Pearse Lyons Distillery

What Pearse Lyons Distillery does

Pearse Lyons Distillery is Dublin's only independently family-owned distillery, producing award-winning Irish whiskey and craft gin from a restored 18th-century church (formerly Church of St. James) in the Liberties district. Founded by Dr. Pearse Lyons and now led by his son Dr. Mark Lyons as part of the Alltech group, the company operates a sustainable grain-to-glass production model using grain from its own farm 25km away, in-house cultivated yeast, and upcycled bourbon barrels from sister distillery Town Branch in Lexington, Kentucky.

The commercial model blends on-site experiential revenue with global direct-to-consumer spirit sales. The distillery offers bookable experiences including a one-hour Distillery Tour & Tasting, Private VIP Tours, the two-hour Gin School, the Art of Irish Whiskey Blending Experience, a 75-minute Cocktail Experience, Corporate Experiences, and Private Hire, complemented by Pearse's Place, a private whiskey snug. The bottled product range comprises three Pearse Irish Whiskey expressions (Original 5yr, Distiller's Choice 7yr, Founder's Choice 12yr), the Ha'Penny Spirits line (Dublin Dry Gin, Rhubarb Gin, Original and Four Cask whiskeys), and Míl Mediterranean Style Irish Pot Still Gin, sold via shop.pearselyonsdistillery.com with worldwide shipping, on-site retail, and global bar partnerships across Ireland, the UK, the US, Italy and France.

Customer segments span tourists and visitors to Dublin, whiskey and gin enthusiasts, corporate groups, and gift shoppers, with marketing executed through seasonal campaigns (St Patrick's Day, Summer Gin School, Road 2 Dublin, Winter in Dublin), the Cocktail Corner bartender program, social media, and a World Travel Awards campaign for World's Leading Distillery Tour 2025. The company has welcomed 250,000+ visitors since its 2017 opening and has won multiple World Whiskies Awards, Irish Whiskey Masters Gold, and sustained Origin Green Gold and Guaranteed Irish certifications.

Name

Pearse Lyons Distillery

Legal name

Alltech Beverage Division Ireland

Website

https://pearselyonsdistillery.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pearse Lyons Distillery is Dublin's only independently family-owned distillery, producing award-winning Irish whiskeys and craft gins in a restored 18th-century church, serving tourists, enthusiasts, corporate groups, and global D2C spirit buyers via tours and e-commerce.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Irish Whiskey & Craft Spirits

NAICS

Distilleries (31214), Distilleries (312140), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (44532)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Distilleries (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAG), Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka) (THAJAGAF), Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling (AFAFAAAC), Spirits/Cocktail Bars Operated by Producers (THAFALAJ), Spirits Retail & Whiskey Shops (Off-Premise) (CRANAAAD)

Keywords

• Irish whiskey production
• Craft gin distillation
• Distillery tour experiences
• Whiskey tasting events
• Spirit retail sales

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Spirit Sales: Direct sales of bottled spirits including Pearse Irish Whiskey range (Original 5yr, Distiller's Choice 7yr, Founder's Choice 12yr), Ha'Penny Spirits (Dublin Dry Gin, Rhubarb Gin, Four Cask Irish Whiskey, Original Irish Whiskey), and Míl Mediterranean Style Gin through e-commerce and on-site shop.
2. Experiences and Tours: Revenue from booked experiences including Distillery Tour & Tasting (approximately 60 minutes), Private VIP Distillery Tours, The Art of Irish Whiskey Blending Experience (two hours), The Gin School Experience (two hours), The Cocktail Experience (75 minutes), Corporate Experiences, and Private Hire events.
3. Gift Shop and Merchandise: Sale of branded merchandise, gift cards, and promotional items through on-site reception and online store.
4. Corporate Events and Private Hire: Venue hire for corporate events, private celebrations, and bespoke experiences in the restored church setting and Pearse's Place pub.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Pearse Lyons Distillery produces and sells award-winning Irish whiskey (Pearse Original 5yr, Distiller's Choice 7yr, Founder's Choice 12yr) and craft gin (Ha'Penny range and Míl Mediterranean Style Gin) in a restored 18th-century church in Dublin. Beyond bottled spirits, the distillery operates as a visitor destination offering bookable distillery tours, tastings, gin school, blending and cocktail experiences, and corporate and private hire events, with worldwide e-commerce shipping of its spirits.

Product overview

Pearse Lyons Distillery is Dublin's only independently family-owned distillery producing award-winning Irish whiskeys and craft spirits. The product portfolio includes three core Pearse Irish Whiskey expressions (Pearse Original 5yr, Distiller's Choice 7yr, and Founder's Choice 12yr), the Ha'Penny Spirits sub-brand featuring Dublin Dry Gin, Rhubarb Gin, and two Irish whiskeys, and MíL Mediterranean Style Gin. The distillery operates as a multi-experience destination offering whiskey tours, gin school, cocktail experiences, blending workshops, corporate events, and private hire. All spirits are produced using sustainable grain from the distillery's own farm 25km away, with bourbon barrels upcycled from sister distillery Town Branch in Kentucky.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pearse Irish Whiskey: Award-winning range of Irish whiskeys including Original 5yr, Distiller's Choice 7yr, and Founder's Choice 12yr.
• Ha'Penny Spirits
• MíL
• The Gin School
• Pearse's Place

Products and services

• Pearse Original 5yr Blended 5-year-old Irish whiskey of malt and grain, aged in Town Branch Kentucky ex-Bourbon barrels, with notes of citrus, wisp of smoke, spearmint, chocolate, light oak, vanilla and caramel. Sold to whiskey enthusiasts via the Pearse Lyons e-commerce store and on-site gift shop.
• Pearse Distiller's Choice 7yr Blended 7-year-old Irish whiskey of grain and malt predominantly aged in ex-Bourbon barrels with a small amount of Sherry barrel-aged whiskey; 2020 and 2021 World Whiskies Awards Category Winner, priced at €63, sold via e-commerce and on-site shop.
• Pearse Founder's Choice 12yr Single malt Irish whiskey aged a minimum of 12 years in former bourbon barrels from sister distillery Town Branch Distillery in Lexington, Kentucky; notes of peach, apple, pine, lemon, dried orange, honeysuckle, ginger and clove; priced at €92 and sold via e-commerce and on-site shop.
• Ha'penny Dublin Dry Gin Small batch pot distilled gin featuring thirteen expertly selected botanicals inspired by Dublin, named after the iconic Ha'penny Bridge with botanicals that would have grown in Phoenix Park in Victorian times; 41% ABV, priced at €43.
• Ha'Penny Rhubarb Gin Refreshing, distinctively pink small batch pot distilled gin featuring finest rhubarb alongside thirteen expertly selected botanicals, made with freshly pressed rhubarb juice and no artificial coloring; 40% ABV, priced at €48.
• Ha'Penny Original Irish Whiskey Complex blend of malt and grain Irish whiskeys with a mixture of Sherry bodega and Bourbon cask matured malt, and a rare combination of corn and wheat grain whiskey both matured in first-fill bourbon casks; 40% ABV.
• Ha'Penny Four Cask Irish Whiskey Created using four different cask types and two styles of whiskey: Port Pipe Malt, Bourbon Barrel Malt, Sherry Butt Grain and Double Charred Barrel Grain; non-chill filtered with natural color, 43% ABV, priced at €50.
• Míl Mediterranean Style Gin Irish pot still gin distilled with Mediterranean botanicals including almond, basil, bergamot orange, gooseberry, juniper, olives, orris, rosemary and thyme, inspired by an Iberian-Irish fusion; 42% ABV, 70cl, priced at €55.
• Distillery Tour & Tasting Approximately one-hour experience exploring the restoration of St. James' Church and the distillery tour from grain to glass, including sampling of three to five award-winning Pearse Irish whiskeys guided by in-house storyteller experts; for tourists and whiskey enthusiasts visiting Dublin.
• Private VIP Distillery Tour Private tour led by an expert in-house storyteller discovering the distillery heritage, restoration journey and distillation process, with sampling of five award-winning Pearse Irish whiskeys; bookings accepted by enquiry for premium visitors and corporate guests.
• The Gin School Experience Two-hour gin-making experience where guests develop, distill, bottle and purchase their own personal gin creation using a mini copper pot still and choice of botanicals, with snacks and signature cocktails included; for gin enthusiasts and group bookings.
• The Cocktail Experience

Quantifiable outcome

• 250,000+ visitors welcomed since 2017
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Town Branch Distillery (Lexington, Kentucky)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Sister distillery in Lexington, Kentucky providing upcycled bourbon barrels for maturing Pearse Irish Whiskey. This cross-Atlantic partnership creates a unique flavor profile as barrels travel from Kentucky to Dublin, reflecting the Lyons family's dual presence in both locations. The partnership connects the Kentucky bourbon tradition with Irish whiskey craftsmanship.
• AlltechcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1980Parent company founded by Dr. Pearse Lyons in 1980, now a global leader in agriculture with over 6,000 employees operating in over 120 countries. Alltech provides scientific research backing, fermentation expertise, and corporate infrastructure. Led by Dr. Mark Lyons representing the seventh generation of the Lyons family.
• Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in 1999 by Pearse Lyons and son Mark, restoring craft brewing tradition in Kentucky. Expanded in 2012 to become Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. with Town Branch distillery, the first new distillery in Lexington in over a century. Now the largest craft brewery in Kentucky state.
• Guaranteed IrishcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Guaranteed Irish symbol is a distinguished membership network recognizing businesses that are committed to Irish provenance, community support, and sustainable practices. The accreditation affirms quality, authenticity, and highlights the continuing contribution to Ireland's economy, culture, and global reputation for excellence in spirits.
• Bord Bia (Origin Green Programme)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIreland's pioneering food and drink sustainability programme uniting government, private sector and complete supply chain. Origin Green is the world's only national food and drink sustainability programme, enabling the industry to set and achieve measurable sustainability targets. Gold membership is the highest and most prestigious standard in this programme.
• Global Bartender NetworkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBartenders from around the world creating cocktails using PLD spirits featured in the Cocktail Corner program. Partners include venues such as Broyage Bar & Bistro (Hilton), Hyatt Centric Dublin, Cafe en Seine, and international bars in Italy, USA, UK, and France. This network promotes brand discovery globally through cocktail culture.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Boann Distillery: Independent Irish distillery producing whiskey, gin, and craft spirits with a visitor experience. Similar family-owned, multi-product craft model in the same market.
• The Dublin Liberties: Dublin-based Irish whiskey distillery operating tours and tastings in the same Liberties district. Closest geographic and experiential competitor.
• Teeling Whiskey Distillery: Dublin-based craft Irish whiskey distillery and visitor experience offering tours, tastings, and premium whiskey ranges. Most direct comparable in scale, location, and experiential business model.
• West Cork Distillers: Independent Irish distillery producing a range of whiskeys, gin, and vodka. Comparable scale and broad spirits portfolio serving similar trade and retail channels.
• Kilbeggan Distillery: Historic Irish whiskey distillery with visitor centre and traditional pot still production. Comparable in heritage-led storytelling and experiential tourism.
• Glendalough Distillery: Irish craft distillery producing whiskey, gin, and poitin with a focus on wild botanicals and small-batch production. Comparable craft position and product breadth.
• Niche Drinks (Hinch Distillery): Irish craft distillery producing whiskey, gin, and vodka with a visitor experience. Similar independent Irish craft positioning and multi-spirits portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Jameson Distillery Bow St. Irish Distillers (Pernod Ricard) operated Dublin distillery experience and the dominant Irish whiskey brand globally. Comparable in experiential tourism and Irish whiskey production, but vastly larger scale and broader portfolio.
• Woodford Reserve Distillery: Premium Kentucky bourbon distillery with a flagship visitor experience and historic site. Comparable in premium positioning, heritage storytelling, and experiential tourism model.
• Buffalo Trace Distillery: Major US whiskey distillery renowned for its visitor experience and bourbon heritage. Comparable in distillery-tourism business model and storytelling-driven brand, though vastly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AlltechNaturally
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pearse-lyons-distillery
• Xx.com/pldistillery

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pearse Lyons Distillery