The Copeland Distillery

The Copeland Distillery, situated on Ireland’s North-East Coast, is a craft producer of a range of Irish Gin, Rum, Single Malt and Pot Still Whiskey. The Copeland Distillery opened in August 2019, signalling the start of our journey to create Northern Ireland’s most innovative craft distillery. Our 6,500 square-foot home is located just a stone’s throw from the historic harbour in Donaghadee, County Down. Looking out from Donaghadee harbour lie the Copeland Islands, the inspiration for our ‘coastal spirit’. Rich in history and heritage, the Copeland Islands (or ‘Kaupmanneyjar’ in Norse), were used centuries ago by the Vikings as a trading post and used through the ages as a smuggling point for bringing rum and whiskey into County Down from Scotland. In the latter half of the 19th century, long before Belfast docks became fully developed, The Copeland Islands and Donaghadee harbour became well-known as a main shipping dock in the North of Ireland. Many fishermen and sailors passed Donaghadee on their way to voyages far and wide, leaving behind tales of love, sea battles and adventure. Sadly the Copeland Islands also became well-known for many shipwrecks. Many men and women lost their lives to this treacherous part of the sea; we are here to tell their stories and resurface their spirit. The Distillery is the production site of our award winning Classic Irish and Navy Strength gins, our rum range and our new range of malt and pot-still whiskey which are currently maturing prior to release from 2024. Visitors can also take advantage of our distillery tour, learning more about our range of spirits, how we make our products or just relaxing and taking some time in our coffee shop. Our mission is simple: to create great tasting spirits which surprise and delight, and reflect the history and traditions of the local area.