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The Spirit of Belfast: Dunville’s Irish Whiskey Returns

At Saints & Scholars, we celebrate Irish whiskey not just for how it tastes, but for the stories it carries. Some are centuries old, nearly lost to time, until someone brings them back. That’s the case with Dunville’s, a whiskey born in Belfast in 1808, silenced for nearly 80 years, and now boldly revived.

Last week, we explored the revival of Irish whiskey through Teeling in Dublin. This week, we head north to Belfast’s lost legend, Dunville’s, and the distillery bringing it back to life.

The Rise: A Belfast Powerhouse

Dunville’s began humbly in the early 1800s as a tea and spirits merchant. But by the mid-19th century, it had transformed into one of Ireland’s most respected whiskey producers. In 1869, the family built the Royal Irish Distilleries, an enormous and state-of-the-art operation on Belfast’s Grosvenor Road. At its height, Dunville’s produced over 2.5 million gallons of whiskey a year, exporting globally and setting the standard for elegance in Irish blending.

The Fall: Gone Too Soon

Here’s the twist. Dunville’s didn’t fall victim to poor quality or lost sales. In fact, they were still profitable when they shut down. But after the tragic death of the last male heir in 1931, the company lost direction. By 1936, Dunville’s closed its doors. It was one of the few Irish distilleries to do so voluntarily, while still in the black.

For nearly eight decades, Dunville’s became a ghost. Its name was still respected, but its whiskey was gone.

The Revival: A Return with Purpose

Dunville’s remained silent for nearly 80 years. Then, in the early 2010s, a new voice stepped in.

Echlinville Distillery, located on the Ards Peninsula in County Down, became the first new distillery to be licensed in Northern Ireland in more than 125 years. While Bushmills has operated continuously since the 1600s, Echlinville’s 2013 license marked a modern turning point. It opened the door for a new wave of whiskey-making in the North, and with it, the rebirth of one of its most iconic names.

From the beginning, Echlinville’s mission was not just to make whiskey. It was to restore Dunville’s to its former stature. Through careful sourcing, maturation, and blending, they began releasing new whiskeys under the Dunville’s name. Their early lineup included Three Crowns and VR (very rare), followed soon after by the PX 10-Year, which quickly became a standout in Irish whiskey circles.

The Flight: Tasting the Revival

From its 1808 founding in Belfast to its closure in 1936 and triumphant revival in 2016, Dunville’s is a legend reborn. This flight showcases how cask and legacy shape the whiskey that restored “The Spirit of Belfast.”

Enjoy the first three Dunville’s whiskeys below for only $12!
Add the PX 10-Year Single Malt for $6.

1808

A contemporary blend of pot still, malt, and grain whiskeys aged in bourbon barrels. Created to celebrate the brand’s founding year, 1808. It is light, bright, and ideal for cocktails.

Three Crowns Sherry

A blend of 4 year old single grain along with 10yr & 15yr single malt whiskeys, aged in bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks. It’s a tribute to the original pre-1936 blend, carefully reimagined for modern palates with notes of orchard fruit, nutty sweetness, and soft spice.

Three Crowns Peated

Built on the same base as the original Three Crowns, this one introduces a gentle wisp of smoke by incorporating maturation in ex-Islay casks. It’s an elegant take on peated Irish whiskey.

PX 10-Year Single Malt (Optional Add-On)

The whiskey that marked Dunville’s return after 80 years. Aged in bourbon casks and finished in Pedro Ximénez sherry barrels, it’s rich, fruit-laden, and bottled at 46% ABV with no chill filtration.