Third-party analysis providers to the Irish whiskey industry

ALS Life Sciences, based in Cork, have over 15 years’ experience in testing and monitoring and forms part of ALS Global company.

Key services provided:

• ABV Analysis
• Higher Alcohols Analysis
• Volatile Organic Compound Analysis
• Analysis of Fermentation by Products
• Total Solids
• Heavy Metals
• Fusel Oil
• Benzoic & Sorbic Acid Analysis

Website:  www.alsglobal.ie

Contact: Mark Gomm

Email:  mark.gomm@alsglobal.com

Phone:  +353 87 410 0845 or  +353 52 617 8100

Address: 33 Eastgate Drive, Little Island, Co. Cork, T45 C446

Fitz Scientific, based in Drogheda, have over 20 years’ experience in testing and monitoring.

Key services provided:

• Water Analysis such as Drinking Water Quality, Trade Effluent Discharge, Process Water, Surface Water & Ground Water Analysis and Pesticide Testing.
• Food Microbiological Testing including testing their raw materials such as malt and barley.
• Occupational Health & Safety monitoring, including Dust Monitoring, Workplace Noise Monitoring and Workplace Air Monitoring.

Website:  www.fitzsci.ie

Contact:  Jack Kennedy

Email:  jkennedy@fitzsci.ie or info@fitzsci.ie

Phone:  +353 41 9845440

Address: Unit 35, Boyne Business Park, Drogheda, Co Louth, A92 D52D

The laboratory, based in Dublin, offers a both a chemical and microbiological analytical service to the HSE Dublin-Mid Leinster and Dublin-North East, equivalent to a population of over two million. It provides a national service in the area of its specialisations.

Keys services provided:

The lab provides a range of water and food analysis services. See the website for more details.

Website:  https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/1/public-analyst-laboratory/

Maynooth University Chemistry Department provides GC and ABV assessment to a number of Irish whiskey producers.

Services provided:

• Anton Paar assessment of ABV.
• GC analysis whiskey samples, to identify following congeners: Acetaldehyde, Acetal, Ethyl Acetate, Methanol , 1 – Propanol, Isobutanol, 1 – Butanol, 2 - Methyl - 1 – Butanol, 3 - Methyl - 1 - Butanol , Total Amyl Alcohols, 2-Methyl butanol, 3-Methyl butanol, Total Amyl Alcohols, Isobutanol, Total Fusel Oil

Contact:  Barbara Woods

Email:  barbara.woods@mu.ie

Phone:  +353 1 7084625 or +353 87 6844067

Address:  Department of Chemistry, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare

Spirit of Hven Laboratory works in the chemical field of taste and scent. The lab is frequently used to ensure quality and to advise companies in the food and drink industry from all parts of the world. 

Key services offered:

• Total Alcohol analysis, Accredited method according to ISO 17025 (Methanol, Ethanol, 1-Propanol, 2-Propanol, Isobutanol, 1-Butanol, 3-Methyl-1-Butanol, 2-Methyl-1-Butanol, Phenyl ethylalcohol
• Standard Spirit Analysis (According to (EU) 2019/787) (Alcohol, Total acidity (as acetic acid), Esters (as ethyl acetate), Aldehydes (as acetic aldehyde), Higher alcohols, Methanol, Dry extract, Volatile bases containing Nitrogen, Furfural)
• Fingerprint analysis (GC-MS analysis of sample)
• Maturation Acids (Ellagic acid, Gallic acid, Vanillic acid, Syringic acid)
• Aldehydes (Syringaldehyde, Coniferaldehyde, Sinapaldehyde, Cinnamaldehyde)
• Phenols in spirits (Phenol, o-Cresol, m/p-Cresol, Guaiacol, 3/4-ethyl phenol, 4-methyl guaiacol (creosol), 4-ethyl guaiacol, Eugenol, Vanillin)

Website:  www.hven.com

Contact:  Dr. Ulf Olsson

Email:  info@hven.com

Phone:  + 46 418 44 99 99

Address:  Spirit of Hven Laboratory, Backafallsbyn Ab, Norreborgsvägen 55, S- 261 95 Sankt Ibb, Sweden

Tatlock & Thomson Ltd provide a fast and reliable certificate of analysis service for distillers.  Harry Riffkin and the team are always on hand to provide support to customers and discuss testing requirements. Harry has over 30 years experience in the industry.

Key services provided:

Standard certificates of analysis (strength, solids, acidity, aldehydes, esters, methanol, higher alcohols) and accredited for

• Plasticisers
• Ethyl carbamate
• Sugars
• Maturation congeners (including HMF)

Their full scope of accreditation can be found here 1725Testing Multiple (ukas.com).

Tatlock & Thomson are also accredited for ‘Opinions and Interpretations for the purposes of assessment of the authenticity of Irish Whiskey’.

Tatlock & Thomson also provide a full range of malt and distillery product testing as well as water and effluent testing.

Website:  www.tatlockandthomson.com

Contact:  Karen Lavelle

Email:  admin@tatlockandthomson.com

Phone:  +44 1333 360603.

Address:  Tatlock & Thomson Ltd, Tatlock House, The Teuchats, Leven, Fife, Scotland, KY8 5PF