Nearly €130m is to be spent expanding and upgrading the distillery in Midleton and maturation site in Dungourney, Cork while the remaining €20m will be invested in its bottling plant in Fox and Geese, Dublin.

Conor McQuaid, chairman and CEO at Irish Distillers said: “This €150m investment in Midleton, Dungourney and Fox and Geese reflects the growing international success of Irish Distillers’ whiskey portfolio. 

“Irish whiskey is the fastest growing premium spirit in the world, with sales now accounting for more than one third of all Irish beverage exports. 

“This investment will help to allow this growth to continue for years to come. The company is proud to play its role in the Irish drinks industry, which is a hugely important part of the Irish economy.”

The investment will see the construction of eight maturation warehouses, each holding 16,800 casks, with further land to be purchased to support the next phase of development, in Dungourney.

The company will also add an additional mechanical vapour recompression evaporator, a third mash filter and new fermenters to its Midleton Distillery in Cork to expand capacity.

The distillery will also complete construction of a new office building in July 2019.