Hinch Distillery

History

Hinch Distillery is a young Irish distillery located on the Killaney Estate outside Ballynahinch in County Down. The location is described as an area between the city of Belfast and the Mourne Mountains, where County Down offers natural beauty and heritage. The name 'Hinch' comes from the neighbouring town Ballynahinch, which means 'Town of the Island' in Irish. According to our story, the history officially began in 2016 and rests on a generational heritage of Irish distilling, passion, and pioneering spirit. The distillery is positioned in a corner of the island where there are wild city experiences and tranquil Sunday strolls—a duality that reflects a commitment to craft and tradition.

The distillery is purpose-built, so guests can get a backstage look at the full grain-to-glass process—from milling the grain to fermentation, distillation, and bottling—all under one roof. A key part of Hinch's story is also a strong link to the Killaney Estate and the region's cultural heritage in Ireland's distilling capital.

An important part of Hinch's identity is the Legacy Cask Programme: with a capacity to produce 1.2 million litres of whiskey and single malt / single pot still whiskey, the programme offers customers the opportunity to own a cask for maturation at Hinch (cost price around £4950). The commitment to archival practices, cold-distilling and slow maturation is a central part of the ambition to create a unique portfolio and a lasting legacy.

In addition to whiskey, Hinch also produces Ninth Wave Irish Gin. The gin flagship is iconic with a blue bottle and a triskel-like symbol, signaling a connection between the sea and Ireland's history. The gin production and story highlight a sustainable and adventurous approach, where ingredients and techniques are combined with a passion for exploring the boundaries of flavour and sensory experience.

Production / Manufacturing

Hinch is described as a grain-to-glass distillery that gives visitors the opportunity to experience the entire process in a modern facility—from grain handling to maturation and multi-dimensional flavour development. A central part of the business model is to keep the entire production chain under one roof and to be an independent, family-friendly distillery with a focus on quality and storytelling.

Their Ninth Wave Gin is produced in a 1000-litre dedicated pot still with a separate vapour basket. Nine botanicals are included in the gin recipe, including a core of juniper, coriander and angelica roots with cardamom, cassia, grains of paradise, lemon zest and lemongrass-like notes. Maceration takes place directly in the pot still for 12 hours, where lemon verbena is placed in the vapour basket to lift its aroma profile. After distillation, the spirit is reduced to 43% ABV using RO water before bottling.

For the whiskey side, Hinch's capacity to produce 1.2 million litres of Single Malt and Single Pot Still whiskey is highlighted. The process is supported by an on-site production chain and a cask warehousing facility, supporting slow maturation and unique character in each cask.

Products / Whiskey Series

Hinch Whiskey – Core Range and Limited Editions

• Core Range: Includes 5 Year Old - Double Wood and 5 Year Old - Madeira Cask Finish. These releases symbolise Hinch's approach to combining traditional craftsmanship with modern finishing techniques.

• Limited Editions and configurations include special releases such as Connoisseur Collection 5-year-old Madeira Finish (46% ABV) with detailed nose, palate and finish notes.

• External single malt expressions are also presented in the range, such as Hinch Single Malt (43% ABV) and Hinch's peated expressions such as Hinch Peated Single Malt and Peated Small Batch (46.4% ABV). These show an evolution in Hinch's portfolio with both non-chill filtration and coastal peat notes.

• Available tasting notes typically describe citrus notes, toffee and fruity notes in the younger expressions, as well as smoke, cocoa and dark fruit in the peated expressions. For example, Hinch Single Malt is presented with descriptions of caramel, orange, honey and a full body, while the peated variants include smoke and chocolate finish.

Specific products (examples from site)

• Connoisseur Collection 5-year-old Madeira Wine Cask Finish (46% ABV): NOSE – warm wood notes and candied orange zest; PALATE – orange marmalade and nut praline; FINISH – roasted hazelnuts and pepper on the aftertaste.

• Hinch Single Malt (43% ABV): NOSE – candied orange and spicy notes; PALATE – caramelised sweetness and apple syrup with citrus and honey; FINISH – citrus and honey that lingers.

• Hinch Peated Single Malt: NOSE – ashy smoke and pinewood; PALATE – robust smoke, salt, honey and chocolate; FINISH – sweet smoke and chocolate notes.

• Peated Small Batch (46.4% ABV): NOSE – smoke, banoffee and coconut shell; PALATE – brown sugar and fruit blend; FINISH – banana and crème caramel notes.

• Hinch Aged 15 Years Oloroso Cask Finish: NOSE – charred oak and pears; PALATE – full-bodied with dried fruits and wood tones; FINISH – long berry-sweetness and black pepper.

Ninth Wave Gin (not whiskey, but part of the product portfolio)

Ninth Wave Irish Gin is inspired by Irish mythology and the sea. The bottle and name signal a nature- and adventure-oriented approach, and the gin emphasises sustainability, high quality, and a botanical composition of nine ingredients including juniper and citrus notes.

Visits / Experiences

Hinch Distillery offers a range of experiences and tours:

• Hinch Whiskey Tours: Classic Tasting (5 Year Old - Double Wood and Madeira Cask Finish), Premium Tasting (selected drams including 15 Year Old, peated single malts and signature service) and Driver’s Dram (with a 50 ml sample to take home). Duration about 1 hour 15 minutes; price from £18.50 per person. Children aged 8 to 17 may participate when accompanied by an adult.

• Legacy Tour: A comprehensive, 2-hour experience that includes a tour of the distillery, storage tanks and an exclusive tasting among casks. Price from £45.00 per person.

• Gin School Experience: A 90-minute hands-on gin school, including production at the gin still and a personalised 500 ml bottle to take home. Price £45.00 per person.

• Seasonal events such as Wreath Making (Christmas table) and Some Like It Hot (winter drinks workshop).

• Gift vouchers for tours/experiences or the shop – valid in the Hinch Distillery Gift Shop.

Opening hours: The shop is open 7 days a week from 10:00 to 17:30.

Philosophy

Hinch Distillery places emphasis on being a modern, independent grain-to-glass distillery that blends tradition with innovation to create unique flavour profiles. Their approach is supported by a focus on sustainability and responsible packaging of raw materials and processes. Ninth Wave Gin stands as an example of a sustainable and quality-driven production with a clear sea- and mythological inspiration. Their words about legacy and presence in County Down show a commitment to creating something lasting and valuable for future generations – a level of engagement that is also reflected in the Legacy Cask Programme and how they build their distillery as a central part of the region's distillation and cultural heritage.