Echlinville Distillery acquires historic Ards Malting building
Echlinville Distillery has bought the historic Ards Malting building on Portaferry Road.
The Kircubbin-based business acquired the landmark property following a £5m investment from the Bank of Ireland into the company.
The premises were on the market last year through estate agency Simon Brien for an asking price of £1.35m. It’s understood the sale completed in October 2022.
Once one of Ireland’s largest malting houses, it is now set to be restored and used by the business for its original purpose, with Echlinville reviving the malt-making process at the location and increasing their ability to malt barley grown nearby using traditional methods.
Before ceasing business in 1986, Ards Malting provided malted barley to distilleries and breweries around Ireland, including Guinness, Bushmills and Comber Distilleries — the home of Old Comber Whiskey, a brand which is now produced by Echlinville.
Just over a decade ago, Echlinville was granted its distilling licence and became the first new distillery in Northern Ireland for more than 125 years.
Having filled their first whiskey casks in 2013, the business is home to some of the country’s much-loved brands such as Jawbox Gin, Old Comber Whiskey and Weavers Spirits.
In 2018, ‘The Maltings’ premises had been granted planning permission for proposed retention conversion and extension of the building to be replaced by 27 apartments. However, the redevelopment did not go ahead.
Echlinville’s investment will mean the business will be the only distillery in Ireland to handle every step of making whiskey, from growing barley to producing the final product.
At present Echlinville grow barley on their farm and do some small-scale malting, but this investment will allow them to malt barley at an industrial scale.
Shane Braniff, owner of The Echlinville Distillery, said: “Locally we have a long history of quality whiskey production. The Ards Peninsula has historically been known as one of the finest grain growing regions in Ireland, so it’s no coincidence that Ards Maltings was established at the northern end of the peninsula, malting barley from the surrounding farms and becoming one of the country’s largest malting houses.”
