The Friend at Hand Drives Whiskey Tourism to Belfast

Belfast whiskey shop, The Friend at Hand has invested £2million in an extension that it is hoped will drive whiskey tourism to Belfast.

Taking over the adjoining unit next door, the exquisite expanded space will house the largest collection of Irish whiskeys in the world, with a focus on extremely rare Irish whiskeys. With complementary styling of the windows, the frontage looks as though it has always been here. And that’s no mistake.

Bespoke rich mahogany cabinetry created by McCues in Carrickfergus houses the unrivalled collection of  whiskeys, rare artefacts and collectables, with over 40 vintage whiskey mirrors adorning the flocked wallpaper walls.

And the centrepiece, a sensational vintage Donegal carpet, weaved in Killybegs, was made by a factory that used to make carpets for the Oval office in The White House and Buckingham Palace. At its centre is a beautiful Celtic design, with a crest that reads ‘Mo Dia - Do Dia, Mo Tír - Do Tír’ translating to ‘My God, Your God, My Land, Your Land.’

Willie Jack and his late business partner, Bruce Kirk bought the carpet at auction over 20 years ago, when he read an article in The Irish Times about the carpet that had formerly laid in the Bank of Ireland headquarters, and thought ‘I don’t want this going to a skyscraper in New York.’

Commenting on this next phase for The Friend at Hand, Willie Jack, said: “Six years ago when we opened The Friend at Hand, we said we would only sell Irish whiskey. We’re strict about this - we’ve come under pressure over the years to diversify and offer Scotch, Japanese whiskeys, gin etc but we stuck to our guns and only sell Irish whiskeys.

“During the pandemic, it was particularly difficult as we decided not to pivot into internet sales, as many people did. It would have been very easy to package up the bottles and ship them all over the world but I want people to come to Belfast. I want them to come here and have the total experience; enjoy the hotels, restaurants, give trade to the taxi drivers, music venues etc. If they really want the whiskey, they can come to Belfast to buy it.

“This latest chapter for The Friend at Hand is unlike anything else in the world and will help to tell the story of Belfast’s whiskey history. Not only do we have the largest collection of Irish whiskeys in the world by a mile, we have an exquisite collection of extremely rare whiskeys, original mirrors, decanters, and other antiques and collectables, collected over the last 40 years. It’s more like a museum than a whiskey shop.”

The extension to The Friend at Hand is open by invitation only. When you buy a bottle of whiskey, you will be invited to view the collections, in the private adjoining space. Collections include every bottle of Midleton, Redbreast, Powers, Bushmills, old bottles of Dunville’s, McConville’s and Mitchells, alongside newer releases from emerging distilleries.

The Friend at Hand also has its own series of thirteen 13-year old whiskeys, which are distilled and bottled in Northern Ireland. The first 13 of which, signed by Willie Jack, are available to buy now. The final bottle named ‘Journey’s End’ will be a 14-year-old whiskey due to the pandemic, and will be signed by Willie’s wife, Joanne will be released soon.