UK-headquartered spirits group Quintessential Brands is temporarily closing one of its Irish whiskey sites, The Dublin Liberties Distillery.

The company confirmed to Just Drinks that production at the distillery was paused as of the end of last week.

It added that the visitor centre at the site would close tomorrow (20 May).

Just Drinks has also asked the group whether there is any potential impact on jobs.

“We have not been immune to the headwinds in the whiskey sector but are committed to reopening again soon,” a Quintessential Brands spokesperson said in a statement.

The Liberties site has the capacity to produce more than 700,000 litres of whiskey a year, according to its website.

In March, Pernod Ricard said it would pause production at its Midleton Irish whiskey distillery in County Cork in April, with operations expected to start again “in the summer”.

At the time, the Spot whiskey distiller said the Midleton site was “adjusting its production schedule for a routine, periodic review”.

In April, William Grant & Sons also confirmed reports it would be halting production of its Tullamore Dew whiskey by up to three months.

Quintessential Brands acquired Liberties in 2016, opening the distillery and visitor experience in 2019.

Construction of the site was supported by a €18.3m investment from Stock Spirits Group in 2017. As part of the cash injection, the Clan Campbell owner took a 25% stake in Quintessential Brands’ Irish whiskey division, which includes Liberties, plus The Dubliner and The Dead Rabbit whiskey brands.

Set up in 2011 by former Campari Group CEO Enzo Visone, Quintessential Brands operates in 150 markets. The company's spirits brands include Ophir gin, Feeney’s Irish cream and Toussaint coffee rum liqueur.

It manages four manufacturing plants across the UK, France and Ireland.