Ireland’s first eco-distillery looks to ‘redefine’ industry standards
Ahascragh Distillery, Ireland’s first zero-energy emissions distillery of scale, powered entirely by renewable electricity, is to ‘redefine’ industry standards, this time by setting a new benchmark for digital transparency and traceability in Irish whiskey production and maturation.
Ahascragh Distillery
Partnering with Proof 8, the blockchain-backed distillery and warehouse management platform, Ahascragh has connected its entire operation end-to-end, unlocking real-time production data, consistent batch control, and full cask visibility to bring peace of mind to cask owners.
“We didn’t want innovation to stop with sustainability,” said Gareth McAllister, founder of Ahascragh Distillery.
“That’s where Proof 8 came in.
“They helped us rethink how we manage production and maturation by prioritising data.
“It’s brought structure and transparency to everything from recipe management and distilling to tracking every cask in our warehouse.
“It helps us run the distillery with a level of precision we just couldn’t get before.
“When you can see your numbers in real time, you can run tighter, avoid waste, and plan ahead.”
As Ahascragh prepares to release its own whiskey, the distillery needed a secure and scalable system to support operational growth and compliance.
Paper records such as batch sheets and spreadsheets no longer cut it under increasing complex compliance demands, especially with rising concerns around cask fraud and investment transparency.
By implementing Proof 8, they have digitalised every workflow, capturing data in real-time.
From exact recipe precision to mash and flow monitoring.
They now automate financial and duty reporting and issue Proof 8’s unique Digital Deeds to every cask at the moment of filling.
“Before, operators would write down flow rates or ABVs on paper, and someone else would input it later.
“It was messy. Slow.’ said Gareth.
“With Proof 8, that’s all gone.
“We’ve digitalised everything.
“Operators log data directly into the system in real time.
“There’s no duplication, no chasing paper.
“And with data now stored accurately and centrally, we have confidence that what we produce today can be replicated consistently every year.”
Central to Ahascragh’s transformation is the Recipe Builder – a Proof 8 feature that solves the challenge of consistency.
Ahascragh now creates, manages and replicates recipes using exact ingredients and quantities, every time.
Gareth says, “Every recipe is now locked down for consistency.
“No more storing our recipes on spreadsheets which were prone to errors.
“We now have clarity over what’s happening today, next week or next month, whether it’s mashing, distillation or cask filling.
“Proof 8 keeps the whole operation moving and helps us make smarter decisions when things change, which they do in this business!”
Rob Hollands, CEO of Proof 8, says, “In today’s climate of rising costs, shifting tariffs and unpredictability, distilleries are demanding more control and greater efficiency than ever before.
“We’re supporting the industry with meaningful tools and data that ensure consistency, quality and maximum yields, all whilst reducing admin and errors.
“The addition of full transparency for cask owners is a game-changing innovation that is solving the real issues of trust and credibility that the industry has been facing.”
Every cask at Ahascragh is issued a Digital Deed, an immutable digital record that stays with a cask for its lifetime.
This gives cask owners full visibility over their asset: what it is, where it is and that it’s authentic.
These records are accessible to cask owners, warehousekeepers, producers and managing agents in real time, creating unprecedented transparency in a system where previously this was lacking.
Gareth explains, “Digital Deeds bring much needed transparency and assurance to cask ownership.
“When you have a lot of casks coming in and out of a warehouse, it’s vital to have an accurate count of both the number of casks and the litres of alcohol held. Having that information easily accessible – and available for reporting to HMRC or Irish Revenue – is invaluable.
“Digital Deeds are a huge step forward in providing authenticity and confidence that a cask is exactly where it should be – and that it is what it claims to be.”
Ahascragh Distillery is not only leading the way in sustainable, digital-first Irish whiskey production, but supporting the regeneration of the local area as well.
“We’re proud of what we’re building here.
“Regenerating an old site, running sustainably, and bringing digital clarity into every part of our process.
“That combination is what makes Ahascragh unique.
“And it’s why we believe we’re building something with real longevity.” Gareth concludes.
