Distillery tours
Distillery Tours in United Kingdom
Plan a distillery tour in United Kingdom: 9 distilleries to visit, with tastings and experiences you can book directly. Expect Irish Whiskey, Gin, Single Malt and more. Highlights include Titanic Distillers, Echlinville Distillery, Old Bushmills Distillery.
9distilleries
Rademon Estate Distillery (Shortcross)
Shortcross gin and whiskey on a historic estate
About distillery tours in United Kingdom
The United Kingdom's distilling reputation rests on Scotch whisky and London gin, but this collection turns the spotlight on a quieter powerhouse: Northern Ireland, where Irish whiskey has undergone a remarkable revival. For decades the famous Old Bushmills Distillery on the Causeway Coast, with its licence to distil dating from 1608, stood almost alone. Today it is joined by a flourishing crop of new producers as Irish whiskey rides a global wave of demand. Echlinville Distillery on the Ards Peninsula became the first licensed distillery in Northern Ireland since the nineteenth century and grows and malts its own barley on site. Around it, a spirits trail has taken shape: Copeland Distillery in seaside Donaghadee, Hinch Distillery near Ballynahinch, Killowen in the Mournes with its traditional flame-fed stills, and Rademon Estate, birthplace of Shortcross Gin. Belfast itself contributes McConnell's Distillery and Titanic Distillers, the latter set in the historic Thompson Dock. Out west, Boatyard Distillery makes gin and whiskey on the shores of Lough Erne. Together they make Northern Ireland one of the most rewarding and compact spirits destinations in these islands.
Top regions to explore
Belfast is a natural starting point, home to McConnell's Distillery and Titanic Distillers, the latter housed in the historic pump house and dry dock where the Titanic was built. From the city, the County Down coast and the Ards Peninsula form the densest cluster: Echlinville Distillery, which grows its own grain on the estate, sits near Copeland Distillery in Donaghadee, with Hinch Distillery inland near Ballynahinch and Rademon Estate, home of Shortcross Gin, in the surrounding countryside. South towards the Mourne Mountains, Killowen makes small-batch whiskey and poitin using traditional methods. To the north, the Causeway Coast holds the headline act in Old Bushmills, the world's oldest licensed whiskey distillery, while far to the west Boatyard Distillery sits on Lough Erne in County Fermanagh.
Planning a distillery trip
Northern Ireland's compact geography is a gift for spirits travellers: you can sample a genuinely varied set of distilleries within a few days. A popular approach is to base yourself in Belfast and fan out, perhaps spending one day on the Ards Peninsula and County Down with Echlinville, Copeland and Hinch, another exploring Killowen and the Mournes, and a day on the Causeway Coast around Bushmills. Tours and tastings should be booked in advance, as the standard Bushmills experience and many craft tours run to set times. Build in the scenery, too: the Causeway Coast, the Mournes and Lough Erne are destinations in their own right, so a distillery trip doubles neatly as a tour of Northern Ireland's landscapes.
Getting around
A hire car offers the most flexibility for linking distilleries that range from Belfast and the County Down coast to the Causeway and out to Fermanagh. Distances are short by UK standards, which keeps driving manageable. As ever, with tasting involved, plan a designated driver or join one of the organised whiskey tours that run from Belfast and beyond with transport included, which is the safest and most relaxed way to sample several distilleries in a day. Several operators offer multi-day whiskey trail itineraries covering the key sites. Public transport reaches the larger towns but is less practical for rural distilleries, so factor that into your planning.
Frequently asked
- Is this guide about Scotch whisky?
- No. While the UK is famous for Scotch and London gin, this collection focuses on Northern Ireland's thriving Irish whiskey and craft spirits scene, from the historic Old Bushmills to a new generation of distilleries across County Down, Belfast and Fermanagh.
- What is the oldest distillery here?
- Old Bushmills Distillery on the Causeway Coast holds a licence to distil dating from 1608, making it the oldest licensed whiskey distillery in the world. Its standard guided tour walks through production and finishes with a tasting.
- Which distillery grows its own grain?
- Echlinville Distillery on the Ards Peninsula is known for growing and malting its own barley on the estate, where the grain is planted, harvested, malted and distilled in one place. It was the first licensed distillery in Northern Ireland in well over a century.
- Where can I find a good base for a trip?
- Belfast is ideal. It is home to McConnell's Distillery and Titanic Distillers, and puts you within easy reach of the County Down coast, the Mournes and, a little further, the Causeway Coast and Bushmills.
- Are there gin distilleries too?
- Yes. Rademon Estate is the home of Shortcross Gin, made with foraged botanicals and estate well water, while Boatyard Distillery on Lough Erne in Fermanagh is known for its gin alongside whiskey. Many producers make more than one category.
- How long do I need for the whiskey trail?
- Two to three days lets you cover the highlights comfortably thanks to the region's compact size. A common route spends time on the County Down coast, the Mournes and the Causeway Coast around Bushmills.
- What is the best way to visit several distilleries safely?
- Join an organised whiskey tour with transport included, several of which run from Belfast, or nominate a designated driver. This lets you taste freely while keeping within strict drink-driving rules.