Croithlí Distillery Experience launch marks a new era of whiskey production in Donegal
Former Crolly Dolls factory now making whiskey!
Founder members and investors in Donegal's first fully functional whiskey production facility in 180 years received a sneak preview of things to come on Saturday.
The Croithlí Distillery Experience opens for business tomorrow, Monday, July 4.
The new facility is based at the former Crolly Doll factory. This iconic building lay dormant for almost 25 years but in 2018 Údarás na Gaeltachta commenced a restoration project.
State-of-the-art
The new transformed facility in Crolly
Joe Devenney, Conor McMenamin, and Kieran Davis are the promoters behind this project. Having a common interest in whiskey and watching its resurgence on a global scale they wanted to be part of the story.
They saw the potential for the development of a unique Donegal product and through their combined entrepreneurial skills and support from various sources, they turned their dream into a reality.
Joe, Conor, and Kieran's say their intention is to make really good whiskey. Rather than go with the modern technologies available, their choice has been to go back in time and return to the most traditional methods of distillation.
Legal distillation of Donegal Irish whiskey was re-commenced on September 24, 2020 for the very first time in one hundred and eighty years.
The liquid is stored in ex-bourbon barrels and left to rest for a minimum of three years and one day on-site in the bounded warehouse. After this period and interacting with the wood, what was a clear liquid on day one, should emerge as a beautiful amber-gold viscous liquid unique to this part of the world.
Visitor's Experience
Launching the visitor's experience tour to cask founder members, family, and friends on Saturday the experience was hailed by all present as a truly remarkable and engaging tour, generating excited anticipation, appreciation, and connection to the Gaeltacht culture and place that is west Donegal.
Through a stunning audio-visual presentation, the stories of the building's rich heritage are told from its foundation to the many industries that operated here over the past 100 years.
Tales of methodology and connections with ancestors' past including the culture of the area are brilliantly told by confident and knowledgeable visitor guides.
The art and science of whiskey making are presented in such a way that it satisfies the whiskey enthusiast's quest for information yet creates intrigue for those not familiar with whiskey.
Maire Brennan and friends performing at Saturday's event
Tours
The distillery tours will commence every 30 minutes lasting approximately one hour. Tour packages range from single to multiple whiskey sampling the newly released Coillín Darach range. Tastings include the new Coillín Darach oak species series, including Quercus Petraea, Quercus Alba, and Quercus Robur.
Pricing for single adults ranges from €19 to €27 with family and group packages available.
You can book online through crollydistillery.com or contact [email protected]