A new Co Fermanagh based distillery became a record breaker this week after its first bottle fetched £11,000 at auction.
Scotts Irish Whisky became the most expensive first bottle of Irish whiskey ever sold in Europe following the auction at the London Irish Centre on Thursday.
The previous record holder was Teeling Whiskey Celebratory Single Pot Still, which sold for £10,000 three years ago.
The distillery is based in the village of Garrison, close to the border with Donegal, and draws its inspiration from the story of Angus Scott, a local man who distilled whisky around the waters of Lough Melvin in the 1790s.
Scott travelled to America where he made his fortune selling bourbon and became a drinks tycoon.
The distillery is owned by Fermanagh native Conal Treacy, with master distiller John Donnelly the man behind the bottle.
Conal said he was delighted to see the response to the newly launched brand, and said there are big plans to come to make the distillery a destination for people to visit.
Conal said: “It was fantastic. Obviously a brilliant cause in the shape of the London Irish Centre who do so much for the community here in London and we were also delighted to see the reaction to our whisky from the people present at the launch.
“We are a local company with big ambitions and it was great to get off to this start.
“The future is bright and exciting. Distillery tours, whisky schools, a restaurant, a bar, and accommodation are all in our plans.
"We want Scotts Irish to become a destination distillery, and a place that will bring people to the local area."
3,000 bottles have been made in the original first batch, with distiller John describing it as "smooth in a very natural way".
John added: “It has a sweetness that is not overpowering and there is also a length and a flavour to the whisky.
“It gets better as you savour it. There is no harshness and instead the experience improves.
“We like to say it is almost ‘love at second sight’ as it lingers and stays with you.”
