Visitors Hail ‘True Hidden Gem’ in the Heart of Donegal’s Gaeltacht
Visitors from Donegal to Dallas are hailing the Crolly Distillery Experience as one of the best visitor experiences in Ireland.
Nestled in the heart of the Donegal Gaeltacht, the Crolly Distillery offers a unique whiskey adventure and tasting experience that fuses rural Irish history and culture with award-winning premium spirit.
The intimate tour has been receiving five-star reviews across the board since opening to the public in recent years.
Visitors, including the likes of former James Bond star Pierce Brosnan, have revelled in the fascinating stories, friendly hospitality, unique whiskey making processes, sensational tasting and nosing experiences, and craic agus ceol. And many reviewers have branded it “a must visit” for people from both near and far.
A recent guest said it was “one of the highlights of our Ireland trip”. “The building is very cool, and the whiskey is terrific. We had a lot of fun filling our own bottle of cask-strength and signing the label.”
Another noted: “I have been in too many whiskey distilleries; this one was one of the best!”
The premium quality of Croithlí whiskey has also left a lasting impression, with one visitor stating: “Pretty much blown away with everything they had to offer! Their whiskey was amazing and had a very high quality to it.”
Many have described it online as a “hidden gem”, particularly appreciating the limited-edition unique whiskey offerings that set it apart from larger distilleries.
The distillery visitor centre is a treasure trove of local history and boasts a full bar and coffee shop where you’ll often find a traditional Irish music session or whiskey cocktail lessons in full flow. The whiskey shop, coffee shop and bar are open to anyone who wishes to call.
Stunning Location
The Crolly Distillery is perfectly located in the village of Croithlí (or Crolly) on the Wild Atlantic Way, en-route between Donegal’s most majestic tourist attractions — Sliabh League Cliffs and nearby Glenveagh National Park in the stunning Derryveagh Mountains. It’s just a few minutes from Donegal Airport (Aerfort Dhún na nGall), which boasts the most scenic airport approach in the world, according to a global poll conducted by PrivateFly.
Journey Through Time — Donegal Carpets to Crolly Dolls
The Crolly Distillery Experience offers a unique whiskey adventure and tasting experience that fuses rural Irish history and culture with award-winning premium Donegal Gaeltacht spirit.
Firstly, the knowledgeable and highly entertaining tour guides will help you to explore the fascinating history of the building. It was originally home to the famous Donegal Carpets factory (which produced carpets for the likes of Buckingham Palace, The White House, Dublin Castle, Windsor Castle, and many others). It later served as an embattled Royal Irish Constabulary barracks from the 1916 Rising until after the War of Independence and is even said to have its own resident soldier ghost. From 1940 to 1978, it was home to the iconic Crolly Doll factory, producing handcrafted dolls that became global sensations over several decades. Each phase of its history is thoughtfully showcased during the experience by many images and artefacts.
Explore, Taste, And Bottle Your Own Premium Croithlí
The intimate Crolly Distillery Experience is a tour that is brought to life by great storytelling and fine whiskey. You are taken on a journey through myth, history and premium whiskey making processes (including new-make tasting) by experienced tour guides. This is accompanied by an enlightening audio-visual display on the history of distillation in the local area.
You’ll witness firsthand the use of unique direct fire to vintage Charentais Cognac stills, which imparts a distinctive character through a ‘Maillard effect’ to Croithlí premium Irish whiskey.
As part of the tour upgrade package, you’ll get to savour all three of Croithlí’s premium single malt whiskeys in our tasting lounge – with nosing and tasting notes provided by our guides.
One of the standout features of the VIP Experience is the opportunity to fill your own bottle of beautifully peated cask-strength whiskey and personalise/hand write the label. This ‘Bottle Your Own’ to take home experience was recently enjoyed by James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan and his mum when they visited the distillery.
Plan Your Visit
Tours run daily, seven days a week, from 11am-7pm. For more information or to book a tour online, visit the official website at thecrollydistillery.com
All tours are fully accessible for wheelchair users and people with limited mobility. Parking is on a flat surface directly outside the main entrance with two reserved spaces. Prior to the tour you can sign in to enter our monthly giveaway for Croithlí premium Irish whiskey.
For more information please visit www.thecrollydistillery.com
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