Echlinville Distillery

History

Echlinville Distillery is described as Ireland's first farm distillery. We produce spirits directly from barley, which is harvested and floor-malted on the family's farm and floor-malted there. The climate on the Ards Peninsula is considered particularly suited to barley, and the entire farm-to-glass production is carried out on site. Their story traces a journey through the centuries—from Echlinville family roots in 1613 to the modern revival of historic brands such as Dunville’s and Old Comber. The history also covers startup years such as 2013, when the distillery obtained its license, and later milestones such as gin launches, Single Estate whiskey, and the revival of Old Comber.

Development and Key Milestones

• 1613: The Echlinville family roots are established in the area.

• 2007: Echlinville Manor House purchased, the beginning of the present farm-to-glass project.

• 2012: Revival of the Dunville’s Irish Whiskey brand.

• 2013: The distillery receives authorization and begins filling its first casks.

• 2017: Launch of Echlinville Irish Pot Still Gin, Ireland's first super-premium field-to-glass gin.

• 2019: Launch of Dunville’s Single Cask Series.

• 2020: The company adjusts production to hand sanitizer during the pandemic.

• 2021: Revival of Old Comber Irish Whiskey.

• 2023: Echlinville takes over Ards Maltings.

• 2024: Inaugural single estate whiskey release – Echlinville – The Beginning.

• 2025: Further development of Old Comber and continued expansion of the portfolio.

Production / Manufacturing

Field to Glass

The Echlinville Distillery describes itself as a field-to-glass producer, growing barley on its own farm and floor-malts it on site. The oak wood and sea air contribute to the distinctive character, and the entire process from sowing to bottling is carried out under one umbrella.

Malting and Distillation Philosophy

The distillery adheres to a slow distillation method—“trickle pot distillation”—where contact with copper is maximized to achieve complexity and delicacy. The spirits age in casks in cockers and dunnage warehouses, where they mature under the influence of the mild climate and some distinctive sea-air acidity.

Alcohol Strength and Maturation

New spirit is filled into bourbon and virgin American oak casks and matures in Echlinville’s dunnage warehouse with an earth and earthen floor. It is also noted that the spirit can be casked at 63.5% ABV in certain processes (typically new make in the Aird Cask Collective). The entire process is described as time-consuming and handcrafted, with every drop hand-filled and labeled at the distillery.

Products / Whisky Series

The Beginning – Single Estate Whiskey

The Beginning marks Echlinville's starting point as Single Estate whiskey, with the spirit sourced from barley grown, harvested, and floor-malted on the distillery's farm. Their first single estate whiskey release is considered inaugural in 2024, and they are described as a blended whiskey comprising a selection of spirits from the farm.

Echlinville – Single Malt Irish Whiskey (7 years) and Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey (7 years)

Under The Beginning wing, two parallel expressions are presented: a 7-year-old Single Malt Irish Whiskey (double-distilled) and a 7-year-old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey (double-distilled), both aged in bourbon and virgin American oak.

Old Comber Irish Whiskey (Single Pot Still)

Old Comber Irish Whiskey was revived as a Single Estate project, and is a 7-year-old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey distilled, malted and bottled at Echlinville. It finishes, most likely, with an Oloroso Sherry and Tawny Port cask finish and is bottled at 46% ABV, all matured in the dunnage warehouse. A planned release of special editions is mentioned, including a 200-year anniversary edition and other limited editions.

Dunville’s – Longer Portfolio of Whiskey Expressions

The Dunville’s lineup includes several expressions such as VR Sherry Cask Finish (Single Malt Irish Whiskey), Three Crowns (premium vintage blends finished in Sherry or Peated Cask), and 1808 (blended Irish whiskey). The expressions show a balance between malt, grain and pot still-spirit, and a range of finishes in sherry- or port-cask. International prize rostrums and awards are also mentioned through the Irish Whiskey Awards.

Other Series

The portfolio also includes the Weavers and Jawbox brands with gin and vodka, as well as Bán Poitin – a poitín at 44.5% ABV in 70 cl bottles, and Matt D’Arcy Irish Whiskey (46% ABV) – but these are secondary to the central whiskey portfolio.

Visits / Experiences

Tour & Tipple and Other Experiences

Echlinville offers visitor experiences such as Tour & Tipple and Spirits & Cheese (a combined whiskey and cheese tasting). There are also options for private bookings and gift vouchers that can be used in the distillery shop or experiences programs. The Distiller’s Rest Café and certain trails are noted as being under exceptional conditions and may be temporarily closed, but the café and garden area are open to guests regardless of booked tours.

Field to Glass Experience

About the experience: visitors gain insight into the field-to-glass journey and see the copper stills and the storage cells, and two drinks are offered during the tour.

Philosophy

Provenance and Craft

Their core philosophy revolves around provenance and the “field to glass” approach. They grow, malt and produce everything on their own farm and seek to preserve the connection between soil, climate and human craftsmanship at every step of the process.

Excellence Instilled

Through the expression Excellence Instilled, they emphasise that the stills and the dunnage warehouse impart spirits and aromas shaped by their soil and climate. They stress slow distillation to achieve a balance between a complex character and a delicate flavor, and that every bottle is hand-filled and packaged with care.