Lough Ree Distillery
Lough Ree Distillery is a family-owned Irish craft distillery in Lanesborough, Co. Longford, producing award-winning whiskey, gin, and vodka for Irish consumers through e-commerce, specialty retail, distillery experiences, custom products, and ecoSPIRITS bulk distribution.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersLanesborough, Ireland
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Lough Ree Distillery does
Lough Ree Distillery is an Irish craft spirits producer operating as a microdistillery from Lanesborough, Co. Longford, Ireland's Hidden Heartlands. Founded in 2018 by three siblings — Peter Clancy (CEO), Sheila Mullen (CFO), and Mike Clancy (CTO) — the company produces award-winning Irish whiskey, gin, and vodka using copper pot stills, with Sling Shot Irish Gin notable as the first gin ever distilled with peat as a botanical. The whiskey portfolio comprises Bart's Range (original blend plus sherry-dominant XS and peated-dominant XP variants), the accessible Hidden Heartlands blend, and The Bridge Series of limited-edition single cask releases (39+ to date). The gin and vodka ranges are positioned as The Founders Series, including the 100% Irish Aiteal Gin, Pinkie, Grand Crew cask-aged gin, and award-winning Zesty Citrus, Whippy Vanilla, and Double Peat vodkas.
The business operates through five revenue streams: direct-to-consumer spirits e-commerce (lrd.ie), specialty retail stockists across Ireland (Celtic Whiskey Shop, The Corkscrew, James J. Fox, Blackrock Cellar, Deveney's, and others), on-site and bespoke distillery experiences (€15-€100+ per person), corporate gifting hampers, and a custom product creation service for hospitality groups with MOQs. In 2024 the company became the licensed operator for ecoSPIRITS on the island of Ireland, adding a B2B closed-loop bulk spirits distribution channel using returnable ecoTOTE containers that have replaced over 9,000 single-use glass bottles. The firm holds Origin Green Gold Member sustainability certification and is privately held by the founding family via Blacksmith Ventures Ltd, with no disclosed institutional investment.
Lough Ree Distillery firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lough Ree Distillery
- Legal name
- Blacksmith Ventures Ltd
- Website
- https://lrd.ie
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Lough Ree Distillery is a family-owned Irish craft distillery in Lanesborough, Co. Longford, producing award-winning whiskey, gin, and vodka for Irish consumers through e-commerce, specialty retail, distillery experiences, custom products, and ecoSPIRITS bulk distribution.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lough Ree Distillery industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Craft Irish Spirits
- NAICS
- Distilleries (312140), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224), Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (42482)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)
- 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), Spirits Retail & Whiskey Shops (Off-Premise) (CRANAAAD)
Keywords
Where Lough Ree Distillery is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lanesborough
- HQ country
- Ireland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Lough Ree Distillery business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Spirits Product Sales: Direct sales of whiskey, gin and vodka products through e-commerce and retail stockists. Product range from €35 to €325 per bottle.
- Distillery Experiences: Revenue from tours, tastings, and bespoke experiences. Tours start at €15, tastings at €25, bespoke experiences from €30-100 per person.
- Custom Product Creation: Bespoke product creation services for selective accounts, creating custom spirits for clients with MOQs.
- ecoSPIRITS Licensed Operations: Licensed operator for ecoSPIRITS on the island of Ireland, providing bulk spirits supply in returnable ecoTOTE format to bars, hotels, restaurants and festivals.
- Corporate Gifting: Corporate hamper and gift pack sales, particularly during Christmas season.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Distillery Tour and Tasting |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Exclusive Whiskey Tasting |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Exclusive Gin & Vodka Tasting |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bespoke Experiences |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Whiskey Products |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Gin Products |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Vodka Products |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Custom/Bespoke Products |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels10 records
Lough Ree Distillery product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lough Ree Distillery is a family-owned Irish microdistillery producing award-winning Irish whiskey, gin, and vodka. It sells these spirits directly through its own e-commerce shop and a network of specialty Irish retailers, and operates on-site distillery experiences (tours and tastings). The company is also the licensed operator for ecoSPIRITS on the island of Ireland, providing bulk spirits in returnable ecoTOTE packaging to bars, hotels, and restaurants.
Product overview
Lough Ree Distillery is a family-owned Irish spirits producer offering a portfolio of award-winning whiskies, gins, and vodkas. The whiskey portfolio includes Bart's Range (original blended, XS sherry, and XP peated variants), Hidden Heartlands (entry-level approachable blend), and The Bridge Series (limited-edition single cask releases). The gin range features Sling Shot Irish Gin (the world's first peat-distilled gin), Aiteal (100% Irish gin), Pinkie, and Grand Crew (cask-aged). Vodka offerings include Zesty Citrus, Whippy Vanilla, and Double Peat. The company also operates as the Irish operator for ecoSPIRITS, a closed-loop circular economy distribution system, and offers distillery visitor experiences.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Bart's Range: Bart's Blended Irish Whiskey series including Bart's Blended Irish Whiskey, Bart's XS (sherry dominant), and Bart's XP (peated dominant). Named after the founders' late father Bart Clancy.
- Hidden Heartlands
- The Bridge Series
- Sling Shot Irish Gin
- The Founders Series
Products and services
- Bart's Blended Irish Whiskey A complex blend of five different whiskies (Grain, Pot Still, and Peated Malt with Malt Whiskies finished in Rye and Oloroso Casks), named after the founders' late father Bart Clancy. Targeted at premium Irish whiskey consumers.
- Hidden Heartlands Irish Whiskey An approachable mellow blend of Irish Grain and Malt Whiskey positioned as an accessible everyday Irish whiskey with classic vanilla, toffee, raisin, and spice notes. Targeted at mainstream Irish whiskey drinkers.
- The Bridge Series (Single Cask Whiskies) A collection of limited-edition single cask whiskies, including single malt, single grain, and single pot still expressions finished in various cask types. Now at 39+ releases named after Lough Ree geography. Targeted at premium whiskey collectors and enthusiasts.
- Sling Shot Irish Gin Award-winning Irish gin at 41.7% ABV distilled with peat as a botanical (a world first), featuring citrus, mint, juniper, cardamom, and peat notes. Targeted at craft gin enthusiasts seeking distinctive flavor profiles.
- Aiteal Irish Gin The only 100% Irish gin, distilled using only Irish Juniper and Irish Whey Spirit, with a juniper-forward profile and green herbal notes. Targeted at gin enthusiasts interested in provenance.
- Pinkie Irish Gin A fruity and sweet gin with natural raspberry and redcurrant flavors on a classic juniper base. Uses only natural flavors and colors with no added sugar. Targeted at gin drinkers seeking fruit-forward profiles.
- Grand Crew Gin Cask-aged gin using Grand Cru Bordeaux casks for an unusually long aging period, delivering rich, elegant juniper, oak spice, and dark fruit notes. Limited edition. Targeted at premium gin collectors.
- Zesty Citrus Vodka Award-winning Irish vodka distilled with fresh organic oranges, pink grapefruit, lemons, and limes using 100% Irish whey spirit. Awarded Best Irish Vodka at Irish Whiskey Awards in 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
- Whippy Vanilla Vodka Small-batch vodka infused with natural vanilla pods and no added sugar, with an aromatic vanilla flavor and creamy mouthfeel. Targeted at vodka enthusiasts and dessert-cocktail use.
- Double Peat Vodka Unique vodka distilled with centuries-old local peat and then aged in an ex-peated whiskey cask, producing a delicate smoke and earthy profile. Targeted at premium vodka drinkers and peat enthusiasts.
- ecoSPIRITS Bulk Distribution Service Closed-loop circular economy bulk spirits distribution using 4.5L returnable ecoTOTE containers (up to 150 cycles each, replacing 1000+ single-use glass bottles per tote). Serves bars, hotels, restaurants, and festivals with bulk spirits supply.
- Distillery Experiences (Tours & Tastings) Tour and tasting experiences at the Lanesborough distillery including Distillery Tour and Tasting (from €15), Exclusive Whiskey Tasting (€25), Exclusive Gin & Vodka Tasting (€25), and Bespoke Experiences (from €30-100 per person). Targeted at tourists, groups, and spirits enthusiasts.
- Custom / Bespoke Product Creation Service Bespoke spirits creation for pubs and hospitality groups with minimum order quantities, including private cask ownership investment opportunities. Targeted at pub chains and themed hospitality groups.
Quantifiable outcome
- Replaced over 9000 single use glass bottles with ecoTOTE format
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Lough Ree Distillery
Customer profileNamed customers17 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Lough Ree Distillery technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Lough Ree Distillery partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- ecoSPIRITScoreLough Ree Distillery is the Licensed Operator for ecoSPIRITS on the island of Ireland. ecoSPIRITS has developed the world's first circular packaging technology for premium spirits. The partnership enables bulk spirits supply in returnable ecoTOTE format, reducing single-use glass waste by replacing over 9000 bottles with reusable containers.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Lough Ree Distillery competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Ballykeefe Distillery: Kilkenny-based family-run Irish distillery producing single-malt whiskey. Comparable on family ownership, craft scale, single-cask releases and Irish midlands heritage positioning.
- West Cork Distillers: Cork-based independent Irish distillery producing a broad portfolio of whiskeys, gins and vodka. Comparable on multi-category Irish craft spirits manufacturing, stockist network and international award-winning portfolio.
- Teeling Whiskey Distillery: Dublin-based craft Irish whiskey distillery operating a visitor experience and a portfolio of premium and small-batch whiskeys. Comparable as an Irish craft distillery with awards, single-cask releases, on-site tours and a DTC-plus-retail GTM.
- Glendalough Distillery: Wicklow-based Irish craft distillery producing whiskey, gin and vodka with a tourism-led model. Directly comparable on multi-spirit craft production, visitor experiences, and DTC/retail distribution.
- Echlinville Distillery: Northern Ireland-based farm distillery producing single malt, gin and vodka with on-site experiences. Comparable on small-scale craft multi-spirit production, agricultural/heritage narrative and premium positioning.
- Tipperary Boutique Distillery: Small Irish family-run distillery producing single-pot-still and single-malt whiskeys with limited releases. Comparable on family-ownership, craft scale and single-cask release model.
- Boann Distillery: Drogheda-based Irish craft distillery producing whiskey, gin and other spirits with a visitor experience. Comparable on small-batch Irish spirits manufacturing, on-site tours and DTC/specialty retail.
- Slane Distillery: Irish whiskey distillery on the Slane Castle estate producing a blended Irish whiskey and running a visitor centre. Comparable on heritage-driven Irish whiskey brand, premium positioning and distillery experience revenue.
- Blackwater Distillery: Waterford-based Irish craft gin and vodka producer (and increasingly whiskey). Comparable as a small Irish craft distillery across multiple white spirit categories with DTC and on-trade presence.
Broad incumbents
- Kilbeggan Distilling Co. Established Irish whiskey distillery now operating within Beam Suntory. Comparable as an Irish whiskey distillery with visitor experiences, but with significantly larger brand portfolio and distribution scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Lough Ree Distillery social profiles
Digital presenceLough Ree Distillery compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Lough Ree Distillery financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lough Ree Distillery leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Lough Ree Distillery funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lough Ree Distillery M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Lough Ree Distillery
What does Lough Ree Distillery do?
Lough Ree Distillery is a family-owned Irish microdistillery producing award-winning Irish whiskey, gin, and vodka. It sells these spirits directly through its own e-commerce shop and a network of specialty Irish retailers, and operates on-site distillery experiences (tours and tastings). The company is also the licensed operator for ecoSPIRITS on the island of Ireland, providing bulk spirits in returnable ecoTOTE packaging to bars, hotels, and restaurants.
Is Lough Ree Distillery a public or private company?
Lough Ree Distillery is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Lough Ree Distillery founded?
Lough Ree Distillery was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Lough Ree Distillery based?
Lough Ree Distillery is headquartered in Lanesborough, Ireland, in the Europe region.
How does Lough Ree Distillery make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Spirits Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are distillery Experiences, custom Product Creation, ecoSPIRITS Licensed Operations and corporate Gifting.
Who are Lough Ree Distillery's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Ballykeefe Distillery, West Cork Distillers, Teeling Whiskey Distillery, Glendalough Distillery, Echlinville Distillery, Tipperary Boutique Distillery, Boann Distillery, Slane Distillery and Blackwater Distillery. Kilbeggan Distilling Co. is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Lough Ree Distillery have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lough Ree Distillery.
What industry is Lough Ree Distillery in?
Lough Ree Distillery's product category is Craft Irish Spirits. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADAIAC, Spirits Distilling & Brands, with a secondary code of THAFALAG, Distilleries (Tasting Rooms). Its NAICS code is 312140 and its SIC code is 2080.