Hinch Distillery

A modern grain-to-glass Irish whiskey and gin distillery in the heart of County Down, combining behind-the-scenes tours, tastings, dining and immersive spirit experiences.

Hinch Distillery sits on the historic Killaney Estate just outside Ballynahinch in County Down, between Belfast and the rolling countryside towards the Mourne Mountains. The Hinch story officially began in 2016, taking its name from nearby Ballynahinch — from the Irish meaning “Town of the Island” — and building a new chapter of Irish whiskey production in a county with a long distilling heritage.

The purpose-built distillery was designed from the outset not only to produce whiskey and gin but to let visitors see the process at close range. Guests can follow the journey from milling and mashing through fermentation, distillation, maturation and bottling, giving Hinch a genuine working-distillery feel rather than a visitor centre detached from production.

Hinch produces its own Irish whiskey on site, including single malt and peated single malt expressions, alongside a broader whiskey range and limited releases. The distillery works with both double and triple distillation and uses different cask types to create distinct flavour profiles. Its home is also the base for Ninth Wave Irish Gin, a spirit inspired by Irish mythology and the idea of the legendary “Otherworld” beyond the ninth wave.

The main Distillery Tour lasts around 75 minutes and combines a guided walk through production with a tasting of Hinch whiskey. Different options allow visitors to choose a classic tasting, a premium flight, a driver-friendly experience or an under-18 option with a soft drink, making the distillery unusually accessible for mixed-age groups travelling together.

For whiskey enthusiasts, the Warehouse 3 Tour & Tasting goes further into maturation and cask influence. Visitors explore how time, wood and different cask styles shape the final spirit before tasting cask-strength distillery exclusives in the warehouse itself. Hinch also operates a Legacy Cask Programme for customers interested in owning a cask of whiskey as it matures at the distillery.

Gin fans can take part in the Hinch Gin School, learning about the history and production of gin before choosing botanicals, developing a recipe, blending it and taking home a personalised 500ml bottle. Seasonal experiences also appear throughout the year, including interactive workshops centred on Irish whiskey drinks such as the hot whiskey and Irish coffee.

A major advantage for visitors staying in Belfast is Hinch’s free return shuttle service. On selected Wednesday-to-Friday tour days, the shuttle departs from the Hilton Belfast at Lanyon Place and travels directly to the distillery, allowing guests to enjoy the tastings without needing to organise a car or designated driver.

The Hinch Brasserie makes the distillery a food destination in its own right. Inspired by the produce of County Down, it serves breakfast, lunch and relaxed dining, using local meats, seafood and seasonal produce while incorporating subtle links to the distillery through dishes and ingredients such as whiskey-cured salmon, Small Batch whiskey bacon jam and spirit-based sauces and glazes.

Hinch has also developed into a substantial events venue. The Killaney offers wedding spaces ranging from the intimate Loft to the larger Killaney Suite, with bespoke and all-inclusive wedding packages, locally influenced menus and capacity for celebrations of up to around 140 guests. Corporate events and private functions are also part of the venue’s offering.

The distillery shop is open seven days a week and stocks Hinch Irish Whiskey, Ninth Wave Irish Gin, limited and distillery-exclusive releases, merchandise and visitor vouchers. The combination of physical visitor experiences and an online shop means Hinch works both as somewhere to visit and as a contemporary Northern Irish drinks brand that can be discovered from further afield.

Why W.ie chose Hinch Distillery: Hinch gives visitors the opportunity to experience a modern Irish distillery while the whiskey is genuinely being made around them. It combines County Down provenance, ambitious independent production, strong visitor access, dining, events and a varied programme that works for everyone from a curious first-time visitor to a serious whiskey enthusiast. The free Belfast shuttle further removes one of the biggest barriers to distillery tourism. For W.ie, Hinch is a compelling example of a new generation of Irish whiskey businesses creating something contemporary while remaining firmly connected to place, craft and Ireland’s distilling tradition.