Q&A With Jason Stubbs, Managing Director at Barr an Uisce

By Kurt Maitland

KM: Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and how Barr an Uisce got started?

JS: My background is in Information Technology. I was a full-time musician for 8 years before starting the whiskey business. The idea for Barr an Uisce came from my business partner, Ian Jones. Ian is a scientist and runs a very successful pharma business in Dublin, Ireland. His family go back to the 1800s in Redcross County,  Wicklow, and it is from their story that Barr an Uisce was born. We use water from Ian’s family well to cut our whiskeys.

KM: How have your plans for Barr an Uisce changed from when it was first conceived to the present day? What have you learned and what changes have been made from your earliest releases to today’s expressions?

JS: Our plan from the beginning was to grow our product range in a carefully planned way, while developing our presence in many markets. We have progressed with this and now have 4 whiskeys in our range, and we sell our products in 15 international markets. Even though most businesses have been affected by covid, we are still planning to release new products and introduce our whiskeys into new markets. We have learned that there is a huge demand for Irish whiskey and a thirst for new and interesting expressions.

KM: What are your thoughts on the current Irish Whiskey market/choices for consumers?

JS: The Irish whiskey market is still growing, and while we continue to chase the scotch market, there is a definite demand from customers for more variety for their palate. Every time I see a new Irish whiskey company emerge or new expressions released from existing players, I feel it is yet another positive step for Irish whiskey brand as a whole.

KM: Where do you see Barr an Uisce in that marketplace? How would you compare your releases to other Irish whiskeys?

JS: With our 4 products we are most definitely positioned at both ends of the spectrum, offering not only a beautiful introductory whiskey like the Wicklow Hills blend, but also offering more aged products yup to and including our limited edition 16-Year-old single malt. We are the only Irish whiskey that uses water from a family well in County Wicklow.

KM: What’s the hardest part of being in the current Irish whiskey marketplace?

JS: Obviously Covid has had a huge impact on being able to travel to meet customers and engage at tasting events. We all need to keep the Irish Whiskey flag flying to develop our share in the marketplace.

KM: How did you pick the whiskies that comprise your releases?

JS: Through a concentrated tasting process and careful consideration of the trends in the market. We also wanted to make sure our story and brand were represented in the products that we release.

KM: Talk to us about the Cooley Distillery and what it means to Irish whiskey both in general and to Barr an Uisce in particular?

JS: We make no secret about the fact that some of our products have come from Cooley and Mr. John Teeling directly. John has been a huge driving force for the Irish whiskey brand and continues to be, even after he sold Cooley to Beam Suntory.

KM: Are there any future plans or releases that you can hip our readers to?

JS: Watch this space, but there will definitely be some new aged products coming very soon