OUR STORY
The Ancestral Home of Whiskey
In the Gaeltacht village of Croithlí, County Donegal, in the remote north west corner of Ireland, a remarkable revival is underway. Long before whiskey had its name, Tír Chonaill (Donegal’s traditional Irish name) was already steeped in the spirit-making tradition. In fact, this is where the very story of whiskey everywhere has its roots.
As early as the 6th century, the monastic community founded in this region by Irish patron saint St Colmcille was distilling herbal tonics and spirits — laying the foundations for what would become Irish whiskey. When he was later exiled to the Scottish island of Iona, St Colmcille took the secret of distillation with him and so the story continued.
This sacred knowledge of fusing direct fire, pristine water, and superior grain passed through generations in Donegal — from the monks of old to the hillside poitín makers of more recent times. Today, Croithlí Distillery rekindles that spirit. Our artisans have masterfully fused the old ways of using direct fire, copper stills, double distillation, and the purest Donegal water, with a modern twist of creativity to achieve whiskey excellence you’ll find nowhere else.
We honour the heritage of our place, the pride of our people, and the artistry of creative whiskey-making. Every batch of Croithlí premium whiskey tells a story of bold revival, unwavering craftsmanship, and Donegal Gaeltacht character.
OUR UNIQUE METHODS:
ANCIENT CRAFT, MODERN MASTERY
At Croithlí, tradition isn’t simply a nod to the past — it’s the foundation of everything we craft. Whiskey begins here as it always did in Donegal: with pristine, peaty water from the River Crolly, flowing fresh from the Derryveagh Mountains just metres from the distillery. The finest Irish-grown grains are sourced with intention — including premium malted barley and specialty malts such as crystal and chocolate.
Unlike most modern distilleries, Croithlí embraces the time-honoured technique of direct-fired distillation. Flames lick the copper belly of elegant Charentais stills — vintage ex-Cognac stills sourced from France — unlocking layers of flavour through the rare Maillard effect, a natural browning reaction that adds richness, depth and complexity to the spirit.
All our spirits are double distilled, enhancing mouthfeel and flavour definition, while retaining the bold, full character of the malt. This choice, though rare in contemporary Irish whiskey-making, allows for a more robust and expressive profile.
Each batch is matured in hand-selected oak casks — from first-fill bourbon and Oloroso sherry butts to rare virgin oak and Pedro Ximénez finishes — on-site in the cool, temperate microclimate of Croithlí. Every cask tells its own story, and no two expressions are ever exactly alike.
Nothing is chill filtered. No artificial colouring is added. Every decision is made to preserve the natural integrity of the whiskey — from grain to glass. Born of flame, shaped by copper, and matured with intent — every drop of Croithlí whiskey carries the rare soul of a spirit made the old way.
OUR BUILDING’S HISTORY:
WOVEN IN LEGACY, REAWAKENED IN SPIRIT
Built in 1901 by the Congested Districts Board to combat poverty and emigration, the Croithlí Distillery building was born not just of stone, but of purpose. It was a beacon of hope for the Donegal Gaeltacht. The building soon became the beating heart of a proud local industry, housing the world-renowned Donegal Carpets. Its handcrafted creations graced the halls of Áras an Uachtaráin, Buckingham Palace, and The White House — where “the pile stood like pearls,” as founder, the Scottish textiles magnate Andrew Morton, once said.
Through the decades, the building remained at the heart of the community — as an RIC and British Army barracks under fire during Ireland’s struggle for independence, and later, from the 1940s to the 1970s, as the home of the factory where the beloved Crolly Dolls were made. These handcrafted dolls became global icons, cherished across many generations.
Each chapter added a new layer to its story — of resilience, of creativity, of local pride. Now, restored with care and deep respect, it lives again as the home of Croithlí Distillery.
No longer weaving wool or shaping dolls, it now crafts something equally rooted in tradition and soul — premium Irish whiskey, forged by flame, matured by time, and distilled with the same community spirit that built these walls more than a century ago.
OUR WHISKEY JOURNEY:
REKINDLING A FLAME IN DONEGAL
The Croithlí story began with a shared ambition — to bring the soul of Irish whiskey back to Donegal for the first time in 180 years.
Inspired by tales of monastic distillers at the foot of Errigal, world-renowned 19th-century distilleries, and generations of poitín makers, three local founders set out to revive a proud tradition in the heart of the Gaeltacht.
The journey began with a spontaneous whiskey fact-finding trip to Islay. Soon, dusty copper stills were salvaged in France — lovingly restored for a new era of Donegal distillation.
Against the odds, the trio secured Donegal’s first whiskey licence in 180 years (the last granted to Burt Distillery, active from 1814 to 1841). A once-silent stone building was transformed into a flame-lit stillhouse alive with spirit and intent.
With Master Distiller Julio Diana and his team in the stillhouse, Croithlí has emerged as a beacon of bold, small-batch whiskey.
Today, each new release — from the Coillín Darach oak series to PX-finished expressions and the Morton cask offering — honours the founders’ passion for place, reverence for tradition, and belief that Croithlí whiskey belongs among the world’s finest.
