Traditional Craft Irish Whiskey

99% of Irish Whiskey is made by multinational corporations - we aim to lead the reversal of that trend producing a truly Irish crafted whiskey.

Nephin (pronounced Nay - Fin) Whiskey Company is a craft distillery run and ownded by a small group of Whiskey enthusiasts (producing the first legally distilled whiskey in Mayo!!!).  The distillery will be located in the small village of Lahardaun Co. Mayo, nestled between the majestic slopes of Nephin Mountain and the famous fishing waters of Lough Conn.

Our aim is to produce the best Irish Whiskey by using locally obtained ingredients, reviving the old traditions of using local peat to malt the barley and apprenticing future coopers in an on-site cooperage.

The goal of our campaign is to fund the 3 copper pot stills which will be used to triple distill this unique whiskey.  We also hope to find a name for each still so that this campaign becomes an integral part of our founding story.

Nephin Whiskey on the shores of Lough Conn

Our Team

Dr. Paul Davis leads the team and has extensive experience in beverage production and supply chain management. 

Jude Davis, Paul’s wife, will be heading up production, which she has done in the food industry for many years.

Mark Quick is an entrepreneur who will be talking to distributors, shop owners, pub owners and anyone else who will be selling, serving or telling people about Nephin. 

John Neilly has been a cooper for over 50 years and will be crafting unique casks for our small batches, which is central to the taste profiles of Nephin Whiskey. 

John Neilly, Master Cooper hard at work

Giving to our Clann

A Clann is a traditional Irish kinship group - and that's exactly what we're creating here.

As a Clann Member you will immediately receive:

• A beautiful certificate of membership signed by our Managing Director and wax sealed. This makes a beautiful gift if you want to present it to someone special.
• A unique, locally hand crafted welcome gift. 
• Constant updates throughout our journey.
• 3 Stunning images of Nephin standing over Lough Conn.

Stunning landscape photographs and custom designed t-shirts and hoodies

Clann Members get a Certificate of Membership signed and wax sealed

Clann Members are also entitled to claim membership benefits - please see the perks for different membership levels. 

• Early supporters get extra thank you gifts including custom designed high quality t-shirts and hoodies.
• Clann members have a claim to the first produced and numbered collector edition bottles, gallon casks or full sized casks of Nephin Whiskey.  Bottles and gallon sized casks of Irish distilled spirit will be delivered free of charge to Clann Members anywhere in the world, while full sized casks are legally owned by the members, but stored and matured in the Distillery (for 3 years and a day) awaiting your instructions -  to mature further, transport, sell or bottle.
  

Paul Davis & Mark Quick model the handcrafted gallon sized casks given to Clann (Note: Donkey not included!!)

Local Impact

"This is visionary. The first thing that struck me is that the community are behind this" - Enda Kenny, An Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister)

From the very beginning of our project, we have worked with the local community in County Mayo to ensure that the craft distillery not only produces a genuine craft Whiskey, but also contributes economically & socially to the area.

• Creating 18 full time permanent jobs for local people.
• Apprenticing young people in the crafts of traditional peat malting and cooperage, which is fast becoming a lost art.
• Sourcing all materials and services locally where possible with an almost zero environmental footprint.

We are also proud to be rejuvenating the center of Lahardaun Village.

Photograph of Lahardaun Village now

Architectural Image of Lahardaun Village after restoration

Risks & Challenges

Breaking into a market dominated by massive Multinational Corporations is always difficult. 

It will require us to us to stay true to our founding values, retain the support of the local community and our early stage supporters, and constantly communicate our unique story through open, straight communication. 

While all the Multinational Corporations try to create "heritage" stories in their marketing boardrooms, we will be living a genuine story of a small, craft, Irish owned, Whiskey Distillery.

And we invite everyone to come visit us and see for themselves.

Sláinte

Other Ways You Can Help

Whether you support this project financially or not, you can always help by sharing this page with your family, friends or colleagues and by posting on Facebook, Twitter or whichever social media you use.

Go raibh míle maith agat!!

FAQs

Can I buy a certificate of membership as a gift for someone else?

Great idea - you sure can.  Just tell us the name of the lucky person.

Can I buy multiple of one perk - say 12 bottles of Nephin Whiskey?

Definitely.

Where will you ship?

We will ship any of the perks to anywhere in the world.  Shipping is included.

When do I get my swag?

Photographs, t-shirts, hoodies and certificates of Clann membership will be dispatched within 2 weeks, but depending on where you are in the world delivery may vary.  

When can I use my certificate to claim my bottle or mini cask?

Clann members opting for the Vodka, Gin or mini casks of Irish distilled spirit will get their bottles dispatched within 1 week of crafting.  This is scheduled for August 2015. 

Clann members option for the bottles or mini casks of Whiskey will have to wait for the spirit to mature before they can claim their loot.  This takes 3 years - we can't rush Whiskey, but meantime you will have a beautiful wax sealed certificate which you can frame and display - to remind you what's on the way.