Experience

Clonakilty Distillery

• Ireland
• Beverage Manufacturing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Senior Export Sales Manager

  • Mar 2022 - Present

  Responsible for the development of International Sales Strategy with Clonakilty Distillery, representing this award winning range of Irish Whiskeys, Gin & Vodka across the World. Working with international partners striving to drive the successful seeding and development of the Clonakilty Distillery brand in individual target markets across the World. Responsible for the development of International Sales Strategy with Clonakilty Distillery, representing this award winning range of Irish Whiskeys, Gin & Vodka across the World. Working with international partners striving to drive the successful seeding and development of the Clonakilty Distillery brand in individual target markets across the World.



Irishmalts.com

• Ireland
• Beverage Manufacturing

• Host

  • Oct 2020 - Present

  Host the monthly live stream Irish whiskey tastings with 3 of the industry's newest and most exciting blenders, distillers, brand owners and industry professionals for Irishmalt's Irish Whiskey subscription platform, ThreeDrams.com. Every month we take you behind the scenes of the industry to meet the people that make and shape the whiskeys that are delivered to the thousands of subscribers to the ThreeDrams offering. Interviewing some of the top names in the industry, we walk through each whiskey in the kit, building advocacy and excitement, not only for the whiskey in the glass but the entire industy.



Potstilled.com

• Owner & Content Creator

  • Mar 2014 - Present

  I am the founder and editor of popular Irish whiskey website, Potstilled.com. Icons of Whisky - Ireland 2023. Communicator of the Year - Highly Commended.Icons of Whisky - Ireland 2022. Communicator of the Year Icons of Whisky - Ireland 2021. Communicator of the Year - Highly Commended.Potstilled is a multi-award-winning whiskey website that focuses on the positive developments of the Irish whiskey industry. I established the website in 2015 and it has been growing from year to year, with over thirty-four thousand followers across four social networks. In 2018, I established ‘Potstilled Radio’ Irish whiskey’s first ever dedicated podcast series. This series is designed to take consumers behind the brands and meet the people and hear the stories that built our industry. This has been an incredibly successful venture which has resonated with subscribers across the world. In 2020, I established the weekly news & whiskey lifestyle Live stream, Potstilled Live, which has an average viewership of 1,000 people per week. The US, Ireland, the UK and Japan are the main demographics that engage with Potstilled Live's weekly livestream.



Boann Distillery

• Ireland
• Food and Beverage Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Global Export Sales Manager

  • Mar 2018 - Mar 2022

  I represent the Boann Distillery & Robert A. Merry & Co. Ltd. portfolio of premium, award winning Irish Whiskeys, Gins and Irish Cream Liqueurs in Global Export Markets. The fantastic brands that I represent are: The Whistler Irish Whiskey, Merrys Irish Cream Liqueur, Silks Irish Gin, as well as Copper Cloud Irish Gin. I specialise working with importers and distributors around the world, seeding and growing our portfolio of brands in their home markets. I work as the contact point for our export partners in both initial sales agreements as well as working with them in home market marketing and brand managment. Contract, and A&P negotiations, as well as global distributor management are key corner stones of this role.- New Product Development. I bring new products from concept to on shelf activations with the Boann Distillery Irish Whiskey, Irish Cream Liqueur and gin portfolio. This encompasses; idea creation, selection, concept development, design brief creation, artwork revision, liquid creation, and new product launch. This role has enabled me to develop my blending abilities while also working with the finance team on maturing stocks to ensure that we are using the correct spirits and casks to stay within budgets and protect future longevities of stocks. - Cross-functional project manager for new product development from feasibility to finished product and marketing.- Copy writer with excellent verbal and written communication skills proven by clear, concise brand stories and descriptions as well as brand information and video product descriptions for the distillery’s online presence.- Developed wood policy for Boann Distillery’s new make spirit to meet future requirements of existing and planned whiskey SKUs. - Distillery liaison with bottling facility to ensure correct blend, filtration levels, and bottle sizes are utilised.



Edinburgh Whisky Academy

• United Kingdom
• Education
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Author & Course Creator

  • Aug 2019 - Mar 2020

  I designed and produced an in-depth certificate course in Irish whiskey, modern production standards and the current distilling landscape in Ireland for the Edinburgh Whisky Academy. The course is the most in-depth Irish whiskey course in the world right now. - Utilised in-depth category technical and marketing knowledge to create detailed objective learning outcomes.- Developed an in-depth modulated lesson plan that met these learning objectives to produce knowledgeable category advocates.More infromation can be found on www.edinburghwhiskyacademy.com/blog/matt-healy



William Grant & Sons

• United States
• Beverage Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Brand Ambassador Tullamore D.E.W.

  • Sep 2016 - Apr 2018

  I was delighted to have been the Tullamore D.E.W. Ambassador with responsbility for Pennsylvania, Maryland & D.C. My role with Tullamore D.E.W. & William Grant & Sons was multifaceted. The role primarily consisted of brand education and driving consumer advocacy, but it also encompasses a large amount of on-trade management and sales, as well as A&P budget management.- Built and maintained on-trade sales, with 150% growth ahead of State sales average. - Expanded my lead ‘Lighthouse’ account by 500% to be the 20th best Tullamore D.E.W. account by sales volume.- Established partnership with the US Collegiate Rugby 7’s Championships, which increased stadium sales by 100% annually and secured nationwide TV and print advertising. - Independently enhanced my product knowledge of the greater William Grant portfolio, which enabled me to adapt and greatly increase my sales of non-Irish products, e.g. Scotch, Tequila, Mezcal, Vodka, and Gin.- Performed over 200 on-trade and distributor sales team trainings to improve the sales agents’ category and product knowledge.- Directly interacted with over 10,000 consumers with the aim sharing knowledge and product information to create passionate Tullamore D.E.W. brand advocates.



Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard

• Brand Ambassador

  • Oct 2014 - Oct 2015

  Brand Ambassador, International Marketing Team.This role was to introduce consumers to Irish whiskey and to create brand advocates through the education of the Irish Distillers brand portfolios. This role focused primarily on the education of the whiskey brand portfolios in Irish Distillers; Jameson, Powers, Midleton, Green/YellowSpot and Redbreast. This role included:Consumer tastings.In-depth product knowledge, including production methods and ensuring all information is on brand with marketing materials. Marketing exercises.In my time here I executed an independent marketing promotion for the Jameson brand with an increase in sales of 42% over a month long period. Please view my "Projects" section below for further details.



Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards

• Ireland
• Food & Beverages

• Judge

  • Jun 2015 - Sep 2015

  Member of the "Whiskey, Spirits and Wine" judging panel for the 2015 Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards.Blind taste tested products that were available to Irish consumers in the spirits, wine and whiskey categories. The products were judged on their nose, palate and finish. After the tasting had concluded the products were then judged on packaging and value for money. The winner of each category was awarded the Gold Q as a sign of quality excellence. Awards ceremony held in the Mansion House Dublin.



Heather Hospitality Group

• Manager

  • Jun 2014 - Sep 2014

  Originally hired as whiskey bartender (Shebeen whiskey house see below), promoted to junior management after first month in employment with Heather Hospitality Group.I was responsible for the daily management of three businesses on the same premises. The Irish Heather Gastro Pub, The Shebeen whiskey and cocktail bar and the Salty Tongue restaurant. Responsibilities included: I. Staff Spirits TrainingII. Money Handling. Open/Close of BusinessIII. Stock ControlIV. Quality Control

• Whiskey & Cocktail Bartender

  • Jan 2014 - Sep 2014

  Comprehensive knowledge of classic american cocktails, the 220 single malts and pot still varieties that were carried in house as well as full range of seasonal beers and ciders. Organised Whisk(e)y tastings and ensured brand compliance with regional representatives.