Surprising Twist at Waterford Whisky: Mark Reynier Plans a Comeback

Some time ago, news broke that Waterford Whisky was going under. The wind-down is now underway, but there are a few twists. The former owner is said to be eyeing the whisky stocks, and there may be a surprising buyer for the distillery.

Waterford Whisky was founded in 2014 and became known for its radical stance on quality, provenance, and transparency. Yet in November 2024, after years of financial pressure and tough market conditions, the company was placed into receivership.

The distillery as we know it will cease to exist, but thanks to an unexpected turn, the whisky itself may return to its original maker.

Waterford Whisky’s former owner, Mark Reynier, is reportedly plotting a striking comeback. He is said to be looking to buy back a significant portion of the whisky stocks from the receivers for 12 million euros.

Looking at Waterford Whisky’s annual accounts, that would represent roughly a third of the total inventory. The whisky is currently stored in a bonded warehouse in Tramore, awaiting a new owner.

Despite debts that climbed to nearly 70 million euros, Mark Reynier has never lost his emotional connection to Waterford Whisky. In earlier interviews, he stated he wasn’t done with the distillery.

He’s also open to a partial return. For now, his strategy appears to center on reclaiming the whisky stocks.

While Reynier focuses on the whisky inventory, there’s international interest in the distillery itself. Exclusive talks are underway between the American Tennessee Distilling Group and the receivers.

The U.S. company is considering acquiring the whisky maker along with the brand name. The deal could be worth around $6 million. Whether Tennessee Distilling Group will ultimately be allowed to take over the distillery for that amount remains unclear.

If it does happen, we could see new bottles of Waterford whisky in the future, this time under new ownership.