Explore the quality, range and distinctive character of Northern Ireland’s spirits with the new Spirit Trail and Distillery Passport. The Spirit Trail links 14 distilleries and distillery-led experiences across the region. Pick up a passport at any participating stop, have it stamped as you visit each distillery, and collect all 14 stamps to receive a special souvenir.
Titanic Distillers © Tourism Ireland
Belfast is home to three notable distilleries. At Belfast Artisan Gin School you can take a two-hour Make Your Own Gin workshop that blends hands-on mixing with expert guidance. Whiskey enthusiasts should visit McConnell’s Distillery, Northern Ireland’s newest whiskey producer, which offers guided tours that can be paired with a visit to the historic Crumlin Road Gaol. Nearby, Titanic Distillers—housed in the Titanic Pumphouse—provides a compelling follow-up to a visit to Titanic Belfast.
Just outside the city, Hinch Distillery and Rademon Estate, home of Shortcross Gin, both offer behind-the-scenes tours of their modern facilities, giving insight into contemporary distilling methods and the craft that goes into each bottle.
Hinch Distillery © Tourism Ireland
The Ards Peninsula is a rich area for tasting and stories. Copeland Distillery serves craft whiskey, gin and rum, and pairs tastings with tales of seafaring life and historic smuggling. Further along the peninsula, Echlinville is a family-run, field-to-glass distillery producing the award-winning Dunville’s Irish whiskey and offering tours that emphasize local ingredients and traditional techniques.
In the shadow of the Mourne Mountains is Killowen, the smallest distillery on the trail, where visitors can sample a range of artisan spirits in an intimate setting. Two Stacks Whiskey provides a hands-on blending experience that explains Ireland’s long history of blending and bonding, ideal for anyone interested in the craft behind whiskey production.
Woodlab Distillery © Tourism Ireland
Travel the scenic Causeway Coast to visit one of the area’s best-known names: Bushmills, a historic distillery with deep roots in Irish whiskey. In County Fermanagh’s lakelands, Boatyard Distillery emphasizes organic and sustainable practices in producing clean, pure spirits. Wild Atlantic Distillery in County Tyrone draws inspiration from Ireland’s rugged coastline for its flavor profiles. Gin aficionados will appreciate Woodlab Distillery, where scientific rigour meets botanical creativity to produce the Symphonia range of gins.
Bushmills © Tourism Ireland
In the historic walled city of Derry, Walled City Brewery expands the trail by offering Earhart Gin alongside its beer offerings. Tours here include tastings of several craft beers and an introduction to the small-batch spirit produced on site.
The Spirit Trail offers a compelling way to explore Northern Ireland through its distilleries: each stop presents local character, distinct production techniques and dedicated tastings. Whether you’re interested in gin, whiskey, rum or experimental botanical spirits, the 14 stops across cities, coast and countryside provide a varied route for both casual visitors and serious spirits enthusiasts. Collect your passport stamps as you travel, learn about the craft, and take home a memorable souvenir to mark your journey.