Gin · County Down (Northern Ireland)
Gin Distilleries in County Down (Northern Ireland)
Tour 4 gin distilleries in County Down (Northern Ireland). Each offers visits, tastings or experiences you can book directly — including Echlinville Distillery, Copeland Distillery, Rademon Estate Distillery (Shortcross).
4distilleries
Rademon Estate Distillery (Shortcross)
Shortcross gin and whiskey on a historic estate
About gin distilleries in County Down (Northern Ireland)
County Down has quietly become one of Northern Ireland's most rewarding places to explore craft gin, helped by distilleries that started out making gin while their whiskey matured. The story really begins with Rademon Estate, home to Shortcross, the first craft gin distilled in Northern Ireland, made on a wooded estate using foraged botanicals such as wild clover, elderflower and elderberries alongside water from the estate's own historic well. On the Ards Peninsula, Echlinville channels the same farm-to-glass philosophy into its small-batch gin, with juniper and pine notes drawn from a working farm where the family has distilled and grown crops for generations. Add Copeland in the harbour town of Donaghadee, which produces flavoured gins alongside its whiskey and rum, and Hinch on the Killaney Estate, and County Down offers a compact but characterful gin trail. These are gins shaped by their surroundings, from estate forests to coastal harbours, and by makers who treat botanicals and provenance seriously. For visitors based near Belfast, it makes an easy and atmospheric introduction to Northern Irish craft distilling.
What makes gin here special
County Down gin is distinguished by provenance and foraging. Shortcross, made at Rademon Estate by a husband-and-wife team, holds a special place as the first craft gin distilled in Northern Ireland, and its identity is rooted in the surrounding forest, drawing on foraged wild clover, elderflower and elderberries with water from the estate's historic well. Echlinville brings a farm-to-glass approach from its Ards Peninsula base, crafting small-batch gin with juniper and pine notes on land the family has farmed for generations, the same provenance ethos that defines its whiskey. Copeland adds a different flavour, producing a range of flavoured gins from its Donaghadee harbour distillery, while Hinch rounds out the picture from the Killaney Estate. What unites them is a sense of place: County Down gins lean on local landscape, whether estate woodland, working farmland or the coast, rather than generic recipes, which gives each producer a recognisably distinct house style.
What to expect from a gin tasting
Gin tastings in County Down tend to be intimate and grounded in storytelling about the botanicals and the place they come from. At Rademon Estate you can expect the foraging story behind Shortcross to feature strongly, often with the chance to learn how estate-grown and wild botanicals shape the gin. Echlinville's tastings reflect its farm setting and the wider range of spirits made on site, while Copeland's offer a chance to explore flavoured expressions alongside its other spirits. Many sessions present a flight so you can compare styles, paired with suggested tonics and garnishes, and guides usually explain the distilling process. Because several of these distilleries also make whiskey, gin tastings can often be combined with a broader tour, giving a fuller picture of the operation in a single visit.
Planning your visit
County Down's gin distilleries are spread across the county but remain within easy reach of Belfast, which makes a convenient base. Rademon Estate sits inland on its wooded estate, Echlinville and Copeland lie towards the Ards Peninsula and the Donaghadee coast, and Hinch is handy for those travelling from Belfast. Group nearby sites to minimise driving, book tastings ahead since capacity at small distilleries is limited, and consider a driver or organised tour if you plan to sample at more than one. Many of these producers also feature on Northern Ireland's spirits trail and make their whiskey on the same site, so it is worth checking whether you can combine gin and whiskey experiences and confirming current opening times before you go.
Frequently asked
- What was the first craft gin distilled in Northern Ireland?
- Shortcross, made at Rademon Estate in County Down, is recognised as the first craft gin distilled in Northern Ireland. It uses foraged botanicals such as wild clover, elderflower and elderberries, along with water from the estate's own historic well.
- Which County Down distilleries make gin?
- Rademon Estate produces Shortcross gin, Echlinville makes a small-batch gin with juniper and pine notes from its Ards Peninsula farm, and Copeland offers flavoured gins from its Donaghadee distillery, with Hinch on the Killaney Estate also part of the county's scene.
- Why do these whiskey distilleries also make gin?
- Gin can be made and sold quickly, so several County Down distilleries produced gin to build a brand and revenue while their whiskey matured. As a result, many sites let you taste gin and whiskey in a single visit.
- What can I expect from a County Down gin tasting?
- Tastings are usually intimate and focused on the botanicals and their local origins, often presenting a flight with suggested tonics and garnishes. Guides typically explain the distilling process, and sessions can frequently be combined with a wider distillery tour.
- Is County Down a good base for a gin trip from Belfast?
- Yes. The county is close to Belfast and its gin distilleries, though spread out, are within easy reach. Grouping nearby sites such as Echlinville and Copeland on the coast with inland Rademon Estate makes for an efficient outing.
- Do I need to book gin tastings in advance?
- Booking ahead is recommended because small distilleries have limited tasting capacity. Reserving secures your place and any add-ons, and lets you confirm current opening hours before travelling.
- How should I get around County Down's gin distilleries?
- The distilleries are spread across the county, so grouping nearby sites helps. If you intend to taste at several, arranging a driver or organised tour is the safest way to enjoy the gins responsibly while covering the distances involved.