A founder of what is thought to be Ireland’s smallest distillery hopes recognition by Unesco will make the area a magnet for tourists.
Killowen Distillery sits within the aspiring Mourne-Gullion-Strangford Global Geopark in Northern Ireland. At 10 square metres with just two handmade artisan pot stills and an upcycled shipping container to one side, it is claimed by co-founder and director Brendan Carty to be the smallest distillery on the island of Ireland.
Unesco defines its global geoparks as areas where “sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development”. The mountainous landscape of Mourne-Gullion-Strangford has been proposed to the executive board of Unesco for endorsement as a new Global Geopark and the nomination will be considered in May.
Read more: Weird and wonderful drinks to break Dry January for
If successful, it will join the Ore of the Alps in Austria and Spain’s Basque Coast as well as Fermanagh’s Marble Arch Caves.
Mr Carty, a qualified architect who has virtually turned his back on that career to indulge his passion for whiskey-making, said he is hopeful of a thriving new year if Unesco gives the green light. The 36-year-old said: “There’s not too many of them (global geoparks) around so it’s a magnet to draw people into the region. It just makes it much more attractive for things like mountain activities and hillwalking.”
He said: “We are in a beautiful part of the world, overlooking Carlingford Lough and surrounded by different cultures and landscapes. We have the Mournes behind us and we are looking across to Carlingford with the ruggedness of the Cooley Mountains.
“It can be a bit of a trek to find us, but it is well worth it — the welcome is a warm one and the views are spectacular.” The distillery, which he co-founded with friends and opened in 2019, attracts visitors from the Republic, but farther afield, including Italian, Dutch and American tourists. He says it has a very strong following on social media, with a fun and often irreverent account on Twitter.
Mr Carty referred to the “Killowen Kult” which has some “quite fanatical” followers who love the distillery’s offerings of authentic Irish whiskey and poitin as well as supplies of rum and gin. He also works with a local walk leader to offer a Hike and Haffuns Tour where people are guided through the mountains before stopping off for drinks at the distillery.
What sets his distillery apart, he said, is quality. "We don’t just have a cult following for nothing. People recognise the quality, they recognise the integrity and transparency. We give as much information to the consumer as possible about traceability.” He said his goal was to replicate and even improve upon old Irish whiskey: “I am always striving to make the best whiskey, always chasing that perfect barrel.”
For more stories from where you live, visit InYourArea.
READ NEXT
Ryanair announce new flight route to Milan from Belfast International Airport
Concerns raised as only 2 apply for council diversity fund and both fail
Ex-Belfast footballer rejected 'everything young men want' to become a priest
Test your knowledge of Northern Irish lingo with our ultimate quiz
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here. To sign up to our FREE newsletters, see here.
