Hinch Distillery

Hinch Distillery - harking back to the past

In Hinch (derived from Ballynahinch, which means "town of the island" in Gaelic), amidst the rolling green drumlin hills of County Down, stands a distillery whose ambitions go far beyond the "ordinary," whose ambition to be creative goes far beyond the simple. County Down has a long distilling history and was home to seven Irish whiskey producing distilleries from the late 18th century to the early 20th century. At Hinch, they are very proud to be part of the ongoing history of County Down with the establishment of Hinch Distillery.

Hinch draws inspiration from the distilling traditions and skills brought across the Irish Sea over the centuries during the exchange of Gaelic peoples. Influenced by the past but looking to the future, they produce Irish whiskeys that are soothingly smooth yet distinctively rich and bold in character.

Regional production from start to finish

The Grain to Glass distillery was built specifically to produce a very special style of Irish single malt whiskey. Grain to Glass means that all production happens in the region: water from the nearby Mourne Mountains is used, traditional Irish mashing methods are employed, and, of course, Irish triple distillation is used. The mash house contains not one, but two mash tuns, which allow Hinch to maximize flavor profiles. This, in turn, allows for a wider range of flavors to be achieved during fermentation, which are ultimately incorporated into the whiskeys.

Our stills are specifically designed for reflux to give the interaction of steam and copper the extra time it needs to develop a distinct flavor profile.

Gin - Hinch Distillery's second mainstay

In addition to whiskey, gin is the main product produced at Hinch Distillery. Ninth Wave Gin is inspired by the love of Irish mythology, its connection to the sea and the role it has played in the country's history.

The legend of the ninth wave

Legend tells of a mystical, magical place, invisible to the naked human eye and known as the "Otherworld," where the Irish sea god Mac Lir lived. The Ninth Wave was the barrier that separated the earthly world from the Otherworld. It was said to be greater than any other wave, and only by overcoming the Ninth Wave could a mortal enter the Otherworld - where there was neither disease nor death. A place that gave eternal youth and beauty, where music, power, life and all pleasant pursuits came together.

Hinch Irish Gin has an ocean blue glass bottle design that echoes the symbolism of the Celtic triskellion (triple spiral) that adorns many ancient monuments on the island.For Ninth Wave Irish Gin, some of the botanicals are grown directly on the Killaney Estate, where Hinch Distillery is located.