Killowen Distillery: History and Stills
Updated: 7 hours ago
Killowen Distillery is a small distillery in the Mourne Mountains of County Down, Northern Ireland. It opened in 2019 and is the work of architect Brendan Carty. It focuses on pot still Irish whiskey.
In this guide
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Killowen at a glance
Distillery fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Distillery / brand | Killowen |
Country and region | County Down, Northern Ireland |
Owner / operator | Brendan Carty and Killowen Distillery |
Historical background | Visit Mourne, the local tourism site, describes Killowen as Ireland's smallest distillery, in the townland of Cill Eoghain (Killowen) near Rostrevor, at the foot of the Mourne Mountains and… |
Whisky identity | Small-scale Irish pot still production and separately sourced releases |
Visitor planning | Check the producer's official site for current tours and operating hours. |
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How it is made
Killowen has two Portuguese made, direct-fired stills: a 1,000 litre wash still named Christoir and an 800 litre spirit still named Broc, the Irish word for badger. It is thought to be the only distillery in Ireland currently using worm tub condensers. It also makes grain poitin and gin from local grain and botanicals.
The team
The distillery has three staff: Brendan Carty and his team of Pearse and Hugh.
Visiting
Killowen is at 29 Kilfeaghan Road, Killowen, Newry BT34 3AW. It has a visitor centre and offers tours. See the official website for opening times.
The place and the story
Visit Mourne, the local tourism site, describes Killowen as Ireland's smallest distillery, in the townland of Cill Eoghain (Killowen) near Rostrevor, at the foot of the Mourne Mountains and looking out over Carlingford Lough. It says founder Brendan Carty built it around direct-fired copper pot stills.
The same page says Killowen makes whiskey, gin and poitin, and that limited releases use a range of cask finishes including rum, port, sherry and mezcal. It describes single-cask bottlings and small, numbered releases. This is tourism board copy, so the cask details are worth confirming on the distillery's own pages.
Visiting
Visit Mourne says tours are by appointment only, last about 1.5 hours and include a tasting, with small groups. Tourism Ireland has also reported a VIP tour led by Brendan Carty himself. Check the distillery website or social media before travelling.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Killowen?
In the Mourne Mountains, County Down, Northern Ireland.
Who founded it?
Brendan Carty.
What are the stills called?
Christoir and Broc.
Sources
Further sources checked on 20 October 2026: Visit Mourne, The Smallest Distillery in Ireland (visitmourne.com), and search listings for killowendistillery.com and Whisky Magazine's December 2024 feature on Killowen. The official site timed out when fetched, so its pages were not read.
Gaps for Filip: owner details, core range names and strengths, release dates and prices. Claims about peat from the Mourne foothills and local grain come from the tourism page and are not confirmed by the distillery.
What makes Killowen distinctive?
Small-scale Irish pot still production and separately sourced releases
Killowen whisky bottle and expression comparison
Bottle / expression | Age | ABV | Cask maturation / notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Killowen Bonded Experimental Series | NAS / release dependent | Check bottle | Small-scale Irish pot still production and separately sourced releases |
The table records named or historical expressions. Exact availability, strength and provenance can change; consult the producer for current details.
Explore related distilleries
Frequently asked questions about Killowen
Where is Killowen located?
County Down, Northern Ireland.
Who owns or operates Killowen?
Brendan Carty and Killowen Distillery.
What makes Killowen distinctive?
Small-scale Irish pot still production and separately sourced releases.
Which whiskies are documented for Killowen?
Killowen Bonded Experimental Series. Availability varies.
Can visitors tour Killowen?
Check the producer's current tour and booking information; not all sites are open to visitors.
Sources and editorial notes
The original research and reference links have been retained. Current ownership, prices, operating status and visitor arrangements should be reconfirmed.
Image note: the cover is an illustrative whisky photograph from the Whisky Clan media library, not a photograph of this distillery or its products.
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Cover photograph: Killowen Distillery's real copper pot stills and condensers in County Down, Northern Ireland. Source: Mourne Gullion Strangford UNESCO Global Geopark. Reuse rights have not been independently confirmed.
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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