Growing momentum for contemporary Irish whiskey brand continues with O’Neill’s rollout
Born Irish Whiskey from Kirker Greer Spirits has secured a new on-trade listing with Mitchells & Butlers, one of the UK's leading restaurant and pub companies, marking another significant milestone in the brand’s continued growth across domestic and international markets.
The listing sees Born Irish Whiskey introduced across O’Neill’s, Mitchells & Butlers’ Irish pub brand, with the whiskey now available in venues nationwide. The brand features in both the ‘Irish Picks’ and ‘Premium Shots’ sections of the menu, while O’Neill’s will also be promoting Born Irish & Cola as a featured serve.
The new partnership builds on a period of strong momentum for Born Irish. The brand recently secured its first major UK grocery listing with Tesco, significantly expanding its retail footprint, while internationally it has strengthened its presence in Nordic Global Travel Retail through a distribution partnership with Nigab.
The O’Neill’s listing also follows the recent launch of Born Irish Tops, the brand’s contemporary serve strategy designed to broaden whiskey’s appeal through an approachable combination of Born Irish Whiskey, premium cola and a stout top. Together, these initiatives reflect the brand’s ambition to recruit a new generation of whiskey drinkers through accessible-serves, contemporary branding and expanded availability.
Richard Ryan, Co-founder of Drinksology Kirker Greer, commented:
"We created Born Irish to challenge traditional perceptions of Irish whiskey and make the category feel more relevant and accessible to modern drinkers. Securing a listing with a leading operator such as Mitchells & Butlers is a fantastic endorsement of both the quality of the liquid and the opportunity that exists to attract new consumers into Irish whiskey.
"O’Neill’s is an iconic Irish pub brand with genuine Irish credentials and a strong connection with consumers. It’s exactly the kind of environment where Born Irish feels at home."
An O’Neill’s spokesperson added:
"Born Irish stood out because it brings something different to the Irish whiskey category. The liquid has real depth of flavour, but the brand itself feels modern, approachable and relevant to today's consumers.
"We're always looking for ways to offer our guests authentic Irish brands that deliver quality and character, and Born Irish does exactly that. The Born Irish & Cola serve also provides an accessible way for guests to enjoy Irish whiskey, whether they're existing whiskey drinkers or trying the category for the first time."
Born Irish is a triple-distilled Irish whiskey blend matured in heavily charred ex-bourbon casks before being finished in stout-seasoned casks and enhanced with natural malt infusions and vanilla. The result is a rich, naturally dark whiskey that delivers smoothness and flavour in equal measure.
As Irish whiskey continues to attract new consumers globally, Born Irish is carving out a distinctive position through its contemporary approach to branding, serve strategy and distribution. With growing availability across the on-trade, retail and travel retail channels, the brand is well positioned to continue building awareness among a new generation of whiskey drinkers.
About Born Irish Whiskey
Born Irish, a triple distilled Irish Whiskey blend, is aged in deep #4 alligator char ex-bourbon casks for the ultimate expression of colour and flavour. It is then finished in rich stout casks for elevated malt character and colour, and made dark with natural malt infusions and vanilla. The result, a rich, naturally dark whiskey that’s as smooth as a pint of the black stuff.
To learn more, follow @bornirishwhiskey on Instagram
