Echlinville Distillery

Dunville & Co was a Belfast-based spirits merchant founded by John Dunvill, which in 1869 built the Royal Irish Distilleries on the edge of Belfast — a modern facility with five pot stills and later a Coffey still, producing over 2.5 million gallons annually at peak. The company produced two principal blends: Dunville's VR (introduced 1837) and Dunville's Three Crowns. Despite the challenges facing the Irish whiskey industry, Dunville's remained profitable until its liquidation in 1936, following the death of Robert Lambart Dunville in 1931 — making it unique among closed Irish distilleries in having been solvent at closure.

Shane Braniff, a businessman, purchased the Echlinville Manor House and estate on the Ards Peninsula in 2007. After years of preparation, Echlinville was granted its distilling licence in 2013, filling its first whiskey casks on 5 August 2013 and becoming the first new distillery licensed in Northern Ireland for more than 125 years. Braniff acquired the rights to the historic Dunville's brand — almost 80 years after the last Dunville's had been distilled — making the revival of that brand the distillery's primary whiskey mission. The first Dunville's releases — VR Old Irish Whiskey and Three Crowns — reached the market in 2016.

The barley grown on the Echlinville estate benefits from the unique micro-climate of the Ards Peninsula: temperate climate, rich soil, and saline air. The distillery practises trickle-pot distillation — a slow approach designed to balance complex character with delicate flavour. Since 2022 Dunville's has won Whiskey of the Year at the Irish Whiskey Awards three times. The distillery has also purchased the Ards Maltings building in Newtownards to revive on-site malting at larger scale.

Wash still and spirit still for whiskey production; four mash tuns and five fermentation vats. Trickle-pot distillation (slow distillation for complex but delicate spirit character). Barley grown, harvested, and malted on the estate farm, benefiting from the Ards Peninsula's temperate, saline micro-climate. Field-to-glass operation. Ards Maltings site acquired for future expanded malting.

Echlinville's philosophy is field-to-glass. The Dunville's flagship range centres on the 21 Year Old Palo Cortado Sherry Cask Finish Single Malt — Ireland's Best Whiskey at the Irish Whiskey Awards in 2022, 2024, and 2025 — an exceptionally complex, sherry-forward expression. Core range also includes Dunville's VR Sherry Cask and Three Crowns (peated and unpeated).

Tours and experiences available including the "Tour & Tipple" and bespoke events at the Visitor Centre. Online shop available. Physical shop on site (closed Easter Sunday–Tuesday).