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Learn More About McConnell's Distillery Day
19th July 2025
Departs Belfast: 15:00pm
Departs Venue: 18:30pm
Duration: 4hrs
If you are in Belfast, then McConnell’s is on your doorstep; a skip, a hop and a javelin throw from the city centre.
Welcome to McConnell’s Distillery, a first of a kind, built within the walls and entwined in the fabric of the Old Crumlin Road Gaol. A famous Victorian purpose-built prison, used to house the overspilling County Gaol in Carrickfergus, including those for deportation. The building has a colourful history with notable prisoners; the suffragettes, Eamon De Valera, multiple politicians and various members of both sides of the conflict in Ireland. The prison also witnessed the execution of 17 between 1841 and 1961, as well has having a list of escapees, failed escapes and bombings.
Although the building has history, so does the brand. Dating back to the late 1700s, McConnell’s Irish Whisky had a very interesting up bringing. Hugh McConnell started off as a Grocer, and was involved in Bottling and Bonding. He passed away leaving two infant children (John and and James) with their mother, Eleanor. It was Eleanor who became the pioneer of McConnell’s, driving forward the small bottling/bonding business to become a recognised ‘rectifying distiller’ and handing over the very substantial Whisky business to her two children. The McConnell’s Trademark dates to 1776 and makes it the Oldest Whisky Trademark in the World.
Fast forward, and today, McConnell’s has reasserted itself by restoring the legend, and developing award winning whiskies that are distributed worldwide. A Trip to Belfast would be spoiled if not making a bee-line to the distillery.
This year’s Distillery Day at McConnell’s promises to be jam packed with great food, whiskey and stories that will provide a memorable occasion for you to savour. Get a bespoke, behind the scenes tour of McConnell's Distillery at Crumlin Road Gaol that will gear you up to having some Spirited Street Food - Filipino fusion that goes hand-in-hand with the smooth, rich flavours of the McConnell’s Irish Whisky range - easy, tasty, and packing a punch. Taste the full range of McConnell’s Irish Whisky and sample some distillery exclusives in great company and a history like no other.
