Ardara distillery

Ardara Single Malt Irish Whiskey — The Ardara Distillery (Donegal, Ireland)

Overview Ardara Single Malt Irish Whiskey is the inaugural single malt from The Ardara Distillery: a triple‑distilled, heavily peated (55 PPM), “all grain‑in” whiskey that revives a smoky Donegal style not seen in over a century. Distillation takes place on three Forsyths copper pot stills; the team uses carefully selected yeast strains and pot stills with downward‑sloping lyne arms to capture fruity, nutty smokiness. Spirit is matured with a sherry‑forward sensibility in American bourbon and virgin oak casks, with solera vats employed prior to maturation to ensure continuity of character.

Founders & Place Founded by James Doherty, Moira Doherty, and James Keith, the distillery stands behind a striking glass façade on the Show Field in the coastal town of Ardara, County Donegal. Status: active. Founding year: 2022. Output: ~500,000 L per year. Coordinates: 54.654398, -8.633848. Ardara is the only distillery on the island of Ireland dedicated to peated whiskey using the “all grain in” method (every part of the grain carried through to the wash still).

Official Tasting Notes • Nose — Sweet cereal and biscuit mingle with poached figs, coconut, raisins, and a delicate whisper of pipe tobacco and ash. • Palate — Rich sweetness of hot beignets and poached pears, layered with roasted coconut, almond, leather, and rolled tobacco; waves of campfire smoke roll in. • Finish — Soft, smoky baked apple; lingering hearth‑like notes of smoke and sweet spice, recalling the quiet hush of a peat fire the morning after.

Packaging & Emblem A 100% recycled sculpted bottle with vertical flutes nods to the era when these flavours last thrived. Metallic blue and copper accents reference the native dragonfly—Ardara’s emblem—symbolising transformation, resilience, and rebirth. The bottles’ caps acknowledge the solera vats used prior to maturation.

Visitor Information • Location — The Ardara Distillery, Ardara, County Donegal (near Maghera Beach & Caves, Sliabh Liag Cliffs, Silver Strand, Assaranca Waterfall, and Portnoo golf links). • Tours — Monday to Saturday at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, and 16:00; approximately 1 hour. Please check in 10 minutes before start; limit 14 people per tour. Fully accessible for wheelchair users; guide dogs welcome. • Pricing — Tasting tour (Gin & Whiskey) €25; tour without tasting €15. Children 8–18 free of charge. • Booking — Advance booking essential. Enquiries: tours@ardaradistillery.com. • Reopening — Tours reopened on Wednesday, 12 March 2025.

Release & Availability — 2025 Edition • Bottling — Initial 10,000 bottles worldwide: 2,000 cask strength (Visitor Centre exclusive) + 8,000 bottles at 46% ABV. • Markets — 46% release available in select outlets & online in Ireland and the UK from August 2025; international from September 2025 (Germany, France, USA, Belgium, Netherlands). • Price — €90 (46% ABV).

Context The Ardara Distillery houses all Sliabh Liag Distillers operations (including An Dúlamán Irish Maritime Gin) and aims to reclaim Donegal’s rich distilling heritage. Tours include a guided look at the county’s history of distilling, the “All Grain In” process, and a tutored tasting—often featuring Silkie blended whiskeys as a gateway into smoky Irish whiskey.

Ardara factsheet