An aerial view of the modern, black-gabled Ardara Distillery building with its expansive glass facade reflecting a nearby pond, situated among lush green hills and industrial equipment.

Where Donegal’s wild spirit meets tradition, every visit begins with a story.

Honouring illicit forefathers’ methods, inspired by Donegal’s near lost smoky tradition, refined today with modern distillation know how here, Ardara.

Head through the doors and appreciate an alternative side of Irish whiskey making. Your tour traces Donegal’s immense distilling heritage, honouring earlier craft and the smoky style almost lost. Skilled workers show methods once used by illicit stills, now refined with the best know how. You will watch copper sing, stories unfold, and tradition return renewed before your eyes today.

Book a Tour Arrow Icon
Tour times
orange clock icon
Daily – 12pm, 2pm, 4pm & 5pm
Sunday – 12pm, 2pm & 4pm

Please check-in 10 minutes before tour starts.
Tour lasts 1 hour.

Admission
Orange ticket icon
Tour only, no tasting - €15
Tour and tasting of our gin and whiskies - €25
Book a Tour Arrow Icon
Good to know
Orange Information icon
  • Children (8-18yrs) free of charge.
  • Sorry, no U8s allowed.
  • Guide dogs are permitted.

Tours

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.
Non-Tasting Tour
Come inside and explore the true spirit of Donegal, a journey from timeless tradition to exceptional craft.
Non Tasting Tour
Amber-colored whiskey is being poured from a bottle into a crystal-cut tumbler filled with ice. The motion creates a splash and a spray of droplets against a dark, out-of-focus background.
Tasting Tour
Savour the bold, smoky character of Donegal spirits in a guided tasting that brings peated whiskeys and gin to life.
Tasting Tour
In a dimly lit tasting room with walls made of stacked barrel ends, a large group of people sits around a long wooden table for a whiskey tasting session. On the left, a presenter stands near shelves of bottles and a video screen, while several attendees are captured in the act of sampling their drinks.
Group
Booking
Planning a group visit? Whether with friends, family, or colleagues, enjoy a tailored experience steeped in flavour and heritage.
Enquire Now
Three large, gleaming copper pot stills connected by intricate piping, situated on a metal grate floor inside a modern distillery with a massive glass wall overlooking green fields.
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.
Two bottles of Ardara Single Malt Irish Whiskey sit side-by-side on a wooden surface against a backdrop of stacked barrel ends. The amber-colored spirits are presented in clear glass bottles with black labels featuring a dragonfly emblem.
An image showing two people kneeling on a rocky shoreline under a moody, overcast sky. Both individuals are wearing dark outdoor jackets with a circular logo on the chest and are focused on examining small dark objects, likely seaweed or marine life, among the rocks. The man on the left wears a green flat cap and blue fingerless gloves, while the woman on the right is dressed in similar dark gear and black boots. In the background, white waves crash against the shore under a dark, heavy sky, with a rugged coastline visible in the distance.
Six small wooden barrels with glass ends showing whiskey at various stages of aging, displayed on a black wooden rack labeled with years 1 through 12.
An aerial view of the modern, black-gabled Ardara Distillery building with its expansive glass facade reflecting a nearby pond, situated among lush green hills and industrial equipment.
A black and white photograph of a large group of people seated around a long wooden table in a dimly lit room, likely a tasting room. Two men stand at the head of the table, with one appearing to lead a discussion or tasting. The back wall is made of brick and features shelves stocked with numerous bottles of spirits.

Groups

With a maximum capacity of 12 per tour, advance bookings are essential, please get in touch to avoid disappointment.

Please contact reception on +353749541640 and we can offer a tailored solution to meet your groups needs.

Contact Us Arrow Icon
A black and white line drawing of numerous whiskey barrels stacked horizontally on wooden racks inside a warehouse, with several barrels in the foreground featuring labels such as
A detailed black and white line drawing of three copper pot stills connected by a network of pipes inside a distillery, with large windows in the background.

Ready to experience The Ardara Distillery?

See the methods, meet the makers.

Book a Tour

FAQs

Our FAQ provides quick answers to help you plan your visit, covering times, tickets, access and other practical details.
What are the opening hours?

Winter Season

We are now closed for tours until March 2026. The gift shop in the visitor centre will remain open Tuesday to Saturday 10:30am to 5:00pm

Where are you located?

We are in the town of Ardara, Co. Donegal. Bus Eireann, and several local carriers, provide daily services from Donegal. Alternatively follow the N56 north from Donegal to Ardara.

Do I need to book a ticket in advance?

We do recommend booking in advance online through the website to avoid disappointment, but we do also accommodate walk wins when possible or you can contact the reception to check booking availability +353749541640

Are your Tours Guided?

Yes, we have a team of Donegal Tour Guides that will bring your through the tour of our working distillery.

 

Can children accompany adults on tours?

Children 8 – 17 years of age are permitted free of charge. No children under 8 are permitted as this is a working distillery.

What accessibility is available on site?

The distillery is accessible by a ramp, and we have a lift on site that can accommodate wheelchairs.

What are the different tours that are available?

We have a tasting tour and a non-tasting tour available. Our tasting tour is €26.00 and offers 3 tastings showcasing the best of Sliabh Liag Distillers spirits. The non tasting tour is €16.00 and it is a guided tour of the The Ardara Distillery.

Book a Tour