Hinch Distillery — Days Out NI

What the tour actually covers

Your guide meets you on arrival and takes you through the working distillery room by room, from raw ingredients to the copper stills. You see how Hinch makes its triple-distilled single malt whiskey and its Ninth Wave gin. The Classic tour finishes with two tastings, the Premium with four, both in the Spectrum Room. There are longer options too: a two-hour Warehouse 3 tour and tasting from £45 with cask-strength drams, and a 75-minute 'Some Like It Hot' session at £22.50 where you make a hot toddy and an Irish coffee.

Guided distillery tour Whiskey tastings included Gin School experience Café on site Shop with retail discount Free Belfast shuttle (some days)

Good to know before you go:

Distilleries like Hinch often add seasonal tastings, masterclasses and special warehouse releases through the year, alongside the regular tour schedule. Check what's on before you book.

What to bring

🪪Photo IDTastings are 18+ — bring ID if you look under 25.

🚗A plan to get homeA designated driver or lift, so everyone can enjoy the tasting.

👟Comfy shoesWorking distilleries have stairs and hard floors on the tour.

💷A few poundsFor the shop and a bottle to take home.

Everything before you go

Getting in

Ticketed guided tour only, booked online in advance

Opening

Shop approx 10am-5.30pm (earlier close Mon-Tue); Hinch Café Wed-Sun approx 10am-4pm; tour times vary, check before you go

Tours

Distillery Tour approx 75 min (Classic £18.50, Premium £24.50, Drivers Dram £14.50, Under-18s £10.50); Gin School £45; Warehouse 3 from £45; Some Like It Hot £22.50

Age limits

Tastings are for over-18s; accompanied under-18s welcome on an Under-18s ticket with a soft drink

Food

Hinch Café on site, open Wed-Sun

Family-friendly

Children may attend with an adult, but this is an adult-focused distillery experience

Parking

On-site parking at the Killaney Estate; free shuttle from Belfast Wed-Fri

Accessibility

Check directly before visiting for step-free access on the tour route

How long to allow

About 1.5-2 hours for the standard tour and tastings; longer with café and shop

Address

Hinch Distillery, Killaney Estate, Ballynahinch, County Down

Questions

Before you go

Do I need to book?

Ticketed guided tour only, booked online in advance

What tours are there?

Distillery Tour approx 75 min (Classic £18.50, Premium £24.50, Drivers Dram £14.50, Under-18s £10.50); Gin School £45; Warehouse 3 from £45; Some Like It Hot £22.50

What are the opening times?

Shop approx 10am-5.30pm (earlier close Mon-Tue); Hinch Café Wed-Sun approx 10am-4pm; tour times vary, check before you go

Is there an age limit?

Tastings are for over-18s; accompanied under-18s welcome on an Under-18s ticket with a soft drink

Is there food or a bar?

Hinch Café on site, open Wed-Sun

Getting there

Hinch Distillery is at Hinch Distillery, Killaney Estate, Ballynahinch, County Down. On-site parking at the Killaney Estate; free shuttle from Belfast Wed-Fri. Tap below for directions.

Directions on Google Maps Official website See it on our map

Nearby

Make more of the day

More days out in BallynahinchSee what else is close by More distilleries across NIWhiskey, gin and craft spirits

The story

About Hinch

Hinch Distillery was founded by Irish entrepreneur Dr Terry Cross OBE, who invested around £15 million in a purpose-built distillery on the rural Killaney Estate between Belfast and Ballynahinch. The 30,000 sq ft site, built with locally sourced materials, opened at the start of the 2020s as part of the wider revival of Irish whiskey distilling in Northern Ireland.

The distillery focuses on high-quality, triple-distilled single malt whiskey and also produces Ninth Wave Gin. Since opening it has expanded to include a visitor centre, café and shop, making it a full day-out stop rather than just a production site.