Sliabh Liag Distillers have been given the green light to start work on their new distillery in Ardara.
Planning permission has been granted to develop the €6million distillery and visitor centre at Show Field, which aims to employ “at least 40 people”.
Sliabh Liag Distillers are the producers of An Dulaman Irish Maritime Gin and The Legendary Silkie Irish Whiskey. Their new move to Ardara is part of an ambitious plan to bring whiskey distilling back to Donegal for the first time in 177 years.
Led by company directors James and Moira Doherty and James Keith, construction for the whiskey distillery is scheduled to start later this year, with distilling expected to commence in 2020. The company also expects to expand its whiskey brands.
The move follows issues with delays at the company’s current site at Carrick, where An Dulaman Gin is distilled.
The new building has been designed by Corner Stone Architecture and will have the capacity to produce 400,000 litres of pure alcohol per annum, which equates to over 1.2million bottles of whiskey.
The An Dulaman Gin still will also be moved to the new building and a visitor tour is planned. The visitor experience will include a poitin history, tasting bar and shop – providing an additional reason for tourists on the Wild Atlantic Way to visit Ardara.
James Doherty, Managing Director of Sliabh Liag Distillers said: “We are really excited to get the go ahead from Donegal County Council and we look forward to commissioning the distilling and reclaiming the distilling heritage of Donegal.
“The mix of contemporary and traditional finishes will complement the village of Ardara. Our aim is to create and opportunity for visitors to park in the village, walk along the Owentocker river, across a new footbridge into the Show Field. It is important to us that local businesses benefit from the foot fall, and if we can get visitors walking in the village, increasing their dwell time, then so much the better for the entire community.”
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