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Ardara Distillery

Distillery
Ardara, Co. Donegal, Ireland

Whiskies (3)

3 Ardara Distillery whiskies are currently listed on Whiskybase.

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About Ardara Distillery

Ardara is a craft Irish distillery on the northwest coast of County Donegal, founded by James and Moira Doherty of Sliabh Liag Distillers. It marks the return of legal whiskey-making to Donegal after nearly 200 years.

Timeline

Sliabh Liag Begins Construction on New Distillery

Ground broken at a purpose-built site on the outskirts of Ardara.

2020

Visitor Center Opens to Public

The distillery opens its doors for tours and tastings.

2023

Distillation Commences

First spirit produced at Ardara, marking the return of whiskey production to Donegal for the first time since the 1840s.

2022

Timeline

2020

Sliabh Liag Begins Construction on New Distillery

Ground broken at a purpose-built site on the outskirts of Ardara.

2022

Distillation Commences

First spirit produced at Ardara, marking the return of whiskey production to Donegal for the first time since the 1840s.

2023

Visitor Center Opens to Public

The distillery opens its doors for tours and tastings.

Distillery Details

Capacity 400,000 LPA ~600,000 LPA
Water Source On-site borehole
Grain Type Peated Irish malt from Donegal
Distillation Type Copper pot stills (wash, intermediate, and spirit stills) by Forsyths, Scotland
Whisky Produced Peated single malt
Number of Mash Tuns 1
Mash Tun Capacity 2 t grist (~10,000 L wort capacity)
Mash Tun Material Stainless steel
Mash Tun Type Mash Conversion Vessel, “grains-in” setup
Number of Washbacks 6, with room for 3 more
Washback Capacity ~10,000 L capacity each
Washback Material Stainless steel
Washbacks (Open/ Closed) Closed
Washbacks cooling Jacketed
Yeast Type “Distillers” yeast — generic yeast strain attributed
Fermentation Time ≥72 hours
Wash Stills 1
Wash Still Material Copper
Wash Still Shape Offset neck lantern-style
Wash Still Capacity ~10,000 L
Wash Still Heating External heat exchanger (steam coils implied)
Spirit Stills 1
Spirit Stills Material Copper
Spirit Stills Shape Lantern-style
Spirit Still Capacity 5,000 L
Spirit Still Heating Steam-heated
Condensors Yes
Condensor Type Shell-and-tube condensers
Maturation on Site? Yes
Warehouse Type Palletized warehouse on-site
Warehouses Capacity ~1,700 casks/year (based on 400k LPA = ~1.7M bottles)
Cask filling strength ~65% ABV
Bottling on Site Yes

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KVK: 60207205
VAT: NL853809112B01