Days Out NI
Distillery Belfast

Jawbox Spirits (Echlinville-distilled, Belfast)

Belfast's own dry gin — find it at Cathedral Quarter bars or tour where it's made on the Ards

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OpenBar pop-ups vary — watch Jawbox social. E…
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BelfastDistillery
A round or two in the Cathedral Quarter; allow a half-day round trip for the distillery tourHow long
Over-18 — everyth…Best for
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Jawbox Spirits (Echlinville-distilled, Belfast)Belfast's own dry gin — find it at Cathedral Quarter bars or tour where it's made on the Ards.

  • Getting in: No Belfast venue — try it at Cathedral Quarter bars, or book a Tour & Tipple at Echlinville Distillery on the Ards.
  • Tours: No tour in Belfast; the distillery near Newtownards runs a guided Tour & Tipple ending with a Jawbox serve — book ahead.
  • Opening: Bar pop-ups vary — watch Jawbox social. Echlinville shop Mon-Sat 11am-4pm; tours by booking.
  • Age limits: Over-18 — everything involves tasting spirits; bring ID.
  • Food: Bars in the Cathedral Quarter serve food; the distillery café is closed until further notice — check before you go.
  • Parking: City-centre and Cathedral Quarter car parks in Belfast; on-site parking at the Echlinville Distillery.
Plan your visit

Where to actually drink it in Belfast

There is no Jawbox tasting room in the city, so the move is to head into the Cathedral Quarter and order it across the bar. The brand has run pop-up tasting events and bar takeovers at venues like the Duke of York and the Bullitt Hotel, and its social channels are where short gin schools and tasting nights get announced. Ask for the Perfect Swerve, the brand's own serve with ginger ale and lime over ice, or a classic G&T. It is a good first round on a night out around the cobbled streets, with plenty of other bars a few steps away for the rounds after.

Belfast-born gin Cathedral Quarter bars Pop-up tastings Over-18 Distillery Tour & Tipple Black Mountain heather
Good to know before you go:

Drinks brands like Jawbox run pop-up tasting nights, bar takeovers and short gin schools through the year, often around Christmas and Father's Day, and the host distillery adds seasonal tours and tastings. Dates and venues change, so check Jawbox's own channels and the wider NI events listings before you make plans.

Before you set off

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.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Getting in
No Belfast venue — try it at Cathedral Quarter bars, or book a Tour & Tipple at Echlinville Distillery on the Ards
Opening
Bar pop-ups vary — watch Jawbox social. Echlinville shop Mon-Sat 11am-4pm; tours by booking
Tours
No tour in Belfast; the distillery near Newtownards runs a guided Tour & Tipple ending with a Jawbox serve — book ahead
Age limits
Over-18 — everything involves tasting spirits; bring ID
Food
Bars in the Cathedral Quarter serve food; the distillery café is closed until further notice — check before you go
Family-friendly
No — this is an adults-only gin experience
Parking
City-centre and Cathedral Quarter car parks in Belfast; on-site parking at the Echlinville Distillery
Accessibility
Varies by bar in Belfast; check directly with the distillery before booking a tour
How long to allow
A round or two in the Cathedral Quarter; allow a half-day round trip for the distillery tour
Address
Belfast brand based at the Echlinville Distillery, 62 Gransha Road, Kircubbin, Newtownards BT22 1AJ. Find it on the bar at Cathedral Quarter venues like the Duke of York and Bullitt Hotel, Belfast
Questions

Before you go

Do I need to book?
No Belfast venue — try it at Cathedral Quarter bars, or book a Tour & Tipple at Echlinville Distillery on the Ards
What tours are there?
No tour in Belfast; the distillery near Newtownards runs a guided Tour & Tipple ending with a Jawbox serve — book ahead
What are the opening times?
Bar pop-ups vary — watch Jawbox social. Echlinville shop Mon-Sat 11am-4pm; tours by booking
Is there an age limit?
Over-18 — everything involves tasting spirits; bring ID
Is there food or a bar?
Bars in the Cathedral Quarter serve food; the distillery café is closed until further notice — check before you go
Getting there

Jawbox Spirits (Echlinville-distilled, Belfast) is at Belfast brand based at the Echlinville Distillery, 62 Gransha Road, Kircubbin, Newtownards BT22 1AJ. Find it on the bar at Cathedral Quarter venues like the Duke of York and Bullitt Hotel, Belfast. City-centre and Cathedral Quarter car parks in Belfast; on-site parking at the Echlinville Distillery. Tap below for directions.

Nearby

Make more of the day

The story

About Jawbox Gin

Jawbox was created by experienced publican Gerry White, who developed the recipe while managing the bar at The John Hewitt in Belfast and launched the gin in 2016. It was the first gin to carry a Belfast name in over a century. The name comes from the jawbox, the deep, square Belfast sink that was the focal point of old Irish homes and the spot where the household gossip, or jaw, was exchanged.

The gin is made at the Echlinville Distillery on the Ards Peninsula in County Down, which in 2013 became the first new distillery in Northern Ireland for 125 years and bills itself as Ireland's first farm distillery. Jawbox Classic Dry Gin is a 43% classic dry style built on botanicals including juniper, coriander, lemon peel, angelica and orris root, with local Black Mountain heather harvested on the Cavehill overlooking Belfast. It has gone on to win international gin awards, and founder Gerry White has been recognised among the world's master gin makers.