Belfast Whisky Tasting McConnell's Distillery Award-Winning

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1/21

Duration1h

GroupUp to 24

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Sample Belfast whisky the way it's made, right where it's distilled

McConnell's Distillery in Belfast is a guided tour and tasting experience where you sample three award-winning whiskies—the 5 Year Series, Sherry Cask finish, and new make spirit fresh from the stills—inside the restored A-Wing of Crumlin Road Gaol. The tour includes a welcome drink, insight into the distillation process and the brand's revival, and access to the shop and café. Children from age 10 are welcome; the experience runs about an hour and is fully wheelchair accessible.

The Experience

The distillery occupies what was once a Victorian prison wing, transformed into what the operator calls the most atmospheric distillery setting in Ireland. You'll walk through the space on a guided tour that explains both how McConnell's whisky is made on site and the story of the brand itself—born in 1776 and now revived in Belfast after decades away. A guide leads you through the behind-the-scenes setup of the state-of-the-art stills and production areas.

The tasting is the core of the visit. You'll sample the 5 Year Series (the signature expression), the Sherry Cask finish, and new make—the raw spirit pulled straight off the stills that day. A welcome drink arrives when you check in. The whole experience sits inside the distillery building, so you're tasting in the same space where the whisky is actually produced, not in a separate tasting room elsewhere. After the tour, you can browse the shop or sit in the café and bar if you want to stay longer.

The tour runs about an hour. Children from age 10 can join; younger children can come along in a pram or stroller. The space is fully wheelchair accessible, and public transport options are nearby if you're not driving. You'll need to be 18 or older to taste the alcoholic drinks; anyone under that age can still do the tour and the welcome drink will be non-alcoholic instead.

What’s included

A guided tour of the distillery production areas.
three whisky tastings (5 Year Series, Sherry Cask finish, and new make straight off the stills).
a welcome drink on arrival.
insight into the distillation process and the history of McConnell's.
access to the shop and café.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by McConnell’s Distillery and Visitor Experience

Is this one for you?Book the tour with tasting if you want to sample the whisky as part of the full distillery experience; choose the tour without tasting if you'd prefer to walk through the production space and learn the story without the alcohol component, or if you're under 18.