Experience the true spirit of Donegal with a visit to The Ardara Distillery, the home of Sliabh Liag Distillers. Take a tour of Donegal’s state-of-the-art distillery and appreciate an alternative side of Irish whiskey making, inspired by an almost lost smoky spirit style; one that honours the methods of Donegal’s illicit forefathers, brought up to date with the very best distillation know-how. During the tour you will learn about the history of Donegal’s immense distilling heritage and see skilled distillers breathing new life into this ancient craft.
Tour times Monday – Saturday 10.00, 12.00, 14.00 & 16.00
The Ardara Distillery houses all of Sliabh Liag Distillers’ distilling operations. It sits on the Show Field in the historic festival town of Ardara, close to Maghera Beach and Caves, the majestic Sliabh Liag Cliffs, The Silver Strand Beach, Assaranca Waterfall, the golf links at Portnoo and many more of Donegal’s most picturesque spots.
During a tour of The Ardara Distillery, visitors will get to experience a full-scale whiskey distillery in operation, one that has the capacity to produce up to 600,000 litres of spirit per year. Guests will also learn more about Sliabh Liag Distillers, the first legal distilling company in the county for 175 years, and The Sliabh Liag Single Malt – Kilcar Release, which was the first legally distilled whiskey in Donegal since 1841.
The distillery, which opened to the public in July 2022, is popular with tourists and locals alike. Tours of the distillery* are available from Monday to Saturday at 10am, 12pm, 2pm and 4pm and each tour lasts around an hour (*the distillery reopens for tours on Wednesday, 12th March, 2025). The team at The Ardara Distillery advises that each group checks in ten minutes before their tour begins.
A tasting tour, that includes Gin and Whiskey, costs €25 whilst a tour without tasting is €15. All children from the ages of 8 to 18 are free of charge. Tours are fully accessible for wheelchair users and guide dogs. Booking in advance is essential as there is a limit of 14 people per tour. Find out more and reserve your place via the website or email tours@ardaradistillery.com
