Enjoy a day out in good spirits at The Echlinville Distillery
The Echlinville Distillery in Co. Down has launched its Summer tour calendar, giving spirits enthusiasts the opportunity to experience the sights and tastes of Northern Ireland’s only field-to-glass distillery.
Based just outside Kircubbin on the scenic Ards Peninsula, just one hour from Belfast, The Echlinville Distillery is home to some of Northern Ireland’s best-known spirits. Its range includes the iconic Dunville’s Irish Whiskey, the Great Taste Award winning Echlinville Gin, the hugely popular Jawbox Gin and Bán Poitín – a reinvention of the legendary spirit that was outlawed in Ireland for more than 300 years.
Incorporating the historic Echlinville Manor House, their state-of-the-art stillhouse and cask maturation hall, and tastings of their premium spirits, an Echlinville Distillery tour is a must for any spirits enthusiast.
Anne-Marie Clarke from The Echlinville Distillery said: “At Echlinville, we are hugely proud of our roots in the Ards Peninsula. That pride of place is the essence of everything we do – from our homegrown barley that is used to distil our whiskey to the locally foraged botanicals that give our Echlinville Gin its award-winning flavour. We are delighted to be able to share our unique field-to-glass story with all those who visit our distillery. Our tours began in April 2016 and since then we have welcomed spirits aficionados from around the world, alongside visitors from across Northern Ireland, to enjoy a great day out in this stunning part of County Down.
“Our guests are welcomed with refreshments in the ballroom of our beautiful Echlinville Manor House. After hearing about the history of the house and the Echlinville estate, guests are taken on a guided tour around our distillery where they get an insight into the production process for whiskey, gin, vodka and poitín. They hear all about our ‘field-to-glass’ approach, which sees our spirits distilled from barley grown, harvested and malted on our distillery farm. We are one of very few distilleries to produce spirit from the ground up, and that is something we are hugely proud of.
“The tour also includes our maturation hall, where our casks of single malt and pot still whiskies are gently ageing to perfection. There, our guests get an insight into the whiskey maturation process and the various casks we use to age and finish our spirit.
“And having worked up a thirst, the tour finishes with a choice of two drinks from our range of award-winning spirits and a browse around our distillery shop. Our Tour and Tasting runs most Saturdays priced at £15 per person and booking is advisable via our website at www.echlinville.com/visit Gift vouchers are also available.”
Located near the shores of Strangford Lough, The Echlinville Distillery is just a one hour from Belfast and ten minutes from Portaferry and the scenic Strangford Lough ferry crossing. A short ferry journey across the lough lies Game of Thrones territory at Castle Ward – the filming location for Winterfell. The nearby town of Portaferry is also home to one of the iconic Game of Thrones doors and Northern Ireland’s only aquarium at Exploris.
With the stunning National Trust property of Mount Stewart, some beautiful beaches and several great restaurants within a short drive, a visit to Echlinville can be combined with any of these local attractions for a wonderful day out in the Ards Peninsula.
Anne-Marie concludes: “In terms of tourism and hospitality, this little corner of County Down has much to offer visitors from all around Ireland and beyond, and we at Echlinville are proud to be a part of it.”
The Echlinville Distillery Tour and Tasting is priced at £15 per person. Tours run on Saturdays and booking is advised. For tour dates, times and booking visit www.echlinville.com/visit or contact the Echlinville Distillery team at info@echlinville.com or phone 028 4273 8597.
