Northern Ireland Whiskey Trail: 2 Day Tour

DAY 1

This morning we take you by road from the capital of the Republic of Ireland into Northern Ireland which forms part of the United Kingdom. On hotel pick up, you depart for the north. After crossing the border into Northern Ireland, we’re only a short distance from our first stop – Killowen Small Batch Distillery (or alternatively – Hinch Distillery).

Killowen Distillery is the creation of Brendan Carty who travelled across the globe for years and learned the secret to distilling premium Irish Whiskey.

Located in the heart of the Mourne Mountains, Killowen Distillery has a cult following that describe it as a ‘true distillery’. Seated at the slopes of Knock Shee (the Fairy Mountain), the path to the distillery is the path smugglers took during the Napoleonic Wars to bring French brandy into the North of Ireland and until recently was a perfect hideout for local poitín makers (moonshiners). Today you can experience the craftmanship behind this once illicit spirit making for yourself with an intimate ‘meet the maker’ tour and tasting experience.

Brendan is a busy man making whiskey! If he is unavailable on your desired day, we’ll travel a little bit further up the road and we’ll visit Hinch Distillery, located in the beautiful grounds of Killaney Estate, in Co. Down

After lunch we’ll take you to another County Down Distillery.We might call to Rademon Distillery – home of Shortcross gin & Single Malt Whiskey where you’ll meet Owners David and Fiona Boyd-Armstrong and sample their delicious Shortcross Gin and their much celebrated recently released whiskey.

Depending on availability, instead of Rademon, we may take you on a ferry from Strangford that will connect us with the Ards Peninsula, a most beautiful part of Ireland. We soon arrive at Echlinville Distillery, the first newly licensed whiskey distillery in Northern Ireland in over 125 years.

We’ll have a quick look at the facility which is a proper bona fide ‘field to glass’ distillery. All the barley is grown onsite and their whiskey is maturing in their onsite warehouse. We finish in the impressive Echlinville manor house for two samples of their flagship whiskeys (or gin).

Or! We might go to Donaghadee, a lovely coastal town at the top of the Ards Peninsula to The Copeland Distillery – while in County Down, we have no shortage of choice! . In the early evening, we’ll check you in at your 5* city centre hotel and you can enjoy the wonderful city of Belfast this evening at your leisure. We will guide you on where you should check out for dinner and drinks – the pubs of Commercial Court are an absolute must!

Note – if you have a preference for which distilleries you’d like us to book on Day 1 in Down, do let us know but please note – it’s all strictly dependent on availability.

DAY 2

Enjoy a full Irish breakfast at your leisure, in your hotel. Today, we’re travelling north out of the city to the Antrim coast road – the famous Causeway Coastal Route – one of the most beautiful driving routes in the country. After just a quick hour, we’ll make our first stop at the picturesque village of Ballymena where we invite to stretch your legs at The Londonderry Arms Hotel, a former home of former British Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill. Maybe enjoy an Irish Coffee here in the hotel’s cosy Arkle Whiskey Bar!

Before we hit today’s highlight, we visit a UNESCO world heritage site – The Giant’s Causeway, one of the most unique places in Europe. It’s an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns. The scientists will tell you the rock formations are the result of a volcanic eruption 60 million years ago. The locals believe differently however, they’ll tell you the columns are the remains of a causeway built by a giant – the Irish legend, Finn MacCool. We’ll let you take it all in and decide for yourself! Enjoy the site at leisure and enjoy some lunch while you’re there! Just two minutes down the road, dating all the way back to 1608 AD, Old Bushmills Distillery is the oldest licensed distillery in the world.

Visit the home of the third biggest selling Irish whiskey in the world, and what’s more you’re visiting the oldest distillery in the world! You’ll be led on a tour through the distillery buildings culminating in the Distillers Room for a tasting of Bushmills Single Malts – Distillery Exclusive, 16 YO and 21 YO.

Time for shopping at Old Bushmills retail store. And then sit back, relax, and we’ll have you back in downtown Dublin in 2.5 hours.

• Two full days fully escorted touring of Northern Ireland, predominantly through counties Down & Antrim.
• Private tour for your party only
• Executive transportation with experienced driver/guide (plus their expenses – accommodation and meals).
• Overnight in 5* Belfast hotel. Full Irish breakfast on day 2 included.
• Visits and whiskey tasting at two working distilleries in County Down on Day 1 – we select two from the following list at the time of booking; Killowen Distillery, Rademon Estate Distillery, Echlinville Distillery, Hinch Distillery or Copeland Distillery.
• Ferry crossing from Strangford to Portaferry (if Echlinville is included)
• Causeway Coast excursion
• Visit to Londonderry Arms
• Entry to Giants Causeway
• Tour and tasting at Old Bushmills Distillery
• All taxes
• Transaction fee is added at check out

• Private tour. Min 1 / max 10
• Over 18s
• Hotel pick up included from Dublin city hotel
• Operates Monday-Friday, all year