| Country | ireland |
| Region | County Down |
| Established | 2016 |
| Owner | Independent, founder-led (Gareth) |
| Type | Irish whiskey distillery (single malt and pot still), also producing gin, rum, vodka and liqueur |
| Number of stills | Three copper pot stills (named Betty, Hessie, Pam) |
| Visitor center | Yes |
| Status | Active |
| Phone | n/a |
Copeland Distillery is an Irish whiskey distillery located in Donaghadee, County Down, Northern Ireland. It was founded in 2016 and is currently owned and operated as an independent, community-backed distillery, with whiskey distillation beginning in 2019. It takes its name from the nearby Copeland Islands, once a haunt of Norse traders and smugglers, and occupies a former cinema and bottling works overlooking Donaghadee harbour.
Copeland Distillery was established in Donaghadee in 2016, when founder Gareth launched a crowdfunding campaign that raised around £30,000 from more than 370 backers. The funds went toward converting a long-vacant, 6,500-square-foot building on Manor Street — previously home to the town's Picture House cinema and the Ards Bottling Company — into a working distillery, secured under a 125-year lease. After roughly nine months of restoration, the site opened to the public, initially producing gin, vodka, rum and coffee liqueur while the whiskey was left to mature.
Whiskey distillation began in 2019 on three copper pot stills, affectionately named Betty, Hessie and Pam after the founder's grandmothers and mother. The distillery's inaugural whiskey release followed in December 2024, spanning single malt, pot still, chocolate malt and peated styles. Copeland has also built a reputation beyond whiskey: its Irish gin, made with twelve organic and wild botanicals, won the Best Contemporary Gin Trophy at the International Wine & Spirits Competition in 2022. The distillery welcomes visitors for guided tours and tastings and runs an on-site café overlooking the production floor.
Copeland's whiskey range, first released in December 2024, includes limited small-batch bottlings such as the 26.1 Cask Strength Single Malt, the 26.2 Peated Single Malt, the 25.3 Single Malt and the 25.4 Pot Still, alongside the more accessible Merchants' Quay series. The distillery also produces an award-winning Irish gin, blended rum, vodka and a coffee liqueur, all made on site in Donaghadee.
Copeland distillery is located at Manor Street, Donaghadee, Co. Down, BT21 0HF, Northern Ireland.
Copeland distillery was founded in 2016.
Copeland distillery is owned by Independent, founder-led (Gareth).
Copeland distillery is from County Down, ireland.
Yes, Copeland distillery welcomes visitors.
You can buy Copeland whisky at Glenbotal.co.uk. We currently stock a selection with free UK delivery on orders over £99.
Last reviewed:
About Glenbotal
The idea of Glenbotal came to us naturaly: as whisky lovers, we were always on the lookout for new experiences in the whisky world. That’s why we created Glenbotal and became our very own first customers. We buy unique and hard to find spirits from auctions, ballots, and private collections. Then, we share them with a small circle of friends and people who can appreciate a good dram.