Ardara Distillery, the Irish whiskey producer owned by Sliabh Liag Distillers, has launched the first single malt whiskey to bear its distillery’s name. Sliabh Liag’s inaugural bottling, the Kilcar Release, debuted in 2023.
The Ardara Single Malt Irish Whiskey is heavily peated, triple distilled, and uses an “all-grain-in” distillation method — a combination of processes designed to revive “Donegal’s distinctive character”. Historically, Donegal has been known for smoky spirits, including both poitín and whiskey.
Ardara takes inspiration from illicit distilling in its home town, a history with which co-founder and former chairman of the Irish Whiskey Association James Doherty has a personal connection. He commented: “A century ago, my grandfather was an illicit distiller in Donegal and, while he is no longer with us, I know he’d recognise what we’re doing here — grain-in, heavily peated, triple distilled, just as it was in his time.”
All grain in is a method by which the mash and/or wash is not filtered before moving to the next stage of production. At Ardara Distillery, every part of the grain is taken through to the wash still. The distillery says this allows it to extract “maximum character” from the malted barley. In Whisky Magazine’s Irish Whiskey supplement in 2024, James said the distillery was using the method to “honour our Donegal poitín history by using grains in distilling process... it creates much richer character and a more interesting mouthfeel”.
The method is the norm in bourbon distilling in the US, and bears similarities to the “distilling on the lees” process in Cognac. In single malt and pot still Scotch and Irish whiskey production, however, it is unusual. Ardara believes it is the only distillery in Ireland using it to make peated whiskey.
Moira Doherty, co-founder, said: “Ardara’s mission has always been singular: to remain true to Donegal above all else. We know that our Ardara Single Malt Irish Whiskey is a deeply traditional style delivered in a process that today is seen as revolutionary. It doesn’t matter to us that no one else chooses to do it this way; it is true to Donegal and that’s good enough for us!”
Ardara’s spirit is made with malted barley peated to 55ppm. The distillery says that, as well as the grain-in method, its “carefully selected yeast strains” and the downward-sloping lyne arms of its three copper pot stills work to showcase the “rich, fruity, nutty, smokiness” from the grain. It has then been matured in bourbon and new oak casks.
James added: “Our first edition of Ardara Single Malt Irish Whiskey drinks superbly well — even in its youth it clearly signals the style and character we've been committed to from the very beginning. With each future release Ardara Single Malt Irish Whiskey will gain added depth and complexity as we move closer to defining Ardara’s true signature style.”
Tasting notes shared by the distillery highlight sweet cereal, figs, coconut, and tobacco on the nose, with the “rich sweetness” of beignets and poached pears, plus almond, leather, and campfire smoke on the palate and a “soft, smoky baked apple” finish.
For the 2025 edition of the single malt, Ardara has released 10,000 bottles worldwide, 2,000 of which have been bottled at cask strength and will be available exclusively from the distillery’s visitor centre. The remaining 8,000 bottles will be available in Ireland and the UK from August 2025, expanding to international markets from September.
Ardara Single Malt Irish Whiskey (46% ABV, RRP €90) is now available in select outlets and online.
