Northern Ireland’s distilling pedigree putting the sláinte back into Irish Whiskey

This resurgence is due to the mix of the region's renowned distilleries, including the venerable Old Bushmills - the world's oldest licensed whiskey producer - and a wave of innovative distilleries winning international accolades and injecting fresh vigor into the Irish whiskey narrative.

The 2023 ‘Fifty Best’ awards highlighted Northern Ireland's distilling prowess, with Killowen Distillery in Rostrevor and Limavady Distillery earning the esteemed Double Gold. McConnell’s Irish Whisky and Ballynahinch’s Hinch Distillery’s whiskey offerings also impressed, securing Gold and Silver, respectively.

Some of Northern Ireland’s leading whiskey suppliers will be showcasing their products at ProWein in Messe Düsseldorf, Germany, Sunday 10 March to Tuesday 12 March 2024, as part of the delegation exhibiting on the Northern Ireland stand, organised by Invest Northern Ireland. Find out more information here.

This success story is a contemporary chapter in Ireland's extensive whiskey chronicle, dating back to the 1500s when Ireland led the global whiskey industry. 

Once a titan of whiskey production, Belfast dominated the 19th-century whiskey trade. In fact, back in the 1800s Belfast produced more whiskey than any other city on the island of Ireland.

Despite devastating blows dealt by prohibition and trade wars, reducing the industry to a mere two distilleries by the 1980s, the spirit and popularity of Irish whiskey has prevailed.

This only seems fitting since both whiskey and its name both originate in Ireland with the earliest recorded distillation of ‘Aqua Vitae’ documented in the 14th-century Red Book of Ossary in the Irish city of Kilkenny. 

Strict regulations ensure that to be labelled Irish whiskey, it must be distilled and aged on the island for a minimum of three years in wooden casks. It is also distinguished by its diverse mashing process that often combines malted and unmalted barley, and sometimes includes oats or rye, fostering a broader spectrum of distillates and subcategories unique to Irish whiskey.

The emphasis on premium, quality drinks is evident in the sector's growth, with the value outstripping volume, reflecting a global trend towards high-caliber beverages. 

Northern Ireland's distilleries draw on the region's rich natural resources, crafting whiskeys with an unparalleled sense of place.

Bushmills, located near the Giant’s Causeway, which uses water drawn from the River Bush over beds of basalt rock is a testament to unwavering commitment to quality and has recently doubled its production with a second distillery complex. Even during the barley tax of the 1850s, Bushmills steadfastly produced top-quality single malt whiskey refusing to switch to cheaper corn. This dedication is recognised globally, with Bushmills' 12-year-old whiskey ranked among the Top 20 Whiskies of 2022 alongside the 25 and 30-year-old additions to its core range.

The new guard of distilleries, such as Echlinville, has assumed the mantle of heritage brands, including the storied Dunville’s, Old Comber and Matt D’Arcy & Co Ltd. Echlinville Distillery, a pioneer in field-to-glass distilling, has seen its Dunville’s Irish Whiskey, The Spirit of Belfast, claim about 50 global awards, including the coveted title of Ireland’s Best Whiskey. This accolade underscores the distillery's commitment to tradition and innovation, leveraging its homegrown barley for an authentic distilling experience.

The Titanic Distillers, situated near the slipway of the Titanic and the iconic Titanic Belfast museum, along with the Belfast Distillery Company based at the historic Crumlin Road Gaol, are seamlessly blending Northern Ireland’s storied past with modern tourism.

McConnell’s Irish Whisky, a brand with roots tracing back to 1776, is being revived in this venerable setting, winning international awards and enhancing its global standing.

Meanwhile from city to country, Killowen Distillery, nestled in the scenic Mourne Mountains, has garnered critical acclaim for its distinctive rum and raisin single malt, aged in bourbon casks and finished in dark rum casks with accolades including a Double Gold Medal in The Fifty Best – Best Irish Whiskey and a Silver Medal at the World’s Spirit Competition 2023. 

Rademon Estate Distillery, Northern Ireland’s first craft distillery, is also making history, creating the first peated whiskey in the region in over a generation. Its Shortcross Single Malt Irish Whiskey has already won Best New Irish Whiskey at the 2021 Irish Whiskey Awards, signaling its successful foray into whiskey production.

Located 20 minutes from Belfast and just yards away from the historic harbour in Donaghadee, County Down lies the Copeland Distillery, one of Ireland’s newest distilleries. Copeland has been distilling malt and pot still whiskeys since mid-2019, due to be released from 2024. While waiting for these to mature, the business debuted blended whiskey Merchants’ Quay in 2021 – and was named Winner of the International Wine and Spirit Competition Silver Award that same year. It comprises a unique blend of three different whiskeys, matured in four different casks, to give a smooth rich Irish whiskey with a delicious sherry finish. 

Hinch Distillery, too, is expanding its horizons on the beautiful Killaney Estate grounds doubling its production capacity with a commitment to tradition and quality that has earned their Hinch Irish Whiskey multiple awards. The County Down-based distillery scored at a hat trick at the prestigious 2023 Meininger's International Spirits Awards in June where almost 550 products from all over the world were blind tasted and evaluated. Hinch Craft & Casks Imperial Stout Finish was recognised as the Best Blended Irish Whiskey and awarded a Grand Gold while its 10-Year-Old Sherry Cask Finish and Peated Single Malt received a Grand Gold and Gold award respectively.

These Northern Irish distilleries are not only reviving old techniques but also innovating to meet contemporary tastes and market demands. Take dynamic Newry-based independent bottler and blender of whiskey, Two Stacks, which was named number two in the Top 50 Awards for innovation for its Dram in a Can, a unique canned single malt whiskey.

Added to heritage, expertise and innovation is the fact that there has never been a better time to buy Irish whiskey from Northern Ireland. The region’s unique post-Brexit position due to the Windsor Framework offers an advantageous gateway for trade with both the UK and EU markets. This strategic positioning promotes business opportunities and sets the stage for a further boost it its thriving whiskey industry.

Also, as Irish whiskey increasingly becomes part of the millennial cocktail culture, Northern Ireland stands well-positioned for growth. The region's distillers, both historic and contemporary, are crafting a narrative that pays homage to the past while embracing the future, ensuring that Irish whiskey from Northern Ireland continues to be a celebrated global spirit.

Celebrating the spirit and resilience of Northern Ireland's whiskey industry, we raise a glass to its illustrious past, its dynamic present, and its promising future. 

With a nod to tradition and an eye on innovation, Northern Irish distilleries are poised to lead the whiskey world, inviting connoisseurs and newcomers alike to discover the rich tapestry of flavors that only Irish whiskey can offer.

Following the UK's exit from the European Union (EU), agreements made between both jurisdictions through the Withdrawal Agreement (Northern Ireland Protocol and Windsor Framework) mean Northern Ireland enjoys full market access to both Great Britain (GB) and the EU.

This puts Northern Ireland in the highly advantageous position of being the only region in the world able to trade goods freely with both GB and EU markets.

If your business currently serves or has ambition to serve both the EU and GB, Northern Ireland's market access position offers a huge opportunity.

As the regional business development agency, Invest NI's role is to grow the local economy.

We do this by helping new and existing businesses to compete internationally, and by attracting new investment to Northern Ireland.
We are part of the Department for the Economy and provide strong government support for business by effectively delivering the Government’s economic development strategies.

Find out how we can help your business