Northern Ireland Distillery Trail: Bushmills to the New Wave

Northern Ireland's whiskey story is one of the most dramatic revivals in the drinks industry. In 1990, Bushmills stood essentially alone — the only working distillery in Ulster, custodian of a region's entire spirits heritage. By 2026, a generation of new producers has transformed the landscape: Belfast, Down, Antrim, and the Ards Peninsula now host distilleries that represent some of the most exciting new whiskey in these islands.

Three days, a car, and a comfortable driving pace will get you to most of it.

Day One: The Causeway Coast

Drive north from Belfast on the A2 coast road, hugging the Antrim coastline through Larne, Carnlough, and the Glens of Antrim. This is some of the most dramatic coastal road in the British Isles — basalt cliffs, turquoise water, and light that changes completely every twenty minutes. Allow three hours to drive what a satnav tells you takes ninety minutes.

Bushmills Distillery

Old Bushmills Road, Bushmills BT57 8XH

Bushmills holds the world's oldest licensed distillery charter, dated 1608. The modern distillery is considerably more recent, but the sense of continuity is real — this is a working Victorian distillery in the village it has occupied for over a century, surrounded by the Antrim plateau and the River Bush.

Bushmills triple-distils all its spirit, producing an exceptionally clean and light new make that develops elegantly with age. The standard tour covers the production process, the warehouses, and a tasting of three expressions. The Private Cask Experience and Cellar Room Tour options give access to older and rarer expressions.

Don't miss: Bushmills Black Bush — the most flavourful standard expression, with significant single malt character from sherry cask maturation. Bushmills 21 Year Old (from the distillery shop) is exceptional if the budget allows.

In the afternoon, drive the final ten minutes to the Giants Causeway. You're here anyway, and the 40,000 interlocking basalt columns are worth a two-hour walk even in horizontal rain.

Stay: The Bushmills Inn Hotel — proper country inn character, open fires, a whiskey bar with an extraordinary list. Book the mill cottages if available.

Day Two: South Along the Coast and Into County Down

Copeland Distillery

Station Road, Donaghadee BT21 0BJ

Donaghadee, a small seaside town on the Ards Peninsula southeast of Belfast, is home to Copeland Distillery — one of the most thoughtfully designed new distilleries in Ireland. Named for the Copeland Islands visible from shore, it produces single malt, gin, and rum, and has established a reputation for excellent new make quality from its first releases.

The distillery occupies a converted Victorian building and runs tours daily. The tasting experience covers the full range and includes maritime-influenced expressions matured within sound of the sea.

Echlinville Distillery

53 Gransha Road, Kircubbin BT22 2LB

Echlinville, on the Ards Peninsula, is Northern Ireland's first distillery in over a hundred years to operate under a poitín and whiskey licence. The estate-based distillery produces Dunville's Irish Whiskey — a famous name from Ulster's distilling past, revived here with new-make spirit now approaching maturation and some older stocks sourced from elsewhere.

The farm setting and the estate surroundings make this a peaceful, distinctive visit. Dunville's Three Crowns and VR expressions are the current offer; the first estate-distilled whiskeys from Echlinville's own stills are beginning to emerge.

Stay: Belfast — the city is 45 minutes from this part of the Ards Peninsula. The Cathedral Quarter has excellent hotels at various budgets.

Day Three: Belfast and County Down

Titanic Distillers

Queens Road, Belfast BT3 9DT

The most dramatically located distillery in the British Isles. Titanic Distillers sits within the historic Pump House building of the Belfast dry dock where the Titanic was fitted out in 1911. The building is listed, extraordinary, and now home to a working whiskey distillery producing both pot still and single malt spirit.

Tours combine the industrial maritime history with modern distillery process — the contrast between Victorian engineering and gleaming copper stills is genuinely striking. The location within the Titanic Quarter means it pairs naturally with a visit to the Titanic Belfast museum next door. Belfast single malt from Titanic Distillers is beginning to appear; in the meantime their initial releases include expressions sourced from elsewhere, honestly presented.

Hinch Distillery

Ballynahinch, Dromore BT25 2HR (Co. Down)

Set on a 19-acre estate south of Belfast, Hinch is one of the more ambitious new Irish whiskey projects. The distillery produces both pot still and single malt spirit, has invested heavily in facilities, and operates a visitor centre in the converted courtyard of a Georgian estate.

Their current range — Hinch Double Wood, Hinch 5 Year Old Peated Single Malt — shows the ambition. The peated expression is of particular note: unusual in the Irish market and well-made.

Planning Your Trail

Total driving distance: Belfast → Bushmills → Belfast → Donaghadee → Echlinville → Titanic Distillers → Hinch = approximately 200 miles over three days.

Eating: Belfast's food scene is significantly better than its reputation. Ox, Deanes, and the Howard Street Bar are worth booking. On the Causeway Coast, the Bushmills Inn and the French Rooms in Ballycastle are the best options.

Booking tours: Most distilleries require advance booking, particularly for premium tasting experiences. Book at least two weeks ahead in summer. Bushmills specifically can fill up on weekend days.

Useful companion: Combine with the Ireland whiskey road trip guide if you want to continue into the Republic after the Northern Irish section.