Distilleries & Breweries
From flame-fed whiskey to craft gin, discover the spirit of Mourne
A Legacy of Liquid Gold
On the slopes of Knock Shee, where smugglers once hauled French brandy along hidden mountain paths during the Napoleonic Wars, a new chapter in Irish spirit-making is being written. The same wild landscape that sheltered illicit traders now nurtures some of Ireland's most exciting craft producers.
This is where Northern Ireland's smallest distillery fires its stills over open flame—the only one in the region to do so. Where a 500-acre estate that has stood since 565 AD produces the country's first craft gin. Where pioneers have been brewing award-winning beer for nearly three decades.
The revival of Irish whiskey-making finds its most passionate expression here, in distillers who pick botanicals by hand from the hillsides, who name their stills, and who welcome visitors not as tourists, but as fellow enthusiasts.
“We're not making whiskey. We're making memories.”
— Brendan Carty, Killowen Distillery
Killowen Distillery
Rostrevor, Mourne Mountains
The Flame-Fed Difference
The only distillery in Northern Ireland heating stills over open flame rather than steam—creating a fuller-bodied spirit with unmatched character and depth.
Two handmade artisan pot stills: Christoir (1000L) & Broc (800L)
Worm tub condensers for traditional distillation
Founded 2019 by Brendan Carty
Meet the Makers Tour
Includes piper & storyteller
£36 per person
Barántúil Whiskey
Single pot still, true to original
Rum & Raisin Cask
Famous limited expression
Botanical Gin
Hand-picked local botanicals
Poitín
Traditional Irish spirit
Hand-Picked Botanicals
Killowen Gin features botanicals harvested by hand from the surrounding hillsides: juniper, angelica root, liquorice root, mint, coriander, rosehip, elderberry, meadowsweet, citrus peel, and delicate fuchsia blossom.
Rademon Estate Distillery
Home of Shortcross Gin
On a historic 500-acre estate near Downpatrick—where the grounds have stood since 565 AD—Fiona and David Boyd-Armstrong created Northern Ireland's first craft gin in 2012.
Shortcross Gin, infused with elderflowers and wild apples from the estate, went on to win Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Every bottle is filled by hand and dipped in their signature black wax.
Personalised Labels
Create your own custom bottle
Whiskey Launch
Single Malt since 2021
Estate Events
Tours from
£25.50
Discovery £49.50+
Whitewater Brewery
Castlewellan, Heart of Mourne
Founded by Bernard and Kerry Sloan in 1996, Whitewater Brewery pioneered craft brewing in Northern Ireland—creating beers that were “first of their kind in Ireland.”
Today, they're a household name across Northern Ireland, with 10 different beers brewed and bottled on site. Their brewery tour offers a behind-the-scenes look at nearly three decades of brewing innovation.
10
Beers on site
28+
Years brewing
Brewery Tour
With Tasting
Onsite
Taproom
More to Discover
Other Spirit Experiences
Mourne Dew Distillery
Warrenpoint • Traditional Irish Distilling
Keeping the flame of traditional Irish distilling alive, Mourne Dew produces authentic poitín and whiskey using time-honoured methods. Their spirits capture the essence of the Mourne region's distilling heritage.
Two Stacks Irish Whiskey
Newry Area • Innovative Blending
An independent Irish whiskey brand from the Newry area, known for their innovative blending techniques that honour traditional methods while pushing boundaries. Their range includes signature blends, single malts, and distinctive peated varieties that have earned international recognition.
Plan Your Visit
Book Your Experience
Killowen Distillery
Meet the Makers Tour
- Distillery tour
- Whiskey tasting
- Piper & storyteller
- Behind-the-scenes access
£36per person
Rademon Estate
Gin Tasting & Tour
- Estate tour
- Gin tasting flight
- Botanical garden visit
£25.50per person
Rademon Estate
Discovery Experience
- Full estate tour
- Whiskey & gin tasting
- Create your own label
- Welcome drink
£49.50per person
Whitewater Brewery
Brewery Tour
- Brewery tour
- Tasting session
- Taproom access
£20per person
The Story
From Smugglers' Paths to World-Class Spirits
The Smuggling Heritage
During the Napoleonic Wars, the slopes of Knock Shee concealed a secret trade. French brandy flowed along hidden mountain paths, evading revenue officers. The same terrain that made excellent cover for smugglers—remote valleys, rushing streams, ancient forests—would later prove ideal for distillation.
The Irish Whiskey Revival
A century ago, Irish whiskey was the world's most popular spirit. Today, a new generation of craft distillers is reclaiming that legacy. Here in Mourne, they're doing it with flame-fed stills, hand-picked botanicals, and a commitment to quality over quantity.
Local Terroir
The best spirits tell the story of their place. Here, that means elderflowers from ancient estates, meadowsweet from mountain slopes, and pure Mourne water. It means gin botanicals picked by hand and whiskey aged in barrels that have known only these hills.
Craft Beer Revolution
Before craft beer was fashionable, Whitewater Brewery was brewing it. Since 1996, they've proved that quality and character can thrive outside the mainstream—inspiring a generation of Northern Irish brewers to follow.
The Makers' Stories
Plan Your Visit
Ready-made trip plans to make the most of your visit.
Raise a Glass to Mourne
Plan your craft drinks trail through the Mourne region. From intimate distillery tours to taproom tastings, every sip tells a story.