AN APPLE Strudel High Ball doesn’t sound a very Irish cocktail.
But it is one of the mixes recommended by Titanic Distillers of Belfast.
Based on Queen’s Island in the city’s Titanic Quarter, the award-winning distillery is located in the former Pumphouse at Thompson Dock, where RMS Titanic stood for fitting out prior to her fateful voyage in 1912.
The red-brick Pumphouse, with its original arched windows and distinctive clock tower that once housed engines that drained over 26 million gallons of water from Thompson Dock, has been transformed into a working whiskey distillery. It’s the first in Belfast for almost 90 years.
“We are proud of bringing such an iconic building back to life,” says CEO Stephen Symington. “Every time we open the doors, we can’t help but feel the magic of the place. It’s an honour to stand where shipbuilders once stood, to remember their craft, courage and the friendships forged through blood, sweat and years!”
The Titanic Distillery offers guided toursThe distillery’s 8-Year-Old Single Malt won a gold medal at the 2026 London Spirits Competition. Its 5-Year-Old Pot Still PX Finish Whiskey was voted Pot Still Whiskey of the Year.
Head distiller Damien Rafferty is this year’s Craft Distiller of the Year. The distillery also makes a premium vodka and poitín.
Continues Symington: “Craftsmanship is at the core of Titanic Distillers. We have created a whiskey that the people of Belfast can be proud of and have a unique brand that we are excited to now showcase to customers around the world in a modern and contemporary way.
The Titanic Hotel (Pic: Tourism Ireland)“At Titanic Distillers, we are inspired by the designers and craftspeople of the early 1900s who were bold enough to build a ship in Belfast on a scale that had never been seen before. We share that ethos of creating something iconic and bold that will hopefully become globally renowned.”
Calling the shots
IN THE early 1900s, Belfast was the largest producer of Irish whiskey in the world. Partition and Prohibition brought much of this production to a halt, but Titanic Distillers is now playing an active role in reinvigorating the city’s whiskey tradition.
“Securing the Thompson Dock and Pumphouse was the last piece of the puzzle for us in getting Titanic Distillers off the ground. It gave us a credible home and brought the brand to life.”
In 2023, Titanic Distillers began producing its first whiskey.
“Back in 1911, everything would have been powered with coal or peat fires. Our first blend has smoky, peated notes as a reference to this era of Belfast’s history.”
Titanic’s flagship blend won Silver at the World Whiskies Awards and Gold at the New York International Spirits Awards.
“We are about to go into a global expansion journey. The USA will be one of the biggest markets for Titanic whiskey.”
Someone once said that after ‘God’ and ‘Coca-Cola’, ‘Titanic’ is the most easily recognisable word in the English language.
That sounds about right.
Following a hugely successful launch into the whiskey market last year, Belfast-based Titanic Distillers is expanding its spirits portfolio with the introduction of Titanic Distillers Premium Irish VodkaA new Titanic Distillers package allows guests to experience not one, but two icons of the Titanic Quarter: Titanic Hotel Belfast, in the meticulously restored former Harland & Wolff offices, and Titanic Distillers, in the classic period architecture of the Thompson Dock Pumphouse.
The package includes an overnight stay in one of the hotel’s elegant nautical-themed bedrooms, where streamlined Art Deco furnishings, ships' lanterns and maritime artwork evoke the Golden Age of ocean travel, and the distillery’s Signature Tour.
A sample of its premium, award-winning Irish whiskey and artisan truffles await guests in their room, setting the tone for a truly memorable stay, blending contemporary comfort with an authentic sense of place.
The tour is a fully guided experience through the visually stunning working distillery and historic Pumphouse. During the tour, guests learn how Belfast's whiskey tradition faded and has now been revived on the very spot where Titanic once dominated the skyline.
Siobhan Winston, General Manager of Titanic Distillers, says: “Alongside the Titanic Hotel Belfast, we're offering an experience that feels both rooted in Belfast's past and relevant to today. At Titanic Distillers, it's about quality, authenticity and giving visitors a fresh way to engage with the city's whiskey story. We offer something that feels distinctive, social and memorable, and we look forward to welcoming guests to experience it for themselves in the heart of Belfast's Maritime Mile.”
Adrian McNally, General Manager of Titanic Hotel Belfast, adds: “The Titanic Distillers Package brings together two of Belfast's greatest stories — shipbuilding and whiskey — in one unforgettable experience. Guests stay where some of the world's most famous ocean liners were designed, then step just moments away to see how Belfast's distilling tradition has been reborn in the very heart of the Titanic Quarter. It is a unique way to experience the authenticity, warmth and character that make this part of the city so special.”
For more information visit www.titanicdistillers.com and www.titanicbelfast.com.
RECIPE: Apple strudel highball
Titanic Distillers Premium Irish Whiskey
Cloudy apple juice
Lemon juice
Cinnamon syrup
Ginger ale
Garnish:
Lemon Wedge, Cinnamon and Rosemary Sprig
Slainté!!
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