| Country | ireland |
| Region | Belfast |
| Established | 1869 |
| Owner | Dunville & Co. (historic); brand revived by Echlinville Distillery |
| Type | Irish whiskey (pot still and grain) |
| Number of stills | Five pot stills, plus a later Coffey (column) still |
| Visitor center | No |
| Status | Closed |
| Phone | n/a |
Royal Irish Distillery is an Irish whiskey distillery that was located in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1869 by the Belfast spirits firm Dunville & Co. and closed in 1936. At its peak it was one of the largest distilleries in Ireland, capable of producing more than 2.5 million gallons of whisky a year.
Dunville & Co. had traded as spirit merchants and blenders in Belfast since the early 19th century before building the Royal Irish Distillery on the edge of the city in 1869. The new plant was a four-storey red-brick complex and one of the most modern distilleries in Ireland at the time, equipped with five pot stills and, later, a Coffey (column) still for grain whiskey. The distillery's best-known products were Dunville's VR (Very Rare) and Dunville's Three Crowns, sold under the "Whisky" spelling rather than the more usual Irish "whiskey" — an unusual choice that set the brand apart. Under the chairmanship of Robert Lambart Dunville, the distillery's whiskies achieved wide export success and international recognition in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Robert Lambart Dunville, the company's last chairman, died in 1931, and Dunville & Co. was liquidated in 1936 — closing the distillery even though the business was reportedly still profitable, an unusual end compared with many Irish distilleries of the era that failed for financial reasons. Original Dunville's bottlings produced at the Royal Irish Distillery are now rare and sought after by collectors, occasionally surfacing at whiskey auctions. The Dunville's name lay dormant for nearly 80 years until it was revived in 2013 by Echlinville Distillery in County Down, which released new Dunville's whiskies from 2016 onward, including a 21 Year Old Palo Cortado Sherry Cask Finish that has twice been named Ireland's Best Whiskey at the Irish Whiskey Awards.
Royal Irish distillery was founded in 1869.
Royal Irish distillery is owned by Dunville & Co. (historic); brand revived by Echlinville Distillery.
Royal Irish distillery is from Belfast, ireland.
You can buy Royal Irish 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.