Titanic Distillers

The Thompson Graving Dry Dock is one of the most historically significant industrial sites in the world: constructed in the early 20th century by Harland and Wolff to service the White Star Line's fleet, it was in this dock that the Olympic-class liners — including RMS Titanic — were fitted and finished before their maiden voyages. The Pumphouse that serves as the distillery was built in 1911 and remains structurally intact, its red-brick and granite architecture a testament to Edwardian engineering.

Belfast's whiskey heritage is equally storied. Dunville & Co. was the city's last significant whiskey producer, with a distillery that operated until 1935 when the combined effects of Prohibition, economic depression, and wartime disruption made continued production unviable. The gap of nearly nine decades left Belfast without a working distillery while Dublin and Cork rebuilt Irish whiskey's global reputation.

Peter Lavery, Richard Irwin, and Stephen Symington spent five years planning the conversion of the Pumphouse — navigating the requirements of a Grade A listed historic structure while creating a fully functional modern distillery. The £8 million project was approved and work began. The brand's first commercial release, the Titanic Distillers Premium Irish Whiskey (using sourced spirit while own production came on stream), entered the market in 2021 ahead of the physical distillery opening. The distillery itself opened in 2023 with its own production now under way. The 401 Club cask investment programme — named in reference to the Titanic's hull number (401) assigned by Harland and Wolff — was established for individual cask ownership.

Titanic Distillers operates within the Thompson Dry Dock Pumphouse, using traditional pot still methods to produce Irish whiskey in Belfast for the first time in nearly 90 years. The Pot Still Whiskey 5 Year Old uses equal parts malted and unmalted barley — the traditional Irish pot still specification — matured in ex-bourbon casks and bottled at 46% ABV without chill-filtration. The first own-distilled single malt from the distillery is expected to be ready for release at the end of 2026 at the earliest, with maturation continuing in the interim.

The Titanic Distillers Premium Irish Whiskey is the approachable entry point — a blended Irish whiskey from sourced stock designed to be smooth and accessible, representing the brand while own-distilled spirit matures. The Pot Still Whiskey 5 Year Old demonstrates the distillery's own character more clearly: the equal-parts malted and unmalted barley mash bill delivers the classic Irish pot still fingerprint — creamy texture, green apple and pear, spicy barley, gentle vanilla from the ex-bourbon wood, and a clean, lingering finish at 46% ABV.

Four unique guided tours are available at the Thompson Dock Pumphouse, Titanic Quarter, Belfast — covering both the working distillery and the extraordinary history of the dock and the ships built here. An online shop and physical retail shop at the Pumphouse offer the full range. The 401 Club provides cask investment opportunities for enthusiasts. The distillery is situated within Belfast's Titanic Quarter tourism corridor, making it an ideal addition to any visit to the city. Full details at titanicdistillers.com.