| Location | Marlfield |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1817 |
| Founder | John Stein & Co. |
| Status | Defunct |
| Water source | St. Patrick's Well[1] |
| No. of stills | In 1856: 2 pot stills (9,980 gallon Wash still, 5,890 gallon Low Wines still), 1 Coffey Still (2,000 gallons per hour)[2] |
| Mothballed | 1856 |
Marlfield Distillery was anIrish whiskey distillery which operated in the village ofMarlfield, just outside ofClonmel, Ireland between approximately 1817 and 1856.[3][4]
The majority of the distillery buildings have since been demolished, aside from those adjacent to Distillery House, which is still extant.[5]
The distillery was established in 1817 by a business consortium which included members of the Steins, a noted family of distillers from Scotland. The firm traded as “John Stein & Co.”, named for the principal of the firm, though operations at the distillery were overseen by John’s brother Andrew.[3] Others likely to have had a stake in the firm, though not necessarily when it was founded, include John Brown, John Murray, and Richard Sparrow.[6][7][8]
The distillery was located in an old mill which the firm had converted for distilling purposes.[5] In 1818, it is recorded as producing 8,268 proof gallons per week using a 500 gallon pot still.[9][10] By 1826, output had risen to 396,599 gallons per annum.[11]
In 1834, the partnership was dissolved, with John Murray, one of the partners assuming control of the company, which subsequently traded under “John Murray & Co.”[12][13]
In 1836, Marlfield Whiskey is recorded as selling in Clonmel Market for about 7 shillings a gallon.[14]
By 1838, the distillery then thriving, though output figures are not available, is known to have employed 150 people and consumed nearly 90,000 barrels of malt barley per annum.[15]
In 1846, during the height of theGreat Famine, the Distillery is noted to have sold Indian Corn Meal to its labourers at 14 pence a stone, at a time when others were selling it to the public at 2 shillings (24 pence) a stone.[16]
In 1850, the distillery was taken over by members of the famous Jameson distilling dynasty from Dublin.[3][15] Henry Jameson, the son of John Jameson founder ofJameson Irish Whiskey,[17] who resided in Marlfield for some time,[18] and is mentioned in several newspaper articles in connection with the distillery at the time likely took charge of the distillery at that point.[4] However, the business appears to have continued to trade under the name of “John Murray & Co.”
In August 1856, it was announced that the distillery was to be dismantled, the materials sold, and the buildings put up for lease.[19][4] The plant and equipment, which included pumps, twopot stills, aCoffey still, vats, 15 draft horses, and Berkshire breeding sows, were advertised for sale by private contract in August 1856.[2] A separate newspaper advert from the time listed the buildings for lease, with corn stores and paper milling being given as suggested uses for the buildings.[4] The distillery’s fire engine was purchased by the local Corporation of Clonmel.[20][21]
Marlfield Whiskey continued to be sold locally for a number of years after the distillery closed, while the remaining stocks of whiskey were wound down.[22][23]