History

• Hinch Distillery is located on Killaney Estate near Ballynahinch in County Down and was officially established in 2016. As one of Ireland's largest independent grain-to-glass distilleries, Hinch focuses on producing Irish Whiskey and Ninth Wave Irish Gin, and the area around Down is a key part of the company's identity and history.
• According to the legend around Legacy Cask Programme, Dr. Terry Cross OBE is the founder of Hinch Distillery, and the company aims to combine high craftsmanship with a unique visitor experience. There is capacity to produce 1.2 million liters of Single Malt and Single Pot Still Whiskey on site.
• The company places great emphasis on involving visitors in the entire production process through guided tours and experiences, and markets a heritage that blends tradition and curiosity.
• In addition to whiskey, Ninth Wave Irish Gin is produced, which is a central part of Hinch's product portfolio and is also highlighted as part of the company's sustainability and quality branding.

Production / Manufacturing

• Hinch is described as a grain-to-glass distillery located on Killaney Estate, where the entire process—from grain to bottle—takes place under one roof.
• Ninth Wave Gin is produced in a 1000 L pot-still system with a fixed vapour basket and 9 selected botanicals, including a core combination of juniper, coriander and ginger root as well as citrus and herbs, which together form the gin's character.
• The maceration of 8 of the 9 botanicals takes place for 12 hours in neutral grain spirit at 45% ABV, after which lemon verbena is placed in the vapour basket to give a delicate profile to the final spirit.
• After distillation, the spirit is reduced to bottling strength (43%) using RO water from an on-site RO installation.
• Gin and whiskey share a common approach to craft and quality, and production is supported by a clear focus on controlling multiple steps (milling, mash, distillation and bottling) under one roof.
• Legacy Cask Programme gives customers the opportunity to own a cask (e.g. £4950) and have it mature in Hinch's warehouses – each cask has its own character and develops over time.

Products / Whisky range

• Hinch Irish Whiskey – Core Range includes expressions such as 5 Year Old Double Wood and 5 Year Old Madeira Cask Finish, as well as 15 Year Old Sherry Cask Finish and Peated Single Malt. In addition, Hinch Single Malt and Hinch Peated Single Malt are marketed as separate expressions.
• Connoisseur Collection 5-year Madeira Wine Cask Finish – nose: spicy wood notes and candied orange, palate: marmalade with fruit and chocolate praline, finish: hazelnut and pepper.
• Hinch Aged 15 Years OLOROSSO Cask Finish – nose: charred oak and pear drops; palate: dried fruits and woody notes; finish: berry-like sweetness and black pepper.
• Peated Small Batch 46.4% – nose: ash-like and banoffee-like sweetness; palate: notes of burnt sugar and dusky lumber; finish: banana-like notes and chocolate praline.
• Small Batch – nose: orange marmalade and dried apricots; palate: creamy vanilla, pancakes and maple syrup; finish: chocolate-nuts and honey.
• Hinch 5 Year Old Double Wood (and 5 Year Madeira) as well as 10-year and longer editions are available through their range with different finish ambitions; these can be found in their online shop and retail environment.
• In addition to whiskeys, Hinch has a range of gins under the Ninth Wave brand, including a detailed description of the box in Left Bank Martini and Darlington ingredients, illustrating that the gin range is also part of the company's products.

Visits / Experiences

• Hinch offers Whisky Tours with three tasting types: Classic Tasting (5 Year Old Double Wood and 5 Year Old Madeira), Premium Tasting (including 5 Year Old Double Wood, Madeira, 15 Year Old, Peated Single Malt and a Signature Serve) and Drivers Dram (the same experience with the option to take home 50 ml).
• Legacy Tour – a 2-hour informal in-depth behind-the-scenes tour of the distillery with a visit to the warehouse and an exclusive tasting of 3 distillery-exclusives – cask strength / non-chill filtered.
• Gin School Experience – a 90-minute hands-on experience where participants learn gin production, taste a Ninth Wave Gin and at the end receive a 500 ml bottle that they label themselves.
• Other experiences include Wreath Making on Killaney Estate (Christmas wreath workshop with gin on arrival), Some Like It Hot (handcrafted hot drinks dance party) and gift vouchers that grant access to tours and the shop.
• Opening hours: The shop is open 7 days a week from 10:00 to 17:30. Children under 18 may participate in some tours if accompanied by an adult; Gin School Experience is 18+ and requires ID on request.
• Parking: Free on-site parking. Exclusions to certain areas may occur for health and safety reasons during maintenance.

Philosophy / Brand values

• A responsible and adventurous approach to distilling and product development, with a focus on being an innovative, independent producer in Ireland that blends tradition and curiosity.
• Ninth Wave Gin is highlighted as a sustainable and quality-driven product line with a maritime and mythology-inspired story, and the sustainable approach indicates they also consider the environment and presentation mood of the products.
• The history and experiences around Legacy and the possibility to own a cask of Hinch Whisky demonstrate a long-term approach to the phenomenon of distilling and family stewardship of spirits.