Blackwater Distillery

What Blackwater Distillery does

Blackwater Distillery is an Irish craft micro-distillery established in 2014 by Peter Mulryan, Caroline Senior, and Barry Donnellan, operating from a refurbished 1950s hardware store on the banks of the Blackwater River in Ballyduff Upper, Co. Waterford. The company produces and sells gin (flagship Blackwater No.5 and seasonal Wexford Strawberry), vodka (standard and Vanilla), a Velvet Cap Irish whiskey range spanning triple-cask, sherry-cask, and Bordeaux-cask expressions, plus multiple limited-edition single-cask and five-grain bottlings, and Irish Poitín (including the ocean-malted Mac na Mara and the A Dó collaboration with Killowen Distillery). Production uses traditional copper pot stills combined with distinctive techniques — notably ocean malting with seaweed sourced from The Sea Gardener, and a Heritage Grain Project using Old Irish 19th-century landrace barley grown by farmer Garrett Heaton.

The business sells primarily direct-to-consumer through its own e-commerce store (shipping to Ireland, the UK, and 11 European countries), with secondary channels via Ardkeen Stores (regional retail), Dublin Cork Duty Free and Cork Airport (travel retail), and on-site distillery tours plus cocktail masterclasses (€15-40 per person) booked via FareHarbor. Pricing spans €25 for entry-level Poitín up to €50+ for premium single-cask whiskeys, with gift sets adding bundling and seasonal merchandising. The company is founder-led, privately held, and has accumulated multiple international gold medals (IWSC 2017, Gin Masters 2017, World Spirits Awards 2020, Spirit Masters 2022).

The company operates with a small team (1-10 employees, self-described micro-distillery) and pursues a hybrid go-to-market: craft-spark enthusiasm-driven DTC, regional retail, travel-retail visibility, and tourism-led experiential revenue. Sustainability credentials include Origin Green and Repak memberships. No external funding rounds, institutional investors, M&A, or revenue figures are disclosed.

Name

Blackwater Distillery

Legal name

Blackwater Distillery Ltd.

Website

https://blackwaterdistillery.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Blackwater Distillery is an Irish micro-distillery in Ballyduff, Co. Waterford, founded in 2014, producing and selling award-winning craft gin, vodka, whiskey, and Poitín via direct-to-consumer e-commerce, retail partnerships, and on-site tours.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Irish Spirits (Gin, Whiskey, Vodka, Poitín)

NAICS

Distilleries (312140), Distilleries (31214), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (445320)

SIC

Beverages (2080), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

Distilleries (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka) (THAJAGAF), Spirits/Cocktail Bars Operated by Producers (THAFALAJ), Premium, Rare & Collectible Alcohol Retail (Fine Wine/Spirits) (CRANAAAJ)

Keywords

• Craft Irish whiskey
• Artisan gin production
• Micro-distillery spirits
• Irish poitín distillation
• Distillery tours

Headquarters

HQ city

Ballyduff

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Spirit Product Sales: Direct sales of whisky, gin, vodka, and Poitín products through their online store and at the distillery. Products include Velvet Cap whisky range, Blackwater No.5 Gin, Wexford Strawberry Gin, Vanilla Vodka, and various Poitín expressions.
2. Distillery Tours and Experiences: Revenue from guided distillery tours, cocktail masterclasses, and experience bookings. Tours range from basic experience (€15-20) to cocktail masterclass (€35-40). Gift vouchers also available.
3. Gift Sets and Merchandise: Sales of gift sets combining spirits with chocolates, glasses, hip flasks, and branded merchandise.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Blackwater Distillery is a craft spirits producer that manufactures and sells premium Irish gin (Blackwater No.5 Gin, Wexford Strawberry Gin), vodka (Blackwater Vodka, Vanilla Vodka), single malt and pot still whiskeys (the Velvet Cap range plus limited editions), and Irish Poitín (Mac na Mara, A Dó). It complements product sales with paid distillery experiences—guided tours, tastings and cocktail masterclasses—and sells gift sets combining spirits with glassware and chocolates via its own online store and selected retail partners.

Product overview

Blackwater Distillery is a micro-distillery in West Waterford, Ireland, established in 2014, producing award-winning craft spirits including gin, vodka, whisky, and poitín. Their core gin portfolio centers on Blackwater No.5 Gin, with seasonal variants like Wexford Strawberry Gin. The whisky range features the Velvet Cap brand (Triple Cask, Sherry Cask, Bordeaux Cask finishes) alongside limited editions (Oaty McOatface, PMD II, The Trinity, Clashmore 1824, Dirtgrain Manifesto). They produce five-grain and peated expressions, and have launched collaboration poitín products with Killowen Distillery. The distillery also operates visitor experiences including guided tours and cocktail masterclasses, all bookable through FareHarbor, with products shipped via UPS.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Velvet Cap: Blackwater's whiskey brand featuring single malt and pot still expressions including Triple Cask, Sherry Cask Finish, and Peated Single Malt.
• Blackwater No.5 Gin

Products and services

• Blackwater No.5 Gin The flagship gin of Blackwater Distillery, an award-winning craft Irish gin with a unique botanical blend, sold through the distillery's own e-commerce store and via gift sets with glassware.
• Velvet Cap Irish Whiskey Triple Cask Triple cask matured Irish whiskey combining multiple wood finishes for a complex flavor profile, part of the Velvet Cap core range, priced at €35.00 (was €40.00).
• Velvet Cap Irish Whiskey Peated Single Malt Sherry Cask Peated single malt Irish whiskey finished in sherry casks, with gentle peat smoke and biscuity malt hints of Jerez, priced at €50.00 (was €60.00).
• Velvet Cap Irish Whiskey Single Malt Bordeaux Cask 5 Year Old Single malt Irish whiskey aged 5 years and finished in Bordeaux wine casks, part of the Velvet Cap cask-finish range.
• Blackwater Irish Whisky 'The Full Irish' Flagship Irish whiskey blend from Blackwater Distillery, sold via the distillery's own e-commerce store.
• Blackwater Irish Whisky Five Grain 'Planxty Wilcox' Five grain Irish whisky at 47.5% ABV showcasing a diverse mash bill, named for Head Distiller John Wilcox.
• Blackwater Irish Whisky Peated Rye 'Starburst Spice Bag' Peated rye Irish whisky with a distinctive spice character at 50% ABV.
• Blackwater Irish Whisky Single Malt 'Peat the Magic Dragon' Peated single malt Irish whisky with distinct peat smoke character at 49% ABV, featured in the distillery's 'Part 1: Peat the Magic Dragon' blog series.
• Blackwater Irish Whisky Single Malt 'PMD II: Return of the Dragon' Strictly limited edition single barrel release with 340 numbered bottles at 59.2% ABV.
• Blackwater Irish Whisky 'Oaty McOatface' Strictly limited small batch release of 1,800 numbered bottles featuring oats at 47.2% ABV.
• Blackwater Irish Whisky 'The Trinity' Limited edition single barrel/small batch whiskies available in three expressions at 47.2%, 47% and 59.2% ABV.
• Blackwater Irish Whisky 'Clashmore 1824' Limited release of 420 numbered bottles at 47% ABV.
• Blackwater Dirtgrain Irish Whisky Manifesto A set of 4 x 200ml bottles featuring different mash bills inspired by historic recipes (#38 pre-famine, #93 Victorian boom, #08 classic Dublin, #15 five grain).
• Blackwater Irish Poitín Malt na Mara Ocean malted Irish Poitín at 50% ABV in a 20cl format, priced at €25.00, featuring seaweed-influenced malting and Comeragh peat smoke.
• Blackwater Poitín 'A Dó' Collaboration Poitín with Killowen Distillery using Old Irish heritage barley and malted oats, a strictly limited cross-border production with only a couple hundred bottles per distillery.
• Blackwater Vodka Craft vodka produced by Blackwater Distillery, sold via the distillery's own e-commerce store.
• Blackwater Vanilla Vodka Flavored vodka infused with vanilla, produced by Blackwater Distillery as part of its vodka range.
• Blackwater Wexford Strawberry Gin Seasonal Irish gin featuring Wexford strawberries, sold as a glass set bundle on the distillery's e-commerce store.
• The Blackwater Distillery Experience Tour Guided tour of the working distillery in a refurbished 1950s hardware store, featuring a tutored tasting. Duration 45 minutes, group sizes 2–20 people, priced at €15–20 per person.
• Guided Distillery Tour & Cocktail Masterclass Extended distillery experience combining a guided tour with a cocktail masterclass in the gallery bar; includes a Blackwater No.5 Gin & tonic to take home. Duration 90 minutes, group sizes 8–20 people, priced at €35 per person.
• Blackwater Gift Sets Pre-packaged gift sets combining Blackwater spirits with glassware, hip flasks, and complementary items such as chocolate sets and cocktail sets (e.g., Blackwater No.5 Gin & glass set at €45.00).

Quantifiable outcome

• Gold awards at International Wine & Spirit Competition 2017, World Spirits Awards 2020, and Spirit Masters 2022
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• The Sea Gardener (Marie Power)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Sourced seaweed including Dillisk, Kelp and Carrageen for the Mac na Mara ocean malted Poitín. The seaweed was soaked in warm water during malting to impart ocean minerals and marine flavors to the barley.
• Killowen DistillerycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 October 2022A Dó Poitín collaboration between Blackwater in Co Waterford and Killowen in Co Down. A cross-border Irish Poitín combining Blackwater's heritage Old Irish barley with Killowen's peated malt and oats. Both distilleries produced Poitín using the same mash bill, vatted together with each bottling half the distillate. The collaboration celebrates poteen as a category and represents the spirit of cooperation between the Republic and Northern Ireland.
• Garrett Heaton (Farmer)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal farmer who grows and malts the Old Irish heritage barley variety (19th century landrace) used in the A Dó Poitín collaboration. This heritage grain represents a unique reservoir of genetic information accumulated over centuries of cultivation.
• Ardkeen StorescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRetail distribution partner in Waterford with over 25 years operating history. All Blackwater spirits are available through the Blackwater Distillery section of their website. Serves as the recommended alternative for international customers outside their standard shipping zones.
• Dungarvan Brewing CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDungarvan Brewing Company brewed a hop-free oatmeal stout for use in Blackwater's original Poitín production. This stout contained local barley, Flahavan's oats and a smidgen of molasses, representing best practice in Poitín production.
• Origin GreenminorOthersNational sustainability program run by Bord Bia that verifies and recognizes sustainability practices across the Irish food and drink industry. Blackwater Distillery is a proud member committed to sustainable operations.
• RepakminorOthersIreland's leading packaging recycling scheme. Blackwater Distillery is a member demonstrating commitment to responsible packaging waste management and environmental sustainability.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Teeling Whiskey: Dublin-based Irish craft whiskey distillery offering single malt, small batch, and Poitín products with a tasting-room visitor experience. Most directly comparable Irish craft peer in terms of premium positioning, DTC and on-trade distribution, and visitor experience business model.
• West Cork Distillers: Cork-based independent Irish whiskey, gin and vodka producer founded in 2003, operating at a larger scale but with similar craft provenance and product range overlap including gin, vodka and blended/single malt whiskey.
• Glendalough Distillery: Wicklow-based Irish craft distillery producing gin, vodka, whiskey and Poitín with strong tourism ties. Overlapping product portfolio and DTC-plus-tourism GTM make it one of the closest comparable Irish craft spirits peers.
• Kilbeggan Distillery: Historic Westmeath-based Irish distillery producing traditional pot still and malt whiskey plus Poitín. Comparable Irish heritage-driven craft whiskey producer with overlapping product categories and visitor experience business.
• Killowen Distillery: Northern Ireland micro-distillery producing Poitín, gin, and whiskey from a craft setup. Direct collaboration partner with Blackwater on the A Dó Poitín and operates at near-identical micro-distillery scale with comparable product categories and limited-release strategy.
• Chapel Gate Whiskey: Small-batch Irish whiskey micro-distillery operating at a similar scale to Blackwater, focused on craft single malt and heritage grain sourcing. Directly comparable in micro-distillery positioning and craft whiskey innovation narrative.
• Pearse Lyons Distillery: Dublin-based Irish craft distillery offering whiskey, gin and Poitín built inside a former church with a strong visitor experience component. Similar combined spirits-and-tourism business model targeting premium craft and gifting segments.
• Boann Distillery: Irish craft distillery in the Boyne Valley producing gin, whiskey and Poitín with a visitor experience and DTC focus. Comparable family-owned craft spirits brand with overlapping categories and tourism-driven business model.

Broad incumbents

• Bushmills Distillery: Proximo Spirits-owned historic Irish whiskey producer with single malt, blended and Poitín/cross-border relevance. Comparable Northern Irish context to Blackwater's cross-border collaboration framing, and sets the benchmark for premium Irish single malt positioning.
• Irish Distillers (Jameson): Pernod Ricard-owned producer of Jameson, Midleton, Powers and other Irish whiskeys, operating the nearby Midleton distillery. Establishes the dominant competitive backdrop for any Irish craft whiskey producer in terms of scale, distribution and pricing pressure.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/blackdistillery
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/BlackwaterDistillery
• Facebookfacebook.com/Blackwaterdistillery
• Instagraminstagram.com/blackwaterdistillery
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blackwaterdistillery

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Blackwater Distillery