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Ardara
Distillery in Donegal goes into
production as the first casks are filled
with spirit.
Donegal’s Sliabh Liag Distillers
recently
completed the first distillation of
spirit at its new Ardara Distillery.
Ex-bourbon oak casks have been filled
with a smoky, heavily-peated, triple
distilled single malt, with operations
commencing just 51 weeks after the
foundation stone was set for the
distillery in the festival town of
Ardara, on Donegal’s Wild Atlantic Way.
This phase one build of the distillery
is the latest chapter in the company’s
mission to reclaim the distilling
heritage of Donegal. Built with local
contractors and Forsyth’s of Rothes,
Scotland – the revered coppersmiths – to
the specifications of James and Moira
Doherty, the distillery can produce
500,000L of whiskey per year, in both
single malt and traditional pot still
styles.
James Doherty, who co-founded Sliabh
Liag Distillers with his wife Moira, is
delighted with the progress to date:
"Construction of the Ardara Distillery
began in October 2020, and despite the
many challenges that these past few
years have thrown at us – from the
pandemic to Brexit and everything in
between – we managed to go from putting
in the foundations to distilling in less
than a year. We couldn’t be prouder of
all the team who pulled off such an
amazing feat in super-quick time. It’s a
standout building housing some truly
beautiful copper stills – a fantastic
new landmark for the county."
"As a company, we want to create spirits
that honour the deep traditions of
whiskey making in this part of the
world, so we’re distilling a rich, smoky
whiskey in an authentic Ulster style.
The first spirit to have flowed from the
stills is truly outstanding – I’m sure
my grandfathers, who were both poitín
men, would approve. I think the spirit
will take wood well, but we must now let
the magic in the casks happen and busy
ourselves with patience to see what
effect maturation has" added James.
Moira Doherty commented: "Sustainability
has also played a huge factor in the
design of the new distillery, with a
focus on waste and energy reduction
through initiatives such as our ‘all
grains in’ approach that also sees waste
going on to being used as cattle feed.
We have also moved Meabh, our gin still,
to the Ardara Distillery."
The company’s operations in Carrick will
become the hub for all administration,
bottling and the home of Silkie with ten
full time jobs based at the site. Sliabh
Liag Distillers will provide up to 40
full time jobs in the area when the
Ardara Distillery is fully operational.
The distillery’s interim visitor centre
will open in time for the summer season
2022. Plans are also underway to
commence work on phase two of the
distillery – a dedicated gin still-house
and increased visitor centre capacity.
There will be no café in the distillery,
with visitors encouraged to use the
town’s superb food and drink offering.
The distillery has also appointed
Newcastle man Graeme Bell as its new
Distillery Manager. Graeme has
experience of working in the great
whiskey making areas of the world,
Speyside in Scotland for Scotch and
Kentucky, USA for Bourbon and more
recently Hamilton in Canada.
Speaking about his new role, Graeme
said: "I feel fortunate to be in at the
start for the Ardara Distillery, working
in a beautifully designed new distillery
with the finest copper stills from
Forsyth’s in Scotland, which have been
made specifically to reflect the
distilling traditions of this area. Our
goal is to use locally grown barley and
oats to make both single malt and pot
still whiskeys and to bring back many
traditional whiskey-making methods from
the past".
"The opportunity to move to Donegal and
be part of a very special revival was
too good to miss" added Graeme. "Since
moving to Ardara, I have been struck by
the friendliness of the people and the
magnificent scenery, and I’m delighted
to be part of this community as we set
about sharing the next chapter of
distilling in Donegal."
With casks now being filled, whiskey
enthusiasts can become a ‘Seanchai’ and
join the journey by buying a cask for
themselves. Just 600 are available, with
full, transparent details of the costs
involved available at
www.sliabhliagdistillers.com. If after
five years buyers don’t wish to empty
the contents for bottling, the company
will buy the cask back off them for the
purchase price plus interest (3% CAGR).
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