Ahascragh Distillery Is Redefining Irish Spirits With Zero Emissions
Photo: Ahascragh Distillery
Ahascragh Distillery is rewriting what modern Irish spirits can look like. Founded by Gareth and Michelle McAllister, Ahascragh is built on the belief that exceptional spirits and climate leadership can move forward together, making them a Seeing Green Solutionist of the Day.
Set in a restored nineteenth-century mill in County Galway, the distillery blends heritage with cutting-edge engineering to produce premium whiskey and gin while operating as Ireland’s first zero energy emissions distillery.
Crafting Premium Whiskey and Gin
Ahascragh produces an award-winning lineup that includes Clan Colla Irish whiskey, the UAIS Triple Blend, and Xin Gin. Their whiskeys use a mash bill of malt and barley, triple distilled through Forsyths copper stills named after the McAllister children. Xin Gin, created by Michelle, pairs Irish and Asian botanicals and has already earned double-gold recognition. As the distillery expands, sourced spirits will transition to liquid made entirely on-site using Ahascragh’s own zero-emissions process. A fully automated production system monitors water usage and reduces waste while protecting the integrity of each spirit.
Zero Energy Emissions by Design
Ahascragh Distillery stands apart through a groundbreaking approach to energy. Instead of fossil-fuel boilers, the team uses high-temperature industrial heat pumps paired with renewable wind and solar power. An advanced thermal storage system captures and recycles energy that most distilleries exhaust, allowing production temperatures above 115 degrees. This design enables the distillery to operate with zero energy emissions and eliminates roughly 1,690 tonnes of CO2 every year across scope 1 and scope 2 emissions.
Innovation Built Into a Historic Mill
The distillery’s sustainability story starts with the restoration of the old village mill. Every pipe in the building is insulated for efficiency, and a 20,000-liter buffer tank stores recovered heat to reduce overall demand. Solar panels now supply close to one third of the distillery’s electricity and will soon be joined by a hydro system powered by the original mill water wheel, which is being rebuilt and fitted with modern generation technology. Clean water is sourced from two on-site wells and managed through a clean-in-place system that minimizes total usage.
Sustainable Packaging From Bottle to Box
Ahascragh is also rethinking packaging choices across its portfolio. The team is phasing out plastic seals in favor of biodegradable cellulose substitutes and shifting its shipping cases to FSC certified cardboard. Their UAIS bottle already demonstrates what fully responsible packaging can look like with 100 percent recycled glass, recycled paper labels, a sustainable wood stopper, and a vegetable-based biodegradable seal. These efforts are reinforced through Origin Green membership and recognition from the SEAI Energy Awards and The Spirits Business Awards.
Revitalizing a Village Through Responsible Growth
The McAllisters have invested €10 million into restoring several historic buildings adjacent to the mill and have created 30 direct jobs in the community. The Old Mill Café and Shop has become a thriving local hub, and the team is planning additional amenities and warehouse expansion to support long-term production. By bringing new life to the village while producing zero-emissions spirits, Ahascragh is showing how heritage, innovation, and sustainability can work together to reshape the future of Irish distilling.