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11th August 2025 |
The Ardara
Distillery in Donegal announces the
launch of Ardara Single Malt Irish
Whiskey, a heavily peated, triple
distilled, all grain-in whiskey that
signals a bold revival of Donegal’s lost
distilling tradition.
 This August marks a landmark in the
revival of Irish whiskey, as The Ardara
Distillery — home of Sliabh Liag
Distillers — proudly introduces Ardara
Single Malt Irish Whiskey. Heavily
peated, triple-distilled, and crafted
entirely grain-in, it signals the bold
return of Donegal’s long-lost distilling
tradition. Already recognised with a
Gold medal at the Irish Whiskey Masters
2025 in the Single Malt – Super-Premium
category, this release is making its
mark from day one.
A whiskey deeply rooted in place, Ardara
Single Malt refuses to compromise on
character. For more than a century,
Ireland's regional distinctions in
whiskey had faded into uniformity;
Ardara reignites Donegal's singular
style. Made from malted barley peated to
55 ppm, distilled with the grain-in, and
matured with a sherry-forward profile in
American Bourbon casks and Virgin oak.
The whiskey is the realised dream of
founders James and Moira Doherty, who
returned to their family roots to build
The Ardara Distillery and breathe life
back into the craft that once defined
Ireland’s northwest. From its base on
the Show Field in the coastal town of
Ardara, the distillery is a striking
emblem of renewal. Behind its glass
façade, three gleaming Forsyths copper
stills from Scotland work tirelessly,
capturing every smoky, earthy nuance of
this distinctive Donegal spirit.
"For too long, Irish whiskey has drifted
towards a conformity with the familiar –
sweet, smooth and easy," says James
Doherty, co-founder of The Ardara
Distillery. "At Ardara, we’re answering
a call that comes not from market
trends, but from memory, from place, and
from family. A century ago, my
grandfather was an illicit distiller in
Donegal and, while he is no longer with
us, I know he’d recognise what we’re
doing here – grain-in, heavily peated,
triple distilled, just as it was in his
time. Ardara Single Malt Irish Whiskey
is a spirit that could only have come
from one place – Donegal. This isn’t
about nostalgia, it’s about revival:
reclaiming the rich, sweet smoky,
textured soul of true Donegal whiskey."
Adding to this, Moira Doherty,
co-founder of The Ardara Distillery
said: "Ardara’s mission has always been
singular: to remain true to Donegal
above all else. We know that our Ardara
Single Malt Irish Whiskey is a deeply
traditional style delivered in a process
that today is seen as revolutionary. It
doesn’t matter to us that no one else
chooses to do it this way; it is true to
Donegal and that’s good enough for us!"
The Ardara Distillery proudly champions
heavily peated "all grain-in" distilling
— a rare process in which every part of
the grain is carried through to the wash
still. This traditional Donegal method,
once nearly lost, draws the fullest
depth of character from the malt. Today,
Ardara stands alone as the only
distillery in Ireland dedicated to
peated whiskey made in this way.
Every step is designed to shape flavour:
carefully chosen yeast strains and pot
stills with downward-sloping lyne arms
work in concert to capture the rich,
fruity, nutty smokiness born in the
grain.
The whiskey’s presentation mirrors its
spirit — bold, elegant, and steeped in
meaning. Its 100% recycled sculpted
bottle, with vertical fluting, recalls
the era when such flavours last graced
Donegal glasses. The bottle cap nods to
Ardara’s distinctive Solera vats, used
before maturation to preserve character
and continuity. On the label, metallic
blue and copper accents pay tribute to
the native dragonfly — Ardara’s emblem —
a symbol of transformation, resilience,
and rebirth, much like the Ardara Single
Malt Irish Whiskey itself.
The Ardara Single Malt Irish Whiskey
marks the first release of what will
"Our first edition of Ardara Single Malt
Irish Whiskey drinks superbly well –
even in its youth it clearly signals the
style and character we've been committed
to from the very beginning. With each
future release Ardara Single Malt Irish
Whiskey will gain added depth and
complexity as we move closer to defining
Ardara’s true signature style." James
added: "We‘re proud to be at this point
and grateful for the support that’s
brought us here. It promises to be an
exciting journey of discovery."
The 2025 release is limited to just
10,000 bottles worldwide: 2,000 at cask
strength, available exclusively from The
Ardara Distillery visitor centre, and
8,000 bottled at 46% ABV. The latter
will be available in select outlets
across Ireland and the UK from August,
before reaching international markets in
September, including Germany, France,
the USA, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
Ardara Single Malt Irish Whiskey at 46%
will be available from August 2025 and
costs €90, you will soon find it available from specialist online whisky
shops such as
The Whisky Exchange
and
Master of Malt
|
Ardara Single Malt Irish Whiskey Review
|
Bottled at 46% ABV.
Producer's
Tasting Notes:
Nose: On
the nose, sweet cereal and biscuit
mingle with poached figs, coconut,
raisins, and a delicate whisper of pipe
tobacco and ash.
Taste: The
palate unfolds with the rich sweetness
of hot beignets and poached pears,
layered with notes of roasted coconut,
almond, leather, and rolled tobacco.
Waves of campfire smoke roll in,
gradually giving way to a soft, smoky
baked apple finish.
Finish: The
experience lingers with a warm echo of
the hearth – smoke, sweet spice, and the
quiet, comforting hush of a peat fire
the morning after.
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