McConnell's (Belfast Distillery Co.) Distillery — Belfast Single Malt Whisky

McConnell's Distillery is an Irish whiskey distillery located at the former Crumlin Road Gaol, Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was founded in 2024 and is currently owned by the Belfast Distillery Company. The distillery revives the historic McConnell's whisky brand, which traces its origins to 1776 and was once one of Belfast's most prominent whiskey producers before closing during the US Prohibition era.

History

The McConnell's name dates back to 1776, when Hugh McConnell traded as a grocer and spirit dealer in Belfast. After his death, his widow Eleanor continued the business and by 1841 was recorded in Martin's Trade Directory as a "rectifying distiller." In 1899, sons John and James McConnell established the Cromac Distillery on reclaimed ground beside the River Lagan on Ravenhill Road, drawing on alkaline-free wells and, through the associated Cromac brand, building a reputation for whiskey, aerated water and ginger ale. The business suffered two major setbacks — a 1907 mill fire that destroyed 50 tons of malt, and a warehouse fire on 20 April 1909 that destroyed roughly half a million gallons of maturing whiskey, then valued at around £200,000. McConnell's ultimately closed its doors during US Prohibition in the 1930s, and the brand lay dormant for decades. It was revived by the Belfast Distillery Company under the strapline "Restoring the Legend," initially as a blended Irish whiskey while a new production site was developed. That new distillery opened to the public within the historic Crumlin Road Gaol in April 2025, returning whiskey distilling to Belfast and marking the McConnell's brand's return to producing its own spirit, with the site expected to employ around 50 people and draw some 100,000 visitors a year.

Quick Facts

• Region: Belfast, Northern Ireland
• Founded: 2024 (current distillery); brand established 1776
• Owner: Belfast Distillery Company
• Status: Active

Core Range

McConnell's core range centres on its 5 Year Old Irish Whisky, a blend of malt and grain whiskies matured in ex-bourbon oak barrels, typically bottled at 42% ABV, with a subtly sweet character and a light, woody char finish. This is complemented by two cask-finished variants: a 5 Year Old Sherry Cask Finish, matured in Oloroso sherry casks for a richer profile of sweet spice and dried fruit, and a 5 Year Old Cognac Cask Finish, finished in Cognac casks for notes of candied lemon, dried pineapple and spice. At the premium end sits the Old Cromac Collection, a 20 Year Old single malt finished in tawny port casks and named for the McConnell family's historic Cromac Distillery.