NORTHERN IRELAND Five distillery tours

Experience true craftmanship and gain an appreciation for the skills required to make world-renowned Irish spirits on a guided distillery tour

Northern Ireland has seen a renaissance in distilling in recent years, making it a fascinating destination for any whisky, gin or vodka fan. Across the country, a series of world-class producers are now blending traditional methods with innovative techniques to create new spirits, flavours and tasting tours — all while respecting Northern Ireland’s unique distilling history.

The Old Bushmills Distillery is one example. Using water drawn from the River Bush over beds of basalt rock, the 400-year-old distillery is the home of a craft passed through the generations and is listed as the oldest licensed whisky distillery in the world. We take a look at five other distilleries following their lead and redefining the spirits scene.

1 HINCH DISTILLERY, COUNTY DOWN

Located on the beautiful Killaney Estate in County Down, between Belfast and the town of Ballynahinch, from which it gets its name, Hinch Distillery is one of Northern Ireland’s youngest, having launched in late 2020. It specialises in triple-distilled whisky, inspired by centuries-old distilling traditions, with a range including small batch bourbon cask and peated single malt. The distillery is also renowned for producing the multi-award-winning Ninth Wave Irish gin inspired by Irish mythology.