A ‘Commitment to Northern Ireland’s Talent’: ‘Hobbit’ Actor James Nesbit Joins Forces With Fledgling Craft Whiskey Distillery
James Nesbitt (right) with Hinch Distillery founder Terry Cross (Photo: Hinch Distillery)
On Tuesday, Northern Ireland World reported that the actor and producer, James Nesbitt, joined forces with Hinch Distillery.
“We are delighted to welcome James Nesbitt to the Hinch Distillery family,” the Founder of Hinch Distillery, Dr. Terry Cross OBE said, according to Northern Ireland World. “His passion for our craft and commitment to Northern Ireland’s talent perfectly aligns with our values.”
Like the whiskey brand, Nesbitt hails from Northern Ireland. He began acting as a teenager and is best known for his role as Bofur in “The Hobbit” franchise. The Irish actor was nominated for a Golden Globe in 2008 for his performance in “Jekyll.”
“I’m thrilled to be joining forces with Hinch Distillery,” Nesbitt said, according to the outlet. “As a proud Northern Irishman, I have always admired the dedication and craftsmanship that goes into creating Hinch Irish whiskeys and Ninth Wave Irish Gins.”
As part of the collaboration, Nesbitt will connect with fans of the brand, and they will continue promoting the heritage of Northern Ireland.
About Hinch Distillery and the Rapidly Growing Irish Whiskey Category
Hinch Distillery debuted in 2019, just before the global pandemic. The brand entrenched itself within the Irish whiskey and gin world, growing a foothold within the premium space.
Irish whiskey is currently experiencing rapid growth within the global marketplace.
According to the Robb Report, Irish whiskey is the fourth fastest-growing spirits category within the U.S. The whiskey category broke records by surpassing a billion dollars in 2022, and it appears millennial and Gen Z drinkers are avid fans of the stuff.
Expert Market Research cites that the Irish Whiskey market reached a revenue value of $5.42 billion in 2023 and shows no sign of slowing down.
Celebrity brands like Conor McGregor’s Proper No. Twelve Whiskey might just be fueling such growth. The incredibly lucrative Irish whiskey brand sold in 2021 to Proximo Spirits for £476 million ($606 million) in 2021.
Though the massive deal currently marks the epicenter of a bitter legal battle for the MMA Star, it’s clear Irish whiskey partnerships are a business-savvy move.
Cross expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership with the actor and Hinch Distillery, according to Northern Ireland World:
“This partnership is not just about endorsements; it’s about shared passion and vision and an appreciation of all the good things to come out of Northern Ireland.”
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