Great Northern Distillery: History and Owners
Updated: 2 hours ago
Great Northern Distillery is in Dundalk, County Louth, on the site of the former Great Northern Brewery that made Harp Lager. It made its first spirit on 31 July 2015 and has a capacity of 17 million litres, making it the largest independent distillery in Ireland.
In this guide
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Great Northern at a glance
Distillery fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Distillery / brand | Great Northern |
Country and region | County Louth, Ireland |
Ownership / operator | John Teeling family and business partners |
History | The distillery is owned by John Teeling and his sons Jack and Stephen, with James Finn and David Hynes. The first three year old whiskey came of age in 2018. In 2019 a planning… |
Whisky identity | A major Irish contract and independent distilling site with distinct brands and bulk spirit. |
Visiting | Check the producer's latest official tour and opening information before travelling. |
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History
The distillery is owned by John Teeling and his sons Jack and Stephen, with James Finn and David Hynes. The first three year old whiskey came of age in 2018. In 2019 a planning application for 13 warehouses in Kilcurry, County Louth was refused.
How it is made
The site has pot stills and column stills and makes grain, triple distilled malt, double distilled malt, peated malt and pot still whiskey. Most output is sold in bulk, for contract distilling and own-label bottling, to other brands. Burke's Irish Whiskey is a limited release range.
Visiting
The distillery does not offer consumer tours.
What the distillery says about itself
The official Great Northern site describes the distillery as the largest independent distillery in Ireland, operating since 2015. Its customers are brand owners who want bulk whiskey, private label bottlings, contract distilling or retail own label partnerships. It says its owners previously established the Cooley Distillery and rebuilt Kilbeggan before selling them in 2012. The home page carries the label est. 1986, which does not match the 2015 start of distilling, so we have not used it as a founding date.
Where it stands
The distillery sits on the site of the former Great Northern Brewery in Dundalk, which was established in 1896. Guinness converted the brewery to lager production around 1960, creating Harp Lager, and the brewery closed in 2013. The distillery took over the site in 2015. The Dundalk Distillery operated in the town from 1708 to 1926, and two of its buildings, the grain store and maltings, survive as the county museum and library. The head office address is Carrick Road, Dundalk.
Figures from different pages
Capacity of 16 million litres a year in the Our Story text, 20 million litres a year in the headline figures on the same site, and 17 million in the existing text from other coverage
More than one million bottles worth of whiskey a week and about 500,000 casks in bond
32 plus private labels in one counter on the site, and more than 400 labels supplied according to another
Triple Distilled (March 2025) gives 12 million litres of grain and 8 million of malt capacity, and calls it the second largest distilling complex in Ireland
These figures do not agree, so quote ranges, not a single number, until the owners confirm one.
Products and range
The site lists Irish single malts, Irish pot still, Irish grain whiskey, Irish poitin, Irish gin and Burke's Irish Whiskey. In 2017 Great Northern released its first retail product under the historical Burke's name, including five casks of 14 to 15 year old single malt at cask strength. The first three year old whiskey from the new distillery came of age in 2018. Customer names quoted on the site include Two Stacks, Natterjack and Egan's.
The business side
Triple Distilled reported late in 2024 that Great Northern posted pre tax profits of 32 million euros, and in 2025 that it had cut back malt production since December 2024 as the category slowed. This is trade blog reporting on filed accounts and not an official statement.
People
The site names Vanessa McMahon as General Manager and Paul Mundie as Head of Distillation. John Teeling is credited as founder on the Legacy page.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Great Northern?
John Teeling, his sons Jack and Stephen, James Finn and David Hynes.
Where is it?
Dundalk, County Louth.
Can you tour it?
No.
Sources
Further sources checked and gaps
Loaded: gndireland.com home and history pages, Triple Distilled blog, search snippets from Irish Whiskey Magazine and Whisky Atlas. Failed: greatnorthern.ie (a different site entirely). Not tried: Whiskybase, Whisky Advocate, Diageo. Gaps: still sizes, mash bills, and which brands are actually made there beyond named partners. Note that Roe and Co coverage in Irish Whiskey Magazine mentions Great Northern as a source of its first single malt, from a search snippet only.
What makes Great Northern distinctive?
A major Irish contract and independent distilling site with distinct brands and bulk spirit.
Great Northern whisky bottles and expression comparison
These are producer- or archive-documented expressions; historical editions are not current stock guarantees.
Rare and historic whisky releases
A closed distillery or a past limited batch cannot be assumed to be still producing this whisky.
Bottle or expression | Age or release | ABV | Verified context |
|---|---|---|---|
Burke's Irish Whiskey | Historic | Check label | Historical bottling referenced in existing research |
This table describes documented expressions. It does not guarantee current stock, age statements or strengths. Check producer labels for details.
More distilleries to explore
Frequently asked questions about Great Northern
Where is Great Northern based?
County Louth, Ireland.
Who operates Great Northern?
John Teeling family and business partners.
What distinguishes Great Northern?
A major Irish contract and independent distilling site with distinct brands and bulk spirit.
Which bottlings are documented?
Burke's Irish Whiskey (historical release). Some editions may be historical.
Can you visit Great Northern?
Please check whether tours are currently operating and book through the producer before travelling.
Sources and editorial checks
Original research and historical notes have been retained. Visitor details, owners and bottle ranges may change.
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About the author
 | Filip Janczak Storyteller, drinker and explorer of all things whisky. Read more about the person behind Whisky Clan and explore additional reviews and distillery guides. |
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