Hinch Distillery
Hinch Distillery is a luxury whiskey and hospitality destination set on the historic Killaney Estate in County Down, Northern Ireland, founded in 2016 by entrepreneur Dr Terry Cross OBE. Built across 30,000 sq ft using locally sourced materials, the distillery officially opened to the public in 2020–2021 and is described as the largest independent distillery in Northern Ireland. Annual capacity is approximately 400,000 litres. Both unpeated and heavily peated single malt styles are produced, alongside the multi-award-winning Ninth Wave Irish Gin. The estate also encompasses a restaurant, pub, shop, and wedding venue, making Hinch one of the most comprehensive whiskey tourism destinations in Ireland.
[!info] The JSON founding date of 2020 reflects the public opening; the operational founding date is 2016 when distilling began.
Tours
Available
On-site Shop
Open
Online Shop
Available
History
Dr Terry Cross OBE is an entrepreneur with interests spanning healthcare and viticulture — he has produced wine from a Bordeaux vineyard for approximately 20 years. In 2016 he incorporated Hinch Distillery Limited and began developing the 30,000 sq ft facility on the Killaney Estate in County Down, situated between Belfast and the town of Ballynahinch, from which the distillery's name derives.
The distillery was built using locally sourced materials by local craftsmen, a deliberate commitment to the County Down community. Following the installation of production equipment and the development of a full hospitality operation, Hinch opened to the public in 2020 (with some sources citing 2021 for the formal opening). A restaurant, pub, and shops were added alongside the distillery, positioning Hinch as a premium destination experience combining whiskey production with fine dining, events, and wedding hospitality.
The whiskey range covers both double and triple distillation across unpeated and heavily peated expressions. The 5 Year Double Wood and 5 Year Madeira are positioned as accessible aged expressions; the 15 Year Sherry Cask is the premium single malt offering. The distillery's Ninth Wave Irish Gin, named for the mythological ninth wave of Celtic tradition, quickly accumulated multiple awards.
Production
The 30,000 sq ft facility sits on the Killaney Estate, County Down. Annual capacity is approximately 400,000 litres per year. The distillery practises both double and triple distillation across unpeated and heavily peated expressions. Water comes from the County Down countryside. All whiskey is conceived, distilled, matured, and bottled entirely on the estate. The heavily peated expressions use specially sourced peated malt; the standard and bourbon-style expressions use unpeated malt.
Tasting Character
Hinch's range spans a deliberately broad stylistic spectrum. The Small Batch Bourbon (43% ABV) is the unpeated entry expression — light, vanilla-forward, and approachable. The 5 Year Madeira (46% ABV) introduces stone fruit and nutty sweetness from Madeira cask finishing. The 5 Year Double Wood is matured in a combination of two cask types. The 15 Year Sherry (46% ABV) is the premium showpiece: rich dried fruit, Christmas cake, and deep oak from extended sherry cask maturation. The peated expressions — Small Batch Peated and Peated Single Malt — add smoke to the approachable County Down character.
What They Produce
Notable Bottlings
- Hinch Small Batch Bourbon (43% ABV) — Unpeated entry expression; light, vanilla-forward
- Hinch Peated Small Batch (43% ABV) — Heavily peated; smoky and robust
- Hinch Peated Single Malt (43% ABV) — Single malt with heavy peat character
- Hinch Single Malt (43% ABV) — Unpeated single malt; elegant and clean
- Hinch 5 Year Double Wood (43% ABV) — Double cask maturation; vanilla and fruit
- Hinch 5 Year Madeira (46% ABV) — Madeira cask finish; stone fruit and nutty sweetness
- Hinch 15 Year Sherry Cask (46% ABV) — Premium aged expression; rich dried fruit and deep oak
- Ninth Wave Irish Gin£34.95 — Multi-award-winning; Celtic mythology-inspired; local botanicals
Visiting
Multiple tour experiences available: the standard Distillery Tour covers the Ingredients Room, Mash House, Still House, Spectrum Room (tasting), and tasting rooms. The Legacy Warehouse Tour adds the distiller's yard, Warehouse 3, cask-strength exclusive tastings, and distillery-exclusive bottles. Food and beverage hospitality, private hire, wedding venue, and events are available on site. Online shop at hinchdistillery.com. Physical shop on site. Address: Killaney Estate, Ballynahinch, County Down BT24 8DB.
Official Website
