A long lost Irish-French connection has been re-established:
"Old Carrick Mill" and Barton & Guestier
Barton & Guestier supplied 50 mature French oak 350-litre barrels from its property Château Magnol to 'Old Carrick Mill' distillery in Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, The old mill, once the leading flour mill in the region, was owned by the Barton family. To this day the building is still known locally in Carrickmacross as "Barton's Mill". It was originally run by the family of William Barton whose brother Thomas founded Barton & Guestier in Bordeaux in 1725.
"Old Carrick Mill" distillery owner Steven Murphy established his distillery at the old 18th century mill complex at Derrylavin, Carrickmacross in 2014. He already produces award-winning top quality small batch gin and now that the ageing barrels arrived from France, he will soon start distilling his first whiskey.
The "Irish-French connection" was unexpectedly re-established in the USA, when Steven brought his 'Old Carrick Mill' brand gin to the prestigious Wine & Spirit Wholesalers of America trade show in Orlando, Florida.
At that trade show Steven's stand just happened to be located right next to the Barton & Guestier stand and the B&G USA representative was amazed to hear about the place where Barton family members had lived and informed Barton & Guestier in France, who invited Steven to come over to Bordeaux.
Steven came to Château Magnol in September 2017 for two important things: The first was the marriage proposal he made to his girl-friend (!) the second was his meeting with Laurent Prada, B&G Winemaker and Château Magnol Cellar Master. Discussions and tastings of the wine in the barrels, allowed Steven to select the barrels for his first whiskey. "In these barrels, fine wine is infused in the wood, and with locally sourced limestone filtered water and the whiskey's key ingredients added during the distilling process, it will give the whiskey a very distinct flavour".
The original 20ft diameter water wheel at 'Barton's Mill', its French grinding stones, malting room, sluces and wooden machinery are all still largely intact but in need of restoration. With a view to taking advantage of future tourism opportunities, Steven plans to restore 'Barton's Mill' to a working mill once more and to significently boost employment in the area creating as many as 30 jobs over the next five years.
Laurent Prada: "It is great to realize that our barrels go the place where once a member of the family lived. Our company history is passionate and rich and we are far from knowing everyting. With this connection, it is another piece of the puzzle that has been put in the right place. This being said, I am very much looking forward to taste a glass of the first whiskey coming from a barrel of Château Magnol!".
More information: www.oldcarrickmill.ie
