Farming Life: Belfast hosts Ireland's biggest celebration for whiskey lovers

The article previews the sixth Belfast Whiskey Week, running from 19 to 27 July, with 100 events across nine days and over 40 brands and distilleries. Sam Butler — who has covered Northern Ireland's drinks industry for years — highlights what made 2024 a particularly strong year for Belfast's distilling story.

"Pride of place this year is likely to be taken by the new Echlinville – The Beginning single malts which were released last month by the distillery in Kircubbin of owner Shane Braniff." Echlinville's involvement with the festival goes back years — as a brand partner, as the home of the Old Comber revival, and as one of the producers most committed to whiskey-making in County Down.

The festival's wider partner list features prominently in the piece: Bushmills, Irish Distillers, Diageo and the major Northern Irish distilleries all involved. Farming Life's regional readership tends to be quietly invested in the success of Northern Irish products — and pieces like this one help connect a rural readership to a Belfast festival that might otherwise feel like a city-centre concern.

The coverage closes with the festival's ticketing — from £15 — and points readers to the festival website, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube channels.

Belfast Whiskey Club's role as the festival's origin point also gets a mention. The not-for-profit membership club has been sharing whiskey enthusiasm with Belfast since 2016, hosted by the Duke of York since 2017, and remains the seed that grew into the festival.

Read the full feature: Farming Life — Belfast hosts Ireland's biggest celebration for whiskey lovers