Pernod Ricard pauses Midleton whiskey production amid industry slowdown

Pernod Ricard’s Irish Distillers has announced a temporary halt to whiskey production at its Midleton Distillery, the home of Jameson, Redbreast, Midleton Very Rare and Powers. The post Pernod Ricard pauses Midleton whiskey production amid industry slowdown appeared first on The Drinks Business.

Mar 10, 2025 - 12:01

Pernod Ricard pauses Midleton whiskey production amid industry slowdown

Pernod Ricard’s Irish Distillers has announced a temporary halt to whiskey production at its Midleton Distillery, the home of Jameson, Redbreast, Midleton Very Rare and Powers. The decision, described as a routine review, comes at a time when other major spirits producers, including Diageo and Brown-Forman, are also scaling back operations due to global supply outpacing demand.

Strategic adjustment or symptom of surplus?

A spokesperson for Irish Distillers confirmed: “The distillery will temporarily pause production in early April and will recommence in the summer to support the sustainable global growth of its portfolio of Irish whiskeys.” They added that the company remains “fully committed” to Midleton’s production, with all stakeholders informed to enable forward business planning. The move echoes recent decisions in the whisky industry. Diageo has suspended distilling and barrel-filling at its Kentucky facility until June, while Brown-Forman announced a shared production model for two of its Scottish distilleries earlier this year. Meanwhile, Bushmills has also scaled back production, and smaller players such as Waterford Whisky and Blackwater Distillery have faced financial distress.

Delayed expansion as market recalibrates

Alongside the production pause, Pernod Ricard has delayed the completion of its €250m Midleton expansion, originally set to bolster future output. The company told The Sunday Times: “While the timeline of the new distillery has evolved, construction is still progressing on site and Irish Distillers remains absolutely committed to the delivery of the new distillery and the sustainable global growth of its portfolio of Irish whiskeys into the future.” The slowdown comes despite strong historic growth for Irish whiskey. The Irish Whiskey Association reported exports exceeding €1bn in 2024, up 13% year-on-year, with total sales in 2023 reaching 15.5 million cases. However, as the spirits business noted, the latest production pauses suggest that “supply is exceeding demand across spirits firms in all three major whisky nations.”

A milestone year for Midleton

The decision to pause production coincides with Midleton Distillery’s 200th anniversary celebrations. Irish Distillers has planned a series of whiskey launches and events to honour the milestone, including the final release in the Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection, a 50-year-old expression marking the last drops of spirit from the old Midleton Distillery. Irish Distillers CEO Nodjame Fouad framed the anniversary as an opportunity to reflect on the past while looking ahead: “As we look to the future, and in the 200th year of Midleton Distillery, we want to pay tribute to our rich distilling tradition by celebrating our home, our history, our people, our brands and our craft.”