| Country | ireland |
| Region | County Down |
| Established | 2013 |
| Owner | Shane Braniff |
| Type | Irish whiskey distillery (single estate) |
| Number of stills | Copper pot stills and a column still (trickle pot distillation) |
| Visitor center | Yes |
| Status | Active |
| Phone | n/a |
Echlinville Distillery is an Irish whiskey distillery located near Kircubbin on the Ards Peninsula, County Down, Northern Ireland. It was founded in 2013 and is currently owned by founder Shane Braniff. It holds the distinction of being granted the first licence to distil spirits in Northern Ireland in over 130 years, and it operates as a "single estate" distillery, growing, harvesting and malting its own barley on the surrounding family farm.
Echlinville Distillery was established in 2013 by local farmer and drinks entrepreneur Shane Braniff on the historic Echlinville Estate, home to the Grade B1-listed Echlinville Manor House designed by Victorian architect Charles Lanyon. In 2013 the site was awarded the first new distilling licence issued in Northern Ireland since the 1880s, ending well over a century without a legally licensed distillery in the region; the first casks were filled on 5 August 2013. Since then, Echlinville has expanded from a single pot still into a full production site combining copper pot stills with a column still, alongside its own floor-malting operation, positioning it as one of the few distilleries in Ireland to control the whole process from barley field to bottle. As part of its growth, the company has also revived two historic Belfast whiskey brands, Dunville's (originally founded in 1808) and Old Comber, bringing their names back into production after decades of dormancy. Dunville's expressions have gone on to win "Ireland's Best Whiskey" at the Irish Whiskey Awards multiple times, including in 2022, 2024 and 2025.
Echlinville's own-label whiskeys include the Echlinville Single Malt and Echlinville Pot Still Irish whiskeys made from estate-grown barley. Its revived heritage brand Dunville's anchors the core range, led by Dunville's 1808 Blended Irish Whiskey (40% ABV), alongside Dunville's Three Crowns, the Dunville's VR sherry cask-finished single malts, the Dunville's Single Cask Series of cask-strength bottlings, and aged expressions such as the Dunville's PX 12 Year Old, Dunville's 20 Year Old Oloroso and the award-winning Dunville's 21 Year Old Palo Cortado. The revived Old Comber label completes the whiskey portfolio, alongside the distillery's gin, vodka and poitín production under brands including Echlinville Gin, Jawbox and Ban Poitín.
Echlinville distillery is located at 62 Gransha Road, Kircubbin, Newtownards, County Down, BT22 1AJ, Northern Ireland.
Echlinville distillery was founded in 2013.
Echlinville distillery is owned by Shane Braniff.
Echlinville distillery is from County Down, ireland.
Yes, Echlinville distillery welcomes visitors.
You can buy Echlinville whisky at Glenbotal.co.uk. We currently stock a selection with free UK delivery on orders over £99.
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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.