I am in no way a whiskey connoisseur, but I appreciate some of Ireland’s best known amber offerings: I would never refuse a wee Black Bush, or a Jameson. With water, ice, or neat, there’s something about a whiskey that is warming, comforting, and even medicinal (hot toddy anyone?!).
When I saw the new kid on the block, Hinch Distillery, was offering whiskey tours, I have to admit I was intrigued. As whiskey is something appreciated within my family, this seemed the perfect day out, especially after a period when get togethers have been seriously limited due to Covid-19.
A few weeks ago (it’s taken me a while to sit down and write this because, well, life…) we masked up and hopped on a Newcastle-bound bus at the Europa bus station. Hinch Distillery has ample car parking but it seemed a waste for someone to drive and not get to try the tasting at the end of the tour. As there’s a bus stop within walking distance of the Distillery’s entrance, this was a great alternative.
Hinch Distillery, the brain child of Dr Terry Cross OBE, is located in the beautiful grounds of Killaney Estate, between Temple and Ballynahinch. Officially opened in March 2021, the custom built 30,000sq ft premises are impressive. The stone facade is complemented with stunning glasswork, intricate lighting and a rich navy and copper colour scheme.
There were five adults and a child in our party and everyone was made to feel part of the experience, right from the warm welcome we received on arrival. Initially when booking I wasn’t sure if under 18’s could take part, but I was impressed that you can book a child’s ticket. Priced at a discounted rate of £10, younger visitors can participate in all aspects of the tour, and when it comes to the tasting at the end, they can enjoy the soft drink of their choice.
We were a few minutes early for our tour so once we checked in we were invited to look around the visitor centre as we waited for the rest of the tour group to arrive. The offering on display included bottles of the award-winning Hinch Irish Whiskey as well as the equally celebrated Ninth Wave Irish Gin, which is also produced on the premises. Also for sale were a selection of high quality clothing, accessories, glasses, decanters and gift sets.
Our tour guide for the day was Claire. From the offset, it was apparent that Claire is a natural born storyteller and so the tale of Hinch Distillery has been entrusted to very capable hands. Not only is she knowledgeable about the products, the processes and the history of the company, she is hilarious to boot. There are several interactive parts of the tour and she made sure that everyone, especially the child in our group, felt included. From explaining the raw ingredients used to the mashing and distilling process, Claire was engaging and made the experience thoroughly entertaining throughout.
Hinch Irish Whiskey is made using water from the Mourne Mountains. As a Mourne woman, I have to say I was excited at the end of the tour to get to try some of the batches for myself in the beautiful surroundings of the Hinch Brasserie. This space marries dark wood with Hinch’s signature navy colour palette to wonderful effect. When seated, Claire presented us with our flights containing four samples of Hinch’s flagship whiskeys (this was part of the Premium Whiskey Tour. The Classic Whiskey Tour finishes with a sample of two of the flagship whiskeys). We started off with the Small Batch. At this point Claire pointed out something I had never been told in any of the tastings I have done in the past – when you smell the whiskey prior to tasting, you’ll notice one of your nostrils is more powerful than the other. For me, it was my right nostril. A fact I was amazed to uncover!
The Small Batch was instantly warming and a good introduction to the brand. Next was the 5 Year Old Double Wood, which was smooth and refined, then the Ten Year Sherry Finish, an instant classic and a firm favourite of the group, and then, to finish the line up, the discernable Peated Single Malt whiskey.
To complete our Distillery experience we decided to have a drink in the outside courtyard before getting the bus back to Belfast. There’s an extensive drinks offering available, from whiskey, gin, wine (including a selection from Dr Terry Cross’s vineyard, Château de La Ligne), to beers and ciders. I tried the Hinch Bordeaux Sour, which introduces Bordeaux Château de La Ligne to completely reimagine the classic whiskey sour. Whilst a cocktail in the stunning courtyard was a tranquil way to end our visit, I have to say it was slightly marred: one of the staff’s derisive response to our query whether we could order crisps as a small snack for the child in our group, was that we weren’t in a bar. Obviously a small thing, but after receiving such warmth and professionalism from the rest of the staff, it was slightly jarring and the attitude felt a bit unnecessary when she simply could have said that they don’t sell crisps.
As a whole, Hinch Distillery is absolutely worth a visit. If the whiskey tour doesn’t take your fancy, the Distillery also offers a fabulous sounding gin tour (you make your own gin to take home), and an excellent food menu. The premises can also be hired for private functions (can you imagine how amazing wedding photos would be here?). It was a fantastic overall experience, and Claire in particular is a remarkable asset to the Distillery. I would definitely be keen to visit again but in the meantime, I’ll happily make do with a glass of the Hinch Irish Whiskey Ten Year Sherry Finish. Cheers!
For more information or to book a tour, visit: https://www.hinchdistillery.com/
Posted 18/9/2021
LittleBurch 