Why it’s been a momentous year for Sliabh Liag Distillers

2022 was an exciting year for the Sliabh Liag Distillers team as they continued on their journey to reclaim Donegal’s distilling heritage. As well as celebrating international accolades for The Legendary Silkie Irish Whiskey range, the company filled their 500th cask and found a new home with the opening of the Ardara Distillery to the public in July. 

The Ardara Distillery is a full-scale whiskey distillery built to help meet the forecast of the doubling of the Irish whiskey market by 2023; it has capacity to produce up to 600,000 litres of spirit per year. 

James Doherty, cofounder of Sliabh Liag Distillers said: “A tour of The Ardara Distillery immerses visitors in an alternative side of Irish whiskey making, one that honours the methods of our illicit forefathers and is inspired by the almost lost tradition for a smoky style of spirit, brought up to date with the very best distillation know-how. The key differentiator between the Ardara Distillery and those that you will find around the country is that it is dedicated solely to the revival of smoky flavours associated with Donegal’s whiskey output back in the 1800s. There has been a significant increase in whiskey tourism across the world and the Ardara Distillery is a great opportunity to sell Donegal as a hotspot for tourists who have an interest in the spirits industry. We’re only open five months but have already received terrific feedback from our international and domestic visitors, and we’re looking forward to sharing the story of Donegal whiskey with even more visitors to the county in 2023.”

A tour of The Ardara Distillery is the ideal Christmas present for the whiskey lover in your life. Visitors are guided through the history of Donegal’s immense distilling heritage while getting the chance to see skilled workers breathing new life into it. Tours of the distillery are available from Monday to Saturday at 10am, 12pm, 2pm and 4pm and each tour lasts approx. one hour, (over Christmas, tours are closed from 12pm on Saturday 24th until Tuesday 3rd January, 2023). Tours cost €15 with no tasting or €25 with tasting. All children from the ages of 8 to 18 are free of charge, however children any younger than eight years old are not permitted. Tours are fully accessible to wheelchair users and guide dogs are also allowed. Booking is essential: Call 0749541640 or email Tours@ArdaraDistillery.com.

Share the legend this Christmas with Sliabh Liag Distillers’ legendary Silkie Irish Whiskey collection. New for Christmas 2022 are The Legendary Silkie Irish Whiskey giftpacks, the perfect gift for the whiskey lover in your life. All three giftpacks are beautifully designed to depict the story of Donegal’s silkies, mythological creatures believed to have come ashore at the secluded Silver Strand beach on Donegal’s wild Atlantic coastline. 

The Legendary Silkie Irish whiskey collection is carefully blended to take drinkers on a journey through smoky Irish whiskey. Sliabh Liag Distillers founder James Doherty has selected a variety of whiskeys to give the desired effect, with a triple distilled peated single malt delivering that signature smoky flavour in each expression. Available in either 70cl or 75cl bottles, each giftpack includes a leather carrying pouch and four premium stainless-steel cups etched with the Silkie mermaid, so that you can share a sup of Silkie with your loved ones this Christmas. Choose from The Legendary Silkie Irish Whiskey, The Legendary Dark Silkie Irish Whiskey and The Midnight Silkie Irish Whiskey giftpacks. 

To celebrate this year’s Buy Donegal campaign, Sliabh Liag Distillers is offering 10% off in store and online and a free keyring with every order up until Saturday, 24th December with the code BUYDONEGAL at checkout.

Find out more here: www.sliabhliagdistillers.com