Dublin, 1 September 2025 – Ferovinum has marked its formal entry into the Irish drinks market by announcing a long-term partnership with Sliabh Liag Distillers, unlocking a facility up to €15m in working capital to support the Donegal-based producer’s ambitious growth plans. This is on the heels of a $550m asset-backed securitisation program that Fero completed at the end of June opening up Irish, European and American markets. The deal signals Ferovinum’s commitment to Ireland as a strategic hub for spirits innovation and export, building on the company’s pan-European expansion.
While the move coincides with the engagement of industry veteran Alex Peirce in Ireland, Ferovinum stresses that its core focus is on forging lasting partnerships with distillers. Fero is unique – offering a flexible alternative to traditional finance combined with cutting-edge supply chain technology in a sector defined by long maturation cycles and significant capital needs.
Unlocking growth in a dynamic whiskey landscape
Irish whiskey has been one of the more dynamic spirits categories of the past decade, with exports climbing and consumer interest surging. Yet, as James Doherty, co-founder of Sliabh Liag Distillers, points out, the market is still in a formative phase:
“The Irish industry is both one of the oldest and the youngest in the world. On one hand, it’s steeped in heritage, but outside of Jameson, the scale is still quite small when compared to a category like Scotch. It is also highly consolidated and therefore ripe for some diversification, some differentiation and some distinctiveness. That creates space for innovative newcomers like ourselves, it creates huge headroom to grow.”
For Doherty, the partnership with Ferovinum is about more than capital. It represents confidence in the intrinsic value of Sliabh Liag’s whiskey-making:
“Ferovinum’s model isn’t just about sales projections. They’ve recognised the authenticity and quality of what we’re producing. That gives us peace of mind, knowing our foundations are robust, so we can focus on building the business, telling our story, and driving growth. ”
A new kind of partnership
Traditional bank finance often falls short for distillers, where cash is tied up in spirit laid down to mature over years. Ferovinum’s model, by contrast, enables producers to unlock working capital from maturing stock while retaining control of their business.
Gregor Mathieson, Director of Spirits at Ferovinum, explained:
“What makes Ireland so exciting is the infectious energy of its distillers and brand owners. Naturally compelling storytellers who combine tradition with a real hunger to innovate. But it’s a long game and growth is capital-intensive. In partnering with Sliabh Liag, we are demonstrating how our platform can empower producers to scale-up sustainably, without giving up equity or compromising on quality.”
Ireland as a strategic market
Ferovinum’s CEO, Mitch Fowler positioned the move as a long-term strategic investment:
“Ireland is not just another market for us – it’s really an important market and part of our vision. Irish whiskey has huge global potential and by supporting distillers like Sliabh Liag, we’re investing in that future and in the strength of Ireland’s drinks sector more broadly.”
The partnership underscores Ferovinum’s broader strategy of building relationships in markets with both deep tradition and strong growth potential. For Doherty, the timing could not be better:
“Knowing we have this long-term financial structure in place means we can keep our eyes on the bigger picture – bringing Donegal whiskey to the world and building something truly enduring.”
Ferovinum’s debut in Ireland with Sliabh Liag Distillers is exciting, but also more a commitment and a statement of intent for the market as whole: to be a long-term partner for the country’s distillers, helping them unlock the capital tied up in barrels and focus on what they do best – making world-class spirits.
If you would like to learn more about Ferovinum or set up a call please visit the contact us page or send us an email at info@ferovinum.com.
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