Priority Brands - Ireland

Guinness

Guinness is the best selling stout in the world with 10 million glasses being enjoyed every day in 150 countries. Famous for its dark colour, creamy head and distinctive surge and settle, Guinness has been brewed from the same natural ingredients from its inception – malted barley, water, hops and yeast. But, it is the addition of a small quantity of roasted barley that gives Guinness stout its ruby colour and distinctive taste.

Learn more about Guinness at www.guinness.com

Learn more about Guinness Storehouse, the Home of Guinness at www.guinness-storehouse.com

Baileys Irish Cream

Baileys is the number one selling liqueur in the world*and a real Irish success story. Launched in 1974 it is exclusively produced and bottled in Ireland and sold in over 160 markets.

Baileys is a unique blend of fresh Irish dairy cream, finest spirits, Irish whiskey, sugar and chocolate flavour. The process of blending the cream with the whiskey , sugar and chocolate produces the authentic taste of Baileys enjoyed the world over.

Over 40,000 dairy cows produce the daily cream requirement and the majority of the Baileys premium-quality ingredients and packaging are sourced in Ireland. It is also completely natural and does not require preservatives.

Baileys can be served straight up, on the rocks, in cocktails, shaken in a cocktail shaker over ice, blended with ice or in coffee.

Learn more about Baileys at www.baileys.com

*Impact magazine Feb 2008

Bushmills

Bushmills holds the oldest license for whiskey distillation in the world. On April 20th, 1608 King James 1st granted the Governor of Ireland's Ulster province, Sir Thomas Phillips, a licence to distil in the Bushmills area.

Today, Bushmills remains a community of whiskey makers, a village in the heart of Ireland's corn country where the distiller's craft has been preserved against all the odds in order to produce the original and best Irish Whiskeys. In 2010, it was voted the Best in the World Irish Whiskey at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

It is the only Irish whiskey where all stages of production are still conducted under one roof, guaranteeing the consistently high quality demanded by consumers around the world. Bushmills produces a family of malt and blended whiskeys with a wide range of flavours, but all retain the same Bushmills qualities: they are sweet with a soft, pleasant mouth-coating texture – and they all balance depth with finesse

Learn more about Bushmills at www.bushmills.com

Budweiser

Budweiser is brewed by Diageo Ireland under license from AB InBev and has become a firm favourite since its launch here in Ireland in 1986. Brew masters agree the most complex beer to produce is one that is skilfully balanced, so that no single ingredient overpowers another. Budweiser accomplished this with a special brewing process which gives it its clean, crisp taste. Beechwood ageing lightens the colour and body in Budweiser, setting it apart from other lagers. This ensures a world-class product is delivered at all times.

Learn more about Budweiser at www.budweiser.com

Carlsberg

Carlsberg's distinctive aroma and colour have made it one of Ireland's most popular lagers. It is brewed from the finest ingredients of malted barley, water, hops and yeast. Carlsberg has been brewed and marketed by Diageo in Ireland under licence since 1988.

Since its foundation, the Carlsberg commitment to quality control has been part of its brewing ethic. A fresh, clean taste has made it one of the most famous beers in the world. Lager drinkers who value the quality and heritage inherent in Carlsberg are particularly loyal consumers.

Learn more about Carlsberg at www.carlsberg.com

Captain Morgan

Captain Morgan Original Spiced Gold was introduced to the Irish market in 2008 following the re-brand of Morgan's Spiced rum. Currently the fastest selling spirit in the on trade in the island of Ireland, it is now ranked the 7th best selling spirit globally.

Captain Morgan is an iconic brand which is all about sparking legendary party times with friends. The Captain Morgan character, the brand icon, is a loveable rogue with a fun-loving attitude and larger than life spirit.

Smooth and medium bodied, Captain Morgan Original Spiced Gold is a spirit drink based on a secret blend of Caribbean rums, mellow spice and other natural flavours. It gets its distinct richness and amber colour from aging the rum in charred white oak barrels. Captain Morgan Original Spiced Gold is the perfect mix with Cola – the secret recipe of spices blend with the Cola to make a legendary mix!

Learn more about Captain Morgan at www.captainmorgan.com

Smirnoff

Smirnoff, the world's number one spirit brand*traces its origins to the distillery established by P.A. Smirnoff in Moscow in 1864. The distillery was closed after the Bolshevik revolution, but the brand was revived by P.A.'s son, Vladimir, in France in the 1920s after his escape from Russia. Smirnoff vodka was first made in America in March 1934, three months after the repeal of Prohibition.

Smirnoff is triple distilled which ensures heightened purity and every single drop of Smirnoff No.21 takes 8 hours to filter through hardwood charcoal in a 10 column stage process.

In a January 2005 New York Times blind test of 21 world-class vodkas, Smirnoff was named its "hands-down favourite". Smirnoff has always been known for quality vodka and is enjoyed responsibly in 130 countries around the world.

Learn more about Smirnoff at www.smirnoff.com

*Power 100 2010

Smithwick's

300 years ago, in 1710, John Smithwick began brewing his first Ales – although the Smithwick's story started long before then. John Smithwick chose the site of an ancient monastery – St. Francis' Abbey – to position his brewery. John was inspired by a tradition of brewing on this site, the foundations of which were laid four centuries earlier.

Back in the 13th century The Franciscans established an Abbey, with its own well, on the banks of the River Nore in Kilkenny. Whilst brewing and barley cultivation are recorded in the Irish Annals from the mists of time, the strong brewing tradition that exists in Kilkenny started with these monks who brewed their own light ale for their visitors using water from St. Francis' Well.

To this day the Abbey stands proudly at the heart of the brewery and continues to inspire our brewers. Smithwick's is long established as the number one ale in Ireland and the largest imported ale in the USA and Canada. Smithwick's Superior Irish Ale – crafted and perfected since 1710.

Learn more about Smithwick's at www.smithwicks.com