They lowered them down, carefully, through the hole carved in the roof above A Wing, three monster-sized pot stills lifted by a giant crane in a complex engineering operation.
It was the latest stage in the transformation of part of the famous old Crumlin Road Gaol, full of many memories of varying types but until recently a crumbling wreck, into a new £22m whiskey distillery.
The J&J McConnell’s Distillery will be one of two to begin operations this year along with Titanic Distillers in the docks area.
They will be the first distilleries to operate in Belfast for nearly 90 years, reviving in the city an industry once one of the most thriving on the island.
John Kelly, McConnell’s chief executive and a north Belfast local, was watching as the stills, despite their height and weight, were almost delicately lifted, moved and lowered into the old prison.
The plan is to begin distilling in October along with opening a new visitor experience on the site of A Wing.
Other parts of the prison have already been transformed into a more traditional museum experience but the vision is to have all working together, said John.
John said: “We are now right in the middle of this exciting project and our team is growing fast.
“We are determined to play our part in the North Belfast community, to support the tourism sector right across Belfast and Northern Ireland, as well as adding another distillery to the growing number of distilleries on the island of Ireland.”
The stills were moved by road and sea from Forsyths, astill maker based in north east of Scotland.
Once operational, the three stills, 5,000 and two 3000 litres, will produce Triple Distilled Single Malt Irish Whiskey, with the first bottle on the shelves in late 2026.
Approximately, 500,000 litres of pure alcohol (LPAs) will be produced annually, over four million bottles.
The completed distillery will extend over three floors, 1,000 square meters for distilling and 1,700 square meters for the visitor experience.
