After years of planning and ‘hard graft’, Belfast’s newest tourist attraction, and the city’s first working whiskey distillery in almost 90 years, opened its doors to the public today (Friday April 28, 2023).

Drinks company Titanic Distillers has invested almost £8 million to convert the historic Titanic Pumphouse, in the heart of Belfast’s Titanic Quarter, into a new distillery and visitor centre on the site where Titanic last rested on dry ground, before her maiden voyage.

A listed building, the Pumphouse, and neighbouring Thompson Graving Dry Dock, first opened in 1911 to service and accommodate the massive White Star transatlantic liners Olympic and Titanic. 

Now, 112 years later, visitors can explore the historic site, experience the workings of the new distillery, and hear the story of Belfast’s whiskey tradition, why it disappeared and how it has now returned at the Pumphouse, the new home of Titanic Distillers.

As the first paying visitors entered the Pumphouse this morning, they were greeted by the giant words ‘Blood, Sweat and Years’ emblazoned on a huge wall at the entrance to the distillery.  Inspired by the men who worked in Belfast’s shipyard more than a century ago – the words also sum up the efforts of the Titanic Distillers team to get to this stage, as director Peter Lavery explained.

“This is a momentous day for everyone at Titanic Distillers and indeed for the city of Belfast,” said Peter.

“To quote our slogan, there has certainly been a lot of ‘Blood, Sweat and Years’ invested over the years in getting this project over the line and I couldn’t be prouder as I stand here today in this historic building as we open our doors to tourists for the very first time.

“The Pumphouse is such an important and authentic part of Belfast’s history and of the Titanic story, so as custodians, we have always been aware of our huge responsibility to preserve the integrity of this amazing building and its surrounds.

“Having survived remarkably well for more than 100 years, the building was in much need of repair but we have lovingly and painstakingly restored it to its former glory and are thrilled to be able to maintain and secure its long-term future – as a must-see tourism attraction for Belfast and the city’s first working distillery since the 1930s and the days of prohibition,” he added.

Visitors to Titanic Distillers at Thompson Dock will have a chance to view the distillery’s three new Forsyth’s stills, situated on a mezzanine floor overlooking the original Gwynne pumping engines which are deep in the building’s pump-well.

All of the original pump equipment and associated internal historic features of the building have been retained and are available to view as part of the associated visitor tours, while the exterior includes a new food and beverage area.

Stephen Symington, Director of Titanic Distillers, added: “We have embraced the history of our distillery’s location to create a unique product and visitor experience, immersed in the spirit of Belfast’s industrial and maritime past and inspired by the people who worked in Belfast’s shipyard more than a century ago.

“However, it is important to recognise that, outside of the site’s massive tourism appeal and historic significance, this is also a working distillery in which we will be able to produce our own products to really build on our success to date, make the most of the growing global demand and bring Belfast back to the forefront of Irish Whiskey production.”

With prices starting at just £10, visitors can choose from one of four tours available to book at www.titanicdistillers.com.

For £10, visitors can enjoy the Dock Tour, a one-hour guided experience of the exterior dry dock, including a 66-step descent into the historic location where Titanic last rested on dry land.

The Signature Tour, which costs £25, is a 60-minute fully guided tour of the distillery, located within the historic Pumphouse, a walk-through the distillation process followed by a ‘sensory experience’ and tasting of Titanic Distillers award-winning Irish spirits. 

Premium (£40) and Legacy (£100) Tours are also available – both of which include tours of the distillery, Pumphouse and Thompson Dock, lasting two hours and 150 minutes respectively.

Titanic Distillers at Thompson Dock is within walking distance of Titanic Belfast, the world’s biggest Titanic exhibition centre and Northern Ireland’s number one tourist attraction, clocking up more than 800,000 visitors per annum in the days before Covid-19. 

The neighbouring Titanic Hotel, located on the former site of the legendary Harland & Wolff Headquarters and Drawing Offices, is now the world’s most authentic Titanic hotel.

Also resident in the Titanic Quarter is the SS Nomadic tender ship which ferried passengers to the great liner, and HMS Caroline, a decommissioned C-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy that saw combat service in the First World War and served as an administrative centre in the Second World War. 

For more information or to book a tour, visit www.titanicdistillers.com.  For larger group bookings, email groups@titanicdistillers.com.

The winners of the Good Food Ireland® Awards were announced last week in a high profile business lunch at The K Club in County Kildare, attended by Guest of Honour Simon Coveney, T.D., Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment and some 300 guests including Irish and international chefs, buyers, food and drink writers, media and industry leaders.

The awards are unique in their cross-sector approach and core criteria around commitment to local Irish produce. They aim to enhance linkages between agriculture and tourism and present significant opportunities for stimulating local production, retaining tourism earnings in the local area, and improving the distribution of economic benefits of tourism to the four corners of the island.

The shortlist for the Food Lovers Choice Awards were drawn from the finalists in all other categories, placing them in their relevant tourism area throughout the island of Ireland, and The Bushmills Inn was named the overall winner for all of Northern Ireland.

Executive Chef, Gordon Mcgladdery said, “We are absolutely delighted to win this award as it is testament to the fact that we are so proud to endorse and promote the values of using local fresh produce and offering seasonal menus that are always of the highest standard. Through our relationships with Good Food Ireland, Taste Causeway and Food NI, we shall continue to build up strong relationships with local suppliers in order to showcase and celebrate the amazing produce from our own area and the island of Ireland.”

Margaret Jeffares, Founder and Managing Director of Good Food Ireland® said, “There has been great excitement around the return of the Good Food Ireland® Awards this year. Each of those wonderful businesses who made the shortlist are a committed collection of passionate and driven people who genuinely capture the essence of Ireland’s food and drink. All the judges would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to today’s winners who we feel really do go above and beyond to inspire travellers, international consumers and locals to seek out real authenticity and Irish provenance.”

Good food and drink always on the table in the Food Heartland

The Armagh Food and Cider Weekend takes place from 7th-10th September 2023, right in the heart of the Orchard County. Brimming with fine foods, foraged lunches, cider tasting, tours, talks and fiction amongst the apple-laden orchards. Combine all this with award winning ciders and the most stunning surroundings and you are in for a harvest season treat.

With a focus on intimate, quirky venues and exclusive dining, the full programme is available to view and book online https://www.visitarmagh.com/foodandcider

This spring, the exciting second phase of the Northern Ireland Seafood Trails is launching, with an extra 6 harbour hopping trails to choose from. The seafood trails are the perfect activity for an affordable family day out, and now with 15 trails to choose from, there’s something for everyone!

Discover new businesses with local recommendations on every map, connect with fishermen & seafood merchants and taste some of the best local seafood Northern Ireland has to offer!

Explore nature walks along the coast, get lost in 1 of 15 colourful maps! Learn about the fishing industry & seafood seasonality, complete fun fishing-based activities, uncover stories about Northern Ireland’s fishing history & heritage. Explore ancient harbours, secret coves, & bustling city ports, and meet the many friendly faces of the fishing industry!

Discover all the trails here: https://niseafoodtrails.co.uk/

Dunville’s Irish Whiskey (Northern Ireland) has won two major accolades at the World Whiskies Awards in London, picking up the titles of Ireland’s Best Single Malt and Ireland’s Best Single Cask Whiskey.

Dunville’s 21 Year Old Palo Cortado Sherry Cask Finish Single Malt 46% abv was named Ireland’s Best Single Malt while

Dunville’s also won Ireland’s Best Single Cask Single Malt Whiskey with PX 20 Year Old Cask Strength, Cask 1644.

The titles are the latest in a string of high-profile awards for Dunville’s, which is crafted at The Echlinville Distillery near Kircubbin, Co. Down. Dunville’s was also named Ireland’s Best Whiskey at the Irish Whiskey Awards late last year.

Shane Braniff, Managing Director of The Echlinville Distillery, home of Dunville’s Irish Whiskey, said: “We are delighted to have been named Ireland’s Best in two categories at the World Whiskies Awards, further confirming Dunville’s place within the top tier of whiskeys in Ireland, if not the world. To bring these awards home to our independent, family run distillery is another huge achievement for our hard working team and industry partners.

“Ireland’s whiskey renaissance is seeing new distilleries and whiskey bonders compete among the top flight of global whiskey brands. We are immensely proud that Dunville’s is leading the way, out performing some of the industry’s biggest names to be named Ireland’s Best.”

Established in the city of Belfast in 1808 and originally produced at the Royal Irish Distilleries, Dunville’s was among the world’s most famous whiskeys until its untimely demise in 1936, when the distillery closed its doors and The Spirit of Belfast was feared lost forever.

The brand was revived by The Echlinville Distillery in 2012 with the aim of restoring it to its former glory. An aim that has been realised in the past few months with Echlinville now officially the home of Ireland’s Best Single Malt, Ireland’s Best Single Cask and also Ireland’s Best Whiskey, a title awarded at the Irish Whiskey Awards last November.

Jarlath Watson of Dunville’s Irish Whiskey, said: “We added Dunville’s 21 Year Old Palo Cortado Sherry Cask Finish to our core range late last year to a great reception from our customers. The quality of the Palo Cortado casks really takes centre stage with this whiskey, boasting notes of stewed fruits, ripe plums, almonds, spiced banana bread, sweet tobacco, tiramisu and candied orange zest. It’s a great whiskey and thoroughly deserving of the title of Ireland’s Best Single Malt.

“Similarly, our PX Cask Strength whiskeys have gained a loyal following for their bold sherry bomb flavours. We are delighted to see Cask 1644 awarded Ireland’s Best Single Cask and we look forward to sharing it with our customers in the near future.

“As proud custodians of the Dunville’s name, we have been on a decade long journey towards restoring The Spirit of Belfast to its rightful place among the world’s best whiskeys. Our exceptional sherry cask finishes have earned a reputation for excellence and, in the last few months alone, have secured three huge awards. That’s a huge achievement for any distillery and is testament to the hard work and commitment of all our staff. Dunville’s and Belfast are well and truly back on the world whiskey map and that’s something we are all immensely proud of.”

Dunville’s 21 Year Old Palo Cortado Sherry Cask Finish Single Malt Irish Whiskey is available from https://echlinville.com/shop/ priced £194.95. Also available from Specialist Whiskey Retailers.