Days Out NI
Distillery Belfast

McConnell's Distillery (Belfast Distillery Co)

Tour a working Irish whisky distillery built inside Belfast's old Crumlin Road Gaol.

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OpenOpen daily from 9.30am; tours run at set…
TicketedBook ahead
BelfastDistillery
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5 hoursHow long
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McConnell's Distillery (Belfast Distillery Co) — Tour a working Irish whisky distillery built inside Belfast's old Crumlin Road Gaol.

  • Getting in: Ticketed guided tour; book ahead online or at reception. Café and shop free to enter.
  • Tours: Signature Tour (~£25, ~1 hr, tasting of 3 drams). Also Connoisseur Tour, cocktail masterclass and afternoon tea.
  • Opening: Open daily from 9.30am; tours run at set times Tuesday to Sunday (Monday is café, shop and visits only). Check the day's tour times before you go.
  • Age limits: Tasting element is over-18. Reduced-price children's tickets from age 10 with alcohol-free alternatives.
  • Food: All-day café bar serving food and drinks, plus a licensed bar.
  • Parking: Free on-site parking with coach access.
Plan your visit

A working distillery in a Victorian jail

The tour walks you through the distillery built into A Wing of the old Crumlin Road Gaol, one of Belfast's most recognisable historic buildings. A guide explains how McConnell's Irish whisky is made and unpacks the brand's long history, past and present. The Signature Tour runs about 50 minutes to an hour and finishes in the tasting room with a McConnell's Signature Serve followed by three drams. If you'd rather mix than sip neat, the cocktail masterclass teaches you to make your own.

Guided distillery tour Tasting included Inside Crumlin Road Gaol Whisky distilled since 1776 Café bar & shop Free parking
Good to know before you go:

McConnell's runs more than the standard tour: cocktail masterclasses, afternoon tea, premium Connoisseur tastings and seasonal events all appear through the year, and the licensed bar hosts gatherings. Check their site for the current line-up before booking.

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
Ticketed guided tour; book ahead online or at reception. Café and shop free to enter.
Opening
Open daily from 9.30am; tours run at set times Tuesday to Sunday (Monday is café, shop and visits only). Check the day's tour times before you go.
Tours
Signature Tour (~£25, ~1 hr, tasting of 3 drams). Also Connoisseur Tour, cocktail masterclass and afternoon tea.
Age limits
Tasting element is over-18. Reduced-price children's tickets from age 10 with alcohol-free alternatives.
Food
All-day café bar serving food and drinks, plus a licensed bar.
Family-friendly
Yes, from age 10 with alcohol-free tour options; the tasting itself is adults only.
Parking
Free on-site parking with coach access.
Accessibility
Lift to all floors; some tour sections have limited wheelchair access.
How long to allow
About 1 to 1.5 hours for the Signature Tour, longer with café and shop.
Address
McConnell's Distillery, Crumlin Road Gaol, 53–55 Crumlin Road, Belfast BT14 6ST
Questions

Before you go

Do I need to book?
Ticketed guided tour; book ahead online or at reception. Café and shop free to enter.
What tours are there?
Signature Tour (~£25, ~1 hr, tasting of 3 drams). Also Connoisseur Tour, cocktail masterclass and afternoon tea.
What are the opening times?
Open daily from 9.30am; tours run at set times Tuesday to Sunday (Monday is café, shop and visits only). Check the day's tour times before you go.
Is there an age limit?
Tasting element is over-18. Reduced-price children's tickets from age 10 with alcohol-free alternatives.
Is there food or a bar?
All-day café bar serving food and drinks, plus a licensed bar.
Getting there

McConnell's Distillery (Belfast Distillery Co) is at McConnell's Distillery, Crumlin Road Gaol, 53–55 Crumlin Road, Belfast BT14 6ST. Free on-site parking with coach access. Tap below for directions.

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The story

About McConnell's Distillery

John and James McConnell opened their Belfast distillery in 1776, producing what is recorded as one of the first Irish whisky brands. The business grew to operate the Cromac Distillery near the Ravenhill Road, drawing on the area's pure alkaline-free well water, and McConnell's stayed a successful brand for around 150 years.

Prohibition in the United States and the disruption of two world wars hit the trade hard, and the distillery closed in the 1930s. The Belfast Distillery Company revived the McConnell's name and set out to restore the legend.

The revived distillery now sits inside A Wing of the restored Crumlin Road Gaol, a Victorian prison that operated until 1996. Whisky is once again distilled in Belfast under the McConnell's name, with the jail's history forming the backdrop to every tour.