OCT 10 - Ardara Distillery Whiskey Masterclass with James Doherty

The Ardara Distillery: revival of a historic craft

James Doherty is an Irish entrepreneur and co-founder of Sliabh Liag Distillers, the company behind the Ardara Distillery in Donegal. With extensive international experience in the drinks industry, including executive positions at prominent companies such as SABMiller, Foster's, and William Grant & Sons, Doherty has followed an impressive career path. In 2014, he returned to Donegal, the region where his family history lies, to realize his great dream: to revive the historic distilling tradition of this region.

The Ardara Distillery combines authentic production methods, inspired by old and often illegal distillation practices, with contemporary technology. A key feature of their approach is the 'grain-in' process, in which the solid parts of the grain – such as husks and fibres – are retained during fermentation. Instead of using only the liquid wort, these solids remain present, contributing to the unique flavour. The result is a distinctly peated whisky with a rich and robust character, positioning Ardara as a distillery that unites tradition and innovation.