Craft brewing, cider making and distilling

Northern Ireland has a long tradition of spirits production, from historic Irish whiskey to modern gin and liqueurs. Its craft distilling sector has grown rapidly in recent years, combining tradition with innovation and local ingredients.

What are craft spirits

Spirits are alcoholic drinks made by distilling fermented grains, fruit or vegetables. Examples include vodka, whiskey, rum and gin. They have a higher alcohol content than beer or wine, typically over 30% alcohol by volume (ABV).

The term craft spirit usually refers to small-batch products made by independent distillers who focus on quality, flavour and regional character.

Spirits can be flavoured to create unique products. For example, whiskey gains its flavour from ageing in wooden casks, while gin is flavoured with botanicals such as juniper. Some distilled drinks have added sugar or other ingredients - for example, Irish cream or honey liqueurs. These varieties offer distillers a chance to develop distinctive, attractive products that appeal to different tastes and help build a strong brand in a competitive market.

Irish whiskey

Irish whiskey is well-known worldwide. To be called 'Irish whiskey', the spirit must be distilled and aged on the island of Ireland, including Northern Ireland. This gives it protected geographical indication (GI) status under UK and EU law, helping to safeguard its quality and reputation. Whiskey can be a challenging product for a new distiller. It must be aged for a minimum of three years (often longer) in wooden casks before bottling. Because of this, many new distillers produce gin or poitín first to generate income while their whiskey ages.

Gin

Gin is an attractive option for new distillers for several reasons. It's faster to make than many other spirits, so returns come sooner. Flavour is easy to customise with many botanicals, letting distillers make unique products that stand out. It also fits well with current consumer demand for craft, premium, and flavoured drinks. The Irish Gin Strategy 2022–2026 identified at least 37 distilleries across the island producing gin, with around eight based in Northern Ireland. Many producers offer tours and tastings to attract visitors and boost tourism through unique experiences and products, helping to grow both sales and local economy.

Irish poitín

Irish poitín (or poteen) is a traditional spirit once made illicitly in small batches. It now has protected GI status and must be distilled on the island of Ireland. Like gin, poitín can be produced with various flavour profiles and does not need to be aged, which makes it attractive to small producers looking for quicker returns.

Licensing and regulations for craft distillers

You need several licences and registrations to start a craft distillery in Northern Ireland. You must:

• apply to HMRC for approval to produce alcoholic products in the UK
• register as a food business with your local council, to produce/handle a food product
• apply to a local county court for a local producer's licence, to legally sell your spirits

A local producer's licence in Northern Ireland, under the Licensing (NI) Order 1996, permits selling your product for off-site consumption directly from your production site and, in limited cases, from other premises (under strict licence conditions). Once you have this licence, you can apply for a suitability order, which allows sales for consumption on premises, like in taprooms or during tastings, enabling you to offer on-site customer experiences.

See how to apply for a licence to sell alcohol in Northern Ireland.

You may need additional authorisation if you intend to supply your drinks product to other businesses for resale - for example, a pub or a shop.

Distilleries face strict controls on production volumes and alcohol strength, and must comply with extensive rules on alcohol duty, VAT and excise, advertising and marketing of alcohol, food safety and hygiene, packing and labelling, waste management and more. 

For comprehensive information, see legal considerations for breweries, cideries and distilleries.