Former Ireland rugby captain Brian O’Driscoll has become a part-owner of Glendalough Irish Whiskey, having invested in the company.

The distillery will launch its first whiskey – a seven-year-old Irish single malt – this month. Its Wicklow seasonal botanical gin will be launched in the autumn. A small batch of Glendalough’s first summer gin has been distilled in the Distillery’s Holstein copper still using fresh, local Wicklow botanicals.

Glendalough managing director Barry Gallagher said he was delighted to be launching the distillery's first single malt whiskey and Ireland's first seasonal gin.

“We have built our distillery in Wicklow, successfully launched in the US and Australia and we’re delighted to have Brian O’Driscoll on board as an investor in our company,” he added.

The company has added two new Irish brand managers who will be based in New York from September. They will be initially focused on developing the New York and Washington markets.

The Glendalough Irish Whiskey Company was established in 2011.