Distilling the future: an Irish university on the challenge of a changing whiskey world

More women, stronger innovation and the pursuit of deeper industry knowledge are the core drivers at Technological University Dublin’s brewing and distilling courses  

Marie Byrne has always been “wildly ambitious” for the Irish whiskey industry. That ambition has not dimmed in the face of the challenges whiskey makers are currently facing. Indeed, the executive advisor and adjunct lecturer on brewing and distilling courses at Technological University Dublin (TUD) is confident about the future of Irish whiskey.

Her colleague, Dr Rena (Catherine) Ryan, is similarly future- and skills-focused. A senior lecturer in food product development, she recently launched the first MSc in Brewing and Distilling, a course that builds on almost ten years of academic and industry training in brewing and distilling at the university.

Back in stock: Midleton Very Rare 2025

Every year, the whiskey world eagerly awaits the release of the next Midleton Very Rare, part of a collection that began in 1984. The 2025 release is a truly special year, as it marks 200 years of whiskey-making excellence at Midleton Distillery.

Here is a whiskey of unrivalled depth and balance, meticulously composed from six distinct distillate styles. This year’s release pays tribute to the past and the extraordinary whiskeys that have come from this iconic distillery.

Exceptional New Price: Buy our single cask 18-year-old Highland Park and get a core 18-year-old bottling for free

Our single cask Highland Park 18 is an exemplary bottle, and one of only 515 created in an exclusive collaboration between Highland Park Distillery and the Single Malt Shop. Distilled in 2002, it was matured in a refill butt and bottled in 2021 at 57.4% ABV.

This release lifts the already globally recognised Highland Park 18 to another level, with its maturation in a hand-selected cask that was chosen to amplify and perfect the signature flavour of the Highland Park range.

Now, in an incredible celebration of Highland Park’s work, and for a limited time, everyone who buys the single cask release at its new price will also receive a core bottling of the distillery’s 18-year-old.