The Crolly Distillery in Killindarragh

Ireland

"Uisce Beatha do Chroí Mór - Water of Life for the open- and warm-hearted"

We went on a road trip along the west coast of Ireland, from the far south in Cork to the far north in Donegal. Naturally, we had to visit a whiskey distillery. Whiskey with an “e,” to distinguish it from the Scotch whisky that the Irish considered to be of inferior quality in the 19th century.

A visit to Crolly Distillery in Northwest Donegal

On our last day, we had booked a tour in the Gaeltacht (an Irish-speaking area) amidst the rolling hills of northwest Donegal, at the Croithlí Distillery, or Crolly, as it is spelled in English.

After visiting the nearby Poisoned Glen, we arrived at the beautiful old building on a day that was exceptionally sunny for this region, which is typically grey and torrential. We received a warm welcome inside and discovered that we were the only two guests on the tour. Pól showed us around and shared the distillery's story with typical Irish humor.

From carpet factory to Whiskey Distillery

According to legend, the art of distilling uisce beatha (water of life) was invented here in the 6th century by St. Colmcille, who subsequently introduced it to the Scottish island of Iona after his exile there. Thus, according to the Irish, whiskey is essentially Irish!

Despite this long history, Donegal went 180 years without a licensed distillery. Until 2018, when three local businessmen applied for a license with the aim of bringing this centuries-old tradition back to the region. The dream became reality through crowdfunding, with 180 enthusiasts, including Enya and Maya Brennan of the band Clannad, who grew up nearby, purchasing their own casks of the whiskey yet to be distilled.

The funds were used to purchase decommissioned and neglected copper stills from a French cognac distillery and to renovate an old factory which had stood empty for years. The building housing the distillery was originally constructed in 1901 as a carpet factory; carpets made there can be found in Buckingham Palace and the White House.

After the factory went bankrupt in 1916, the building served as barracks for British soldiers for six years, until they were kicked following the proclamation of the Irish Free State in 1922. After years of disuse, the premises were used between the forties and the seventies to manufacture the famous Crolly dolls; examples of these can still be seen in the building today.

Crafting Irish Single Malt Whiskey

With a lot of love and passion, our guide explains during the tour what makes the Croithlí distillery unique. Carefully selected barley is malted, using pure water that flows through peat bogs, and yeast, then distilled in gas-fired copper pot stills.

Unlike most Irish whiskeys, Croithlí is distilled twice rather than three times, resulting in a more robust final product. We also had the chance to taste this clear, freshly distilled whiskey, and it already tasted surprisingly smooth.

Next, the aging process begins. First in American bourbon casks and then in virgin oak casks, creating three very distinct single-malt whiskeys aged in Irish, American, and European oak.

In addition, under the inspired guidance of Brazilian master distiller Julio Diana, a number of exclusive single-cask whiskeys are produced, aged in sherry or bourbon casks. During the tasting, we were also introduced to the whiskey aged in Oloroso casks, of which only 1,500 bottles were produced.

An Irish distillery with a heart and soul

We were incredibly lucky to be the only two guests who had booked the tour, but the experience is undoubtedly well worth it with a larger group, too. The beautiful building with its lovely bar, the friendly staff, the excellent explanation provided by Pól, and the delightful conversation with Julio made us feel a thousand times welcome.

Or, as they say in Ireland, “Céad míle fáilte.” The Croithlí Distillery’s motto is “Uisce Beatha Do Chroí Mór” (Water of Life for the open- and warm-hearted) and they truly live up to that motto.

Author: Kees Pruijssers | Picture credits: Kees Pruijssers

Updated: 07-10-2026