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First Irish whiskey bus tour brings international visitors to Belfast

New operator launches first international Irish whiskey tour of the north

Front L-R: Lauren McMullan of Irish Whiskey Experiences with Sarah Kennedy of McConnell’s Distillery with the participants of the ‘Northern Lights’ whiskey bus tour.
Front L-R: Lauren McMullan of Irish Whiskey Experiences with Sarah Kennedy of McConnell’s Distillery with the participants of the ‘Northern Lights’ whiskey bus tour. (Kelvin Boyes)
By Ryan McAleer

A new tourism start-up founded in response to the boom in Irish whiskey distilleries across the island has welcomed more than 30 international visitors to Belfast.

Set-up two years ago by Lauren McMullan, Barry Chandler and Anthony Sheehy, Irish Whiskey Experiences offers bespoke tours based around the burgeoning Irish spirit scene.

The operator’s new ‘Northern Lights’ whiskey bus kicked off over the weekend at the new McConnell’s Distillery at the historic Crumlin Road Gaol.

The 30-odd US Irish whiskey enthusiasts will spend a full seven days, using Belfast as a base, to tour every whiskey distillery in Northern Ireland.

“As we’ve grown, we’ve seen significant interest from whiskey enthusiasts from across the US, Europe, and Asia,” said Lauren McMullan, director at Irish Whiskey Experiences.

The Irish Whiskey Experiences team celebrate the arrival of their first international guests to Belfast.
The Irish Whiskey Experiences team celebrate the arrival of their first international guests to Belfast. (Kelvin Boyes)

“We’re thrilled to launch our first international Irish whiskey tour in Northern Ireland.

“We chose to base our tour in Belfast, which once rivalled Dublin as a leading producer of Irish whiskey on the island, due to the rich heritage here and the proximity to almost 10 distilleries within an hour’s drive of the city.

“We’re excited to be launching our trip at McConnell’s Distillery, which is helping to restore Belfast’s legacy as a premier whiskey destination.”

Eoin Ó Catháin, director at the Irish Whiskey Association, said Irish whiskey distilleries and visitor centres have have welcomed 800,000 enthusiasts this year, an increase of 20% on last year.

“The story of Irish whiskey goes back 700 years, and we are heartened to see so many international visitors interested in our culture and heritage,” he said.

“No distillery exemplifies this better than McConnell’s Distillery, and an Irish whiskey tour couldn’t start at a more iconic place.”