Our Story

In the late 1700s to early 1800s, professions such as ‘spirit dealers ’and ‘grocers ’were commonplace. Hugh McConnell (John and James McConnell’s father) was listed as a grocer and spirit dealer.

After Hugh’s untimely death, his widow Eleanor was left with three very young children. Eleanor continued the business, appearing in Martin’s Trade Directory as a ‘rectifying distiller’ in 1841.

To meet increasing demand, J & J McConnell open a new distillery complete with a brewery on reclaimed ground on the southern side of the River Lagan. This area known as the Ravenhill Road became included in a rapidly expanding Belfast. The distillery was known as Cromac Distillery.

Wells in the Cromac area were the source of pure alkaline-free water. Cromac aerated water and ginger ale could be found in every major city in the world. McConnell’s took great pride in the use of the Cromac name.

1907

A fire is reported at the distillery on the Ravenhill Road in the Mill, with 50 tons of malt destroyed. Damage to buildings and machinery is quoted at £5000, a substantial amount

1909

Another fire, one of the largest on record in Belfast at the time broke out on Tuesday 20th April. Stacks 3 and 5, i.e. all of McConnell’s warehouse on Dunbar Street was burnt to the ground. Half a million gallons of whiskey were destroyed. Loss was officially estimated at £200,000.

However, in a later press statement McConnell’s showed great resilience, saying that their other five bonded warehouses and distillery were unaffected. It wasn’t until Prohibition in the US in the 1930s that McConnell’s finally closed its door.