OUR HERITAGE

Matthias McManus establishes Kilbeggan’s first distillery under the patronage of Gustavus Lambert. Early documentation shows McManus’ still had a capacity of 232 gallons and likely produced around 1,500 gallons per annum

The Distilling Act requires all makers of Irish whiskey to operate with a government-authorized license. Many distillers go underground, as illicit operations spring up throughout central Ireland

The Temperance Movement is founded in County Cork, several hours south of Kilbeggan, by Franciscan priest, Father Theobald Mathew, known also as the “Apostle of Temperance.” As much of Ireland’s population pledges to abstain from alcohol for life, the impact on distilleries is devastating. The movement is officially known as the “Cork Total Abstinence Society” and enrolls half of Irish society at the height of its influence.

Fire destroys part of the distillery. Townspeople smash down warehouse doors allowing several thousand casks to roll into the street, thereby preventing destruction of both facility and supply

Owing to food shortages throughout Great Britain, the distilling of whiskey in Ireland is suspended.

In October, the United States Congress passes the Volstead Act, which marks the beginning of America’s Prohibition Movement. Wayne Wheeler of the Anti-Saloon League drafts the bill, outlawing the production, sale and transport of intoxication liquors. In short order, Kilbeggan Distillery’s key export market is closed.

Amid a perfect storm of external interference, Kilbeggan Distilling Co. ceases distillation and begins to sell off the stock of whiskey left aging in its warehouse. Most workers are dismissed; the future of the distillery is bleak.

Whiskey production at Kilbeggan Distilling Co. resumes after the end of America’s Prohibition Movement.

Excise tax increase leads Kilbeggan Distillery’s stills to shut down – this time seemingly for good.

German buyer, Karl Heinz Mellor, purchases the distillery and makes a small fortune selling off the remaining whiskey and a rare left-hand drive Mercedes-Benz® automobile. He turns the distillery into a pigsty, uses thousands of unused bottles to form concrete floors. A grim moment for Kilbeggan, much reviled by locals.

The Kilbeggan Preservation and Development Association is formed by townspeople. The organization acquires a caretaker’s lease, and begins fundraising for future renovations by selling lifetime memberships.

With the help of the Keoghan brothers and timber donated from local mills, the restoration of the waterwheel is completed, and it turns for the first time in nearly thirty years.

Distilling recommences at Kilbeggan Distilling Co. using traditional methods and antique copper stills.

Addition of mashing and fermenting equipment to the distillery allows the complete distilling processes, from grain to cask, to occur under one roof for select Kilbeggan Distilling Company whiskeys.

Kilbeggan® Single Grain is introduced to the world, and provides a welcome addition to the family of Kilbeggan Distilling Company whiskeys.