Sliabh Liag Distillers is an international drinks business with deep local roots. It was founded by James and Moira Doherty, two “scatterlings” who returned home to the Sliabh Liag Peninsula in 2014. The business grew from their vision not only to establish a thriving local enterprise, but also to create meaningful opportunities in the region that had long experienced economic emigration. For James Doherty, founder and Chief Executive, this mission was deeply personal:
“We came back to Donegal to create opportunity and return to the land of my parents. They left in the 1960s to look for opportunity elsewhere, and by coming back now, we’re able to create opportunity for the whole of Southwest Donegal.”
When the Doherty’s returned to Donegal, they discovered that their new home had been built on the site of James’s great-grandmother’s homestead, using stone salvaged from the original building. This serendipitous connection turned a move home into a homecoming, and a full circle moment for the family.
The Vision: Building a Legacy in the Northwest
Determined to reclaim Donegal’s distilling tradition, the Doherty’s brought together a meitheal (community) to help make their vision a reality, building the business around key pillars that honour the local heritage and strengthen the regional community. Reflecting on these guiding principles, James says:
“We founded the business on four key ideas, to celebrate Donegal(the place, the people, the culture, the language even); to create soft drinking hard spirits; champion wild beauty over pretty; and harness a contrarian approach to spirits categories .”
Today, Sliabh Liag Distillers operates from two locations in the county: Ardara, home to the distillery, and Carrick, where blending, bottling, and administration take place.
Turning Vision into Reality: Partnership and Investment
Bringing the Doherty’s’ vision to life was far from straightforward. It required persistence through challenges and the achievement of several key investment milestones. Central to this journey was Sliabh Liag’s Investment Teaghlach (family), whose support proved invaluable. Reflecting on the WDC’s role, James explains that their involvement in 2020 not only helped fund the Ardara Distillery but also enhanced the project’s credibility with other investors:
“We are grateful to the Western Development Commission for coming on board in 2020 and helping us build the distillery. It also gave us great credibility when it came to talking to external investors that were looking at how we bring back opportunity to the west coast of Ireland.”
James Doherty - Founder & Chief Executive, Sliabh Liag Distillers
The WDC’s involvement represented more than just financial backing, it was an investment in regional regeneration, entrepreneurship, and community. As James explains:
“The Western Investment Fund is really important to companies like ourselves as we take a historic business and bring it to an international world, which creates employment for lots of people and helps regenerate a community that previously would’ve been disadvantaged.”
Impact: Economic and Cultural Regeneration
Sliabh Liag Distillers’ impact extends beyond whiskey production. James highlights how the business drives broader economic, cultural, and tourism development across Donegal:
“The Ardara Distillery has an impact in a much wider sense in that it creates tourism opportunities, it creates employment opportunities, and we look at the business as developing an ecosystem of supporting businesses where we work together to market ourselves, and market Donegal in a very specifically Donegal way”
Reflecting on the cultural heritage of the locality, James describes how the distillery complements rather than competes with the village:
“The Ardara Distillery completes rather than competes with the village of Ardara. The town is wonderful for its music festivals, its heritage, its wonderful woollen history, and we’re able, through the visitor centre, to encourage people to visit all the other tourism areas of Donegal.”
This commitment to the local community is reflected in the team itself, which now numbers 22 employees, with plans to grow to over 50 across distilling, bottling, sales, marketing, and PR.
Bringing Donegal Whiskey to the World
Since filming, Ardara Single Malt Irish Whiskey launched in August 2025 and has since won the gold medal at the 2025 Spirits Business Global Irish Whiskey Masters.
Sliabh Liag Distillers have already established an enviable route to market in 40 countries, with strong positions in the UK, Ireland, France, and Australia. The launch of the Ardara Single Malt marks the next major milestone in bringing smoky Irish whiskey back to the world stage.
For James, Moira and their team, this is just the beginning.
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