 1800s and up until the 1950s processed grain into flour. Located in the heart of the village and steeped in history, the mill complex has remained derelict for the past 70 years. The building will have a new lease of life with plans for a world class whiskey experience and hospitality destination inside a working craft distillery right in the village of Ahascragh. 

 

Watch the replay here:

 

 

 

Find out more about Ahascragh Distillery here  and follow the journey of the distillery and our guests.