Three firms become one
Irish whiskey had been in a slump since the turn of the century, and these were the last three distillers still working in the Republic of Ireland.1,2,3 In 1971 production stopped at the Bow Street (John Jameson) Distillery in Dublin, though other sources date its closing to 1976.1,6,7 In 1972 Bushmills joined the group, giving Irish Distillers control of all whiskey making on the island of Ireland.2,8
Moving to Midleton
In July 1975 production moved from the Old Midleton Distillery to the new Midleton Distillery next door, built there because the Dublin sites had no room to grow.1,2,4 The John's Lane Distillery closed in 1976, and Powers Gold Label and many other whiskeys changed from single pot still whiskey to blends.7,9 Richard Burrows, who joined full-time in 1971, became chief executive in 1978.10 Single pot still whiskey is made at one distillery from malted and unmalted barley in a pot still; by 1980 only Green Spot and Redbreast were left.11
Joining Pernod Ricard
In 1984 the firm launched Midleton Very Rare.1 After a hostile takeover attempt by Grand Metropolitan, Allied-Lyons and Guinness, Pernod Ricard bought Irish Distillers in a friendly takeover in 1988.1,3,5 On 23 November 1988 the Irish government allowed the deal only on conditions, such as the minister's consent for any sale of brands or plants within 5 years.12 In 1994 the Competition Authority rejected Pernod Ricard's £24.5 million offer for Cooley, feeling the high price showed Irish Distillers wanted to protect its monopoly.13 Irish Distillers' boss, Richard Burrows, had said everyone at Cooley would lose their jobs and the distillery would be bulldozed.13
Selling Bushmills, growing Midleton
In 2005 Bushmills was sold to Diageo for £200 million.2,8 Alexandre Ricard became chairman and chief executive in 2008, and Anna Malmhake succeeded him in 2011.14,15 In 2013 Barry Crockett retired after 31 years as Master Distiller, and Brian Nation took over.16,17,18 The original Midleton still house was renamed the Barry Crockett Stillhouse in his honour.16,17,18 In 2013 it opened the Garden Still House at Midleton, built to make more single pot still whiskey; the same investment paid for a microdistillery.1,3,19 In 2015 it finished a €220 million investment that doubled its production and bottling capacity, including a maturing site at nearby Dungourney.1,3,19 In May 2016 it sold the Paddy brand to Sazerac; under the sale agreement, Paddy is still to be made at Midleton.2,3
New leaders and a new distillery plan
Jean-Christophe Coutures became chairman and chief executive in July 2016, and Conor McQuaid succeeded him in July 2018.20 In June 2020 Kevin O'Gorman, Master of Maturation since 2007, became Master Distiller, leading both distilling and maturation.16,17 Knappogue Castle and Clontarf joined its range in 2021.2 In 2022 Nodjame Fouad moved from Pernod Ricard's business in Japan to lead Irish Distillers.21 That year it announced a €250 million plan for a carbon neutral distillery on a 55-acre site next to Midleton.1,22 In March 2025 Pernod Ricard said it had delayed completing the new distillery, though building was still going on.23 From mid-April 2025 it paused production at Midleton, beyond its usual maintenance stop of about a month, and in July said production would restart within weeks.24,25 In July 2025 it sold the Knappogue Castle and Clontarf brands to Cobblestone Brands.26