THE ARDARA DISTILLERY

RECLAIMING THE DISTILLING HERITAGE OF DONEGAL

An interior shot of a distillery featuring a large, gleaming copper pot still and its connecting pipework. The copper equipment sits on a metallic industrial floor in front of a massive grid-patterned window that reveals an outdoor view of trees and buildings. A red rope barrier is positioned in the foreground, and the high, slanted ceiling of the facility is visible at the top of the frame.

A craft rooted in legacy

Rooted in the wild Atlantic soul of Donegal, Ardara Distillery was founded from a desire to revive a bold, smoky style of Irish whiskey long forgotten by time.

Guided by childhood memories and a proud family legacy, James and Moira Doherty returned to Ardara to reawaken its distilling tradition, unapologetically rich, peated, and true to its origins.

Set on the banks of the Owentocker River, the striking distillery produces more than whiskey, crafting smoky spirits, maritime gin, and a delicate vodka infused with local botanicals. Visit, taste, and discover the true Spirit of Donegal.

Top Experiences

A wide-angle interior view of the Ardara Distillery production floor, featuring a row of three large, gleaming copper pot stills. The stills are positioned along a massive floor-to-ceiling glass wall that overlooks a green landscape. The facility has a modern industrial design with a high, vaulted dark ceiling, yellow structural beams, and a metallic grate floor.

Heavily Peated Whiskey

Ardara Single Malt Irish Whiskey

A whiskey of unapologetic character, born from Donegal’s smoky soul and bold tradition. Ardara embodies the craft of triple distillation, rich in peat and spirit, made the old way with a future in mind.

€ 90,00

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Blended Irish Whiskey

An Dúlamán Gin

A collection of exceptionally soft whiskeys, journey back through smoky Irish whiskey. The Silkies’ give an insight into the style Donegal distillers were once famed for, and which we are now reviving.

€ 49,00

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Blended Irish Whiskey

Frank Carr's Irish Poitín

Frank Carr created a coveted bright spirit, he followed his intuition to smoked malt, sweet molasses and oats to create his poitín.

€ 35,00

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Pot still vodka

The Misty Assaranca

A vodka of remarkable purity, inspired by Donegal’s wild beauty and dancing falls. Assaranca captures the soft elegance of delicate botanicals, distilled with precision and rooted in a land rich with lore.

€ 35,00

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A bottle of Frank Carr's Lionnir Irish Poitín stands against a white background. The bottle is clear glass with a wooden stopper, containing a transparent spirit. Its large red label features an illustration of two men in a rustic setting, with text identifying it as being from Donegal, Ireland.

Assaranca Vodka bottle with decorative label

Made with local barley and peated to 55ppm, Ardara is triple distilled using the all grain in method. Every drop carries the legacy of Donegal’s distillers, bold, honest and unmistakably from the edge.

$A circular Ardara Single Malt Irish Whiskey coaster sits on a gray surface, partially in shadow. A bright, golden light refraction from a nearby glass vessel dances across the top of the frame and spills onto the coaster, highlighting its dark texture and the "A" logo in the center.$

A square gold and black award badge for the World Whiskies Awards 2021. The graphic features the text "World Whiskies Awards" in bold black letters at the top, followed by "Category Winner" in a slightly smaller font below.

An ode to the Donegal whiskeys of days gone by, Dark Silkie is a rich smoky blend loaded with character. Non chill-filtered and bottled at 46%, the whiskey is incredibly smooth with a stunning natural sweetness.

An Dulaman product bottle beside glasses

A bottle of An Dúlamán Irish Maritime Gin stands on a sandy beach at low tide. The dark glass bottle reflects the golden light of a sunset or sunrise, with wet sand and gentle ripples of water visible in the blurred foreground and background.

Like his reputation the poitín would make its way from the lough above Meenacanon across ditch and stream, through hedgerows and handshakes to celebrate life. Today we carry on his way, unfiltered.

A bottle of Frank Carr's Lionnir Irish Poitín sits on a flat, light-colored rock in a rugged outdoor setting. The clear spirit is contained in a stout glass bottle with a wooden stopper and a prominent red label. In the background, a blurred mountainous landscape under an overcast sky emphasizes the product's rural Irish origins.

In a symmetric, wide-angle shot of the Ardara Distillery interior, two rows of large, stainless steel fermentation tanks lead the eye toward three gleaming copper pot stills in the background. The facility features a high, gabled ceiling with industrial beams and purple accent lighting, while a massive floor-to-ceiling glass wall at the far end offers a view of the landscape outside.

Distilled near the falls, Assaranca is infused with the aromas of gorse and the tang of rowan berries. Each bottle bears its date of birth, a nod to Moira’s craft, expressive and deeply Donegal.

A bottle of Assaranca Vodka sits on a polished bar top next to a tall glass filled with ice, a clear mixer, and a fresh lemon wheel. The bottle features a white label with an illustration of a rowan tree and text indicating it is produced in Donegal, Ireland. The background is a softly blurred view of a backbar with various bottles on shelves and warm, ambient lighting.

A bottle of Assaranca Vodka is positioned on a marble surface next to a glass filled with a clear liquid and a large ice cube. The scene is accented with bright yellow flower petals scattered around the base of the bottle and inside the glass, alongside a silver jigger and a long bar spoon in the background.

Blog Posts

June 9 2026

Press Office

THE ARDARA DISTILLERY WINS TWO MAJOR INTERNATIONAL AWARDS

The Ardara Distillery, in county Donegal, has claimed two major international accolades at two of the world’s most respected spirits’ competitions. The victories confirm the distillery’s standing as one of Ireland’s most distinctive producers and mark a significant moment for Sliabh Liag Distillers, the company behind The Ardara Distillery.

March 1 2026

Press Office

Silkie Irish Whiskey Debuts in Dubai Duty Free

Sliabh Liag Distillers reaches a new international milestone as two expressions from its Silkie Irish Whiskey range make their debut in Dubai Duty Free, one of the world’s leading travel retail operators.

February 21 2026

Press Office

The Ardara Distillery Marks 10,000th Cask as It Reclaims Ireland’s Lost Style of Smoky Irish Whiskey

The Ardara Distillery has reached a defining milestone with the filling of its 10,000th cask. A moment that signals more than scale, it marks the resurgence of a forgotten style of Irish whiskey. To witness the occasion, renowned whisky writer Dave Broom travelled to Donegal, underscoring the growing international interest in The Ardara Distillery and the distinctive smoky whiskey tradition it is restoring.

Local Area Highlights

Uncover the beauty beyond the glass

After your tour and tasting, there’s still so much to explore. From towering cliffs and hidden beaches to waterfalls and ancient ruins, Ardara is surrounded by natural wonders and cultural gems, all within a short drive from the distillery. Here’s what not to miss.