The whiskey arrives before the guest even unpacks, and at Titanic Hotel Belfast, a sample of Titanic Distillers’ Irish whiskey and artisan truffles wait in rooms styled with ships’ lanterns, Art Deco furnishings and maritime artwork evoking the golden age of ocean travel. Down the road, in the former Pumphouse where RMS Titanic once stood for fitting out, that whiskey was distilled in the first working distillery Belfast has seen in almost 90 years. It isn’t a chocolate on the pillow but a story that only exists inside that one hotel, and hotels everywhere have started chasing the same idea.

kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%92E <:?5 @7 56E2:= :D?’E F?:BF6 E@ q6=72DE 2?J>@C6] {FIFCJ 9@E6=D 2C6 564:5:?8 E92E E96 2>6?:E:6D 8F6DED 2=C625J 6IA64E[ =:<6 E96 C@36[ E96 EFC?5@H? 49@4@=2E6 2?5 E96 492>A28?6 @? :46[ 2C6?’E 6?@F89 E@ D6E 2 DE2J 2A2CE] $@>6 2C6 A2CE?6C:?8 H:E9 =@42= 5:DE:==6CD 5@H? E96 C@25[ H9:=6 @E96CD 2C6 3F:=5:?8 32CC6= C@@>D :?E@ 2 H:?8 @7 E96 9@E6= :ED6=7] $@>6 2C6 7=J:?8 E@ z6?EF4<J E@ 92?5\D6=64E 2 D:?8=6 42D<] %96 C62D@?:?8 492?86D AC@A6CEJ E@ AC@A6CEJ[ 3FE E96 :?DE:?4E :D E96 D2>6i 8:G6 8F6DED D@>6E9:?8 E96J 42? @?=J 86E 3J 36:?8 E96C6[ 2?5 D@>6E9:?8 H@CE9 E2=<:?8 23@FE @?46 E96J’G6 =67E]k^Am
k9a 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\9625:?8Qmw@E6=D 2C6 364@>:?8 H9:D<6J >2<6CDk^9am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmpE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E:E2?:49@E6=36=72DE]4@>Qm%:E2?:4 w@E6= q6=72DEk^2m[ E96 9@E6= 5@6D?’E >2<6 E96 H9:D<6J] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E:E2?:45:DE:==6CD]4@>Qm%:E2?:4 s:DE:==6CDk^2m @A6C2E6D :?56A6?56?E=J[ :? A2CE?6CD9:A C2E96C E92? D92C65 @H?6CD9:A[ E9@F89 E96 9@E6= 3F:=E 2? 6?E:C6 8F6DE A24<286 2C@F?5 E96 4@??64E:@?[ :?4=F5:?8 2 8F:565 5:DE:==6CJ E@FC 2?5 E2DE:?8] “%96 %:E2?:4 s:DE:==6CD !24<286 3C:?8D E@86E96C EH@ @7 q6=72DE’D 8C62E6DE DE@C:6D[ D9:A3F:=5:?8 2?5 H9:D<6J[ :? @?6 F?7@C86EE23=6 6IA6C:6?46[” D2:5 p5C:2? |4}2==J[ 86?6C2= >2?286C @7 %:E2?:4 w@E6= q6=72DE] $:@392? (:?DE@?[ 86?6C2= >2?286C @7 %:E2?:4 s:DE:==6CD[ 42==65 E96 4@==23@C2E:@? “5:DE:?4E:G6[ D@4:2= 2?5 >6>@C23=6]”k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmpE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]42D96=A2=2469@E6=]:6^Qmr2D96= !2=246k^2m[ E96 7:G6\DE2C xC:D9 6DE2E6 3F:=E :? `fba[ E92E :562 E@@< E96 7@C> @7 2 E9C66\J62C\@=5 xC:D9 A@E DE:== H9:D<6J[ >2EFC65 :? 7:CDE\7:== ~=@C@D@ D96CCJ 42D<D 2?5 >256 :? A2CE?6CD9:A H:E9 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E:AA6C2CJ5:DE:==6CJ]:6^Qm%:AA6C2CJ q@FE:BF6 s:DE:==6CJk^2m 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4@@=>@C6]4@>^6?^:C6=2?5^72C>:?8^Qmr@@=>@C6 u2C>Dk^2m[ H9:49 8C@HD E96 32C=6J @? =2?5 DFCC@F?5:?8 E96 #@4< @7 r2D96=] xE’D E96 9@E6=’D D64@?5 36DA@<6 DA:C:E[ 7@==@H:?8 :ED `fba v:?] “%96 AC@;64E C67=64ED 2 D92C65 A9:=@D@A9J 36EH66? 2== E9C66 A2CE?6CD[” D2:5 p5C:22? q2CE6=[ 86?6C2= >2?286C] “uC@> 7:6=5 E@ 8=2DD[ 6G6CJ DE286 @7 AC@5F4E:@? 92D 366? 8F:565 3J 2 56D:C6 E@ 4C62E6 D@>6E9:?8 2FE96?E:4[ 6IAC6DD:G6 2?5 566A=J 4@??64E65 E@ %:AA6C2CJ]”k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96DE@C6@I7@C5]4@>^Qm%96 $E@C6k^2m[ 2 `_`\C@@> 9@E6= :?D:56 2 7@C>6C ~I7@C5 56A2CE>6?E DE@C6[ 3@EE=65 :ED @H? `a\J62C D:?8=6 >2=E H:E9 =@42= 5:DE:==6CJ w2H<C:586 s:DE:==6CD[ ;FDE `__ 3@EE=6D :? E@E2=] “(:E9 @?=J `__ 3@EE=6D AC@5F465[ :E’D 2=D@ D@>6E9:?8 8F6DED 42? 6IA6C:6?46 6I4=FD:G6=J 2E %96 $E@C6[” D2:5 $:>@? sC2<6[ 86?6C2= >2?286C]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmpE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E968=2DD9@FD69@E6=]4@]F<^Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm%96 v=2DD9@FD6[ pFE@8C2A9 r@==64E:@?k^2m :? t5:?3FC89[ 2 4@?G6CE65 `gE9\46?EFCJ 492A6= H:E9 ff C@@>D[ :?4=F5:?8 `f DF:E6D ?2>65 7@C $4@E49 H9:D<J C68:@?D[ E96 2AAC@249 H2D >@C6 5:C64Ei 2? @C:8:?2= 3=6?565 >2=E 42==65 *%{ w@E6=D v=6?3@CC@52=6[ 3@EE=65 3J p56=A9: 2?5 56D4C:365 3J E96 9@E6= 2D 2 H9:D<J :E 4C62E65 2?5 @H?D @FEC:89E]k^Am
k9a 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\9625:?8Qmx? E96 &$[ 9@E6=D 2C6 8@:?8 7FCE96Ck^9am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]42G2=:6CC6D@CEG3]4@>^E96\9:DE@C:4\42G2=:6C\9@E6=Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm%96 w:DE@C:4 r2G2=:6C w@E6= 2?5 q6249 r=F3k^2m :? ':C8:?:2 q6249 3F:=E 2 H@C<:?8 5:DE:==6CJ[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E2C?:D965ECFE9]4@>^Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm%2C?:D965 %CFE9 s:DE:==:?8 r@>A2?Jk^2m[ :?E@ E96 AC@A6CEJ :ED6=7] vF6DED 42? H2E49 E96 5:DE:==6CD 2E H@C< E9C@F89 2 H:?5@H :? E96 9@E6=’D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]9F?EC@@>G3]4@>^Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmwF?E #@@>k^2m H9:=6 D:AA:?8 s:D4C6E:@? ':C8:?:2 $EC2:89E q@FC3@? (9:D<6J @C ~=5 r2G2=:6C $EC2:89E q@FC3@? (9:D<6J[ 3@E9 AC@5F465 @?\D:E6]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmx? q6G6C=J w:==D[ EH@ C:G2= 9@E6=D 6249 4C62E65 E96:C @H?] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7@FCD62D@?D]4@>^36G6C=JH:=D9:C6^Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm%96 q6G6C=J (:=D9:C6k^2m[ p u@FC $62D@?D w@E6=[ H@C<65 H:E9 q6G6C=J $A:C:ED 7@F?56C p?5C6H q@C6?KH6:8 @? 2 H9:D<6J 42==65 %96 q6G6C=J[ 7:?:D965 :? A@CE H:?6 32CC6=D[ H:E9 @?=J a`_ 3@EE=6D :? 6I:DE6?46] p4C@DD E@H?[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]9:=E@?]4@>^6?^9@E6=D^=2I3999\E96\36G6C=J\9:=E@?^Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm%96 q6G6C=J w:=E@?k^2m >2C<65 :ED f_E9 2??:G6CD2CJ H:E9 2 =:>:E65[ `__\AC@@7 H9:D<6J 42==65 %96 q6G6C=J w:=E@? #6D6CG6[ A@FC65 :?E@ 4@4<E2:=D 2E E96 9@E6=’D rx#rp dd C6DE2FC2?E]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmpE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]C:EK42C=E@?]4@>^6?^9@E6=D^927CK\E96\C:EK\42C=E@?\92=7\>@@?\32J^@G6CG:6H^Qm%96 #:EK\r2C=E@?[ w2=7 |@@? q2Jk^2m :? r2=:7@C?:2[ E96 C6D@CE’D 5:C64E@C @7 C6DE2FC2?ED EC2G6=65 E@ z6?EF4<J E@ A6CD@?2==J D6=64E 2 32CC6= @7 `fha q2CC6= $6=64E q@FC3@? 7C@> $2K6C24[ H:E9 ?@E6D @7 496CCJ[ @C2?86[ 4:??2>@? C2:D:? 3C625[ 42C2>6=[ G2?:==2[ 4:??2>@? 2?5 2?:D6] %96 @?=J A=246 E@ 6IA6C:6?46 E9:D A2CE:4F=2C 32CC6= D6=64E:@? :D 2E %96 #:EK\r2C=E@?[ w2=7 |@@? q2J[ H96C6 :E :D D6CG65 :? E96 v@=5 u2D9:@?65 2?5 u:EK86C2=5 ~=5 u2D9:@?65 2E %96 r@?D6CG2E@CJ[ H9:=6 DFAA=:6D =2DE]k^Am
k9a 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\9625:?8Qmp?5 :E’D ?@E ;FDE 9@E6=Dk^9am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 D2>6 A2EE6C? 92D C624965 E96 H2E6C] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]46=63C:EJ4CF:D6D]4@>Qmr6=63C:EJ rCF:D6Dk^2m 92D A2CE?6C65 5:C64E=J H:E9 5:DE:==6C:6D E@ 4C62E6 7=66E\6I4=FD:G6 32CC6=D[ 2?5 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 4CF:D6 =:?6[ :E’D E96 7:CDE 4CF:D6 =:?6 E@ H@C< H:E9 #233:E w@=6 s:DE:==6CJ @? 2 D:?8=6\32CC6= 3@FC3@? 2G2:=23=6 @?=J @?3@2C5]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 =:?6 2=D@ 42CC:6D 2 4FDE@> `a\J62C\@=5 CJ6 3=6?5 7C@> (9:DE=6!:8 s:DE:==6CJ 2?5 9@=5D H92E :E 56D4C:36D 2D E96 @?=J 4CF:D6 =:?6 2==@42E:@? @7 ~=5 u@C6DE6C q:CE952J q@FC3@?[ E9C@F89 2 A2CE?6CD9:A H:E9 qC@H?\u@C>2?] vF6DED 42? 3F:=5 E96:C @H? ~=5 u2D9:@?65 7C@> >@C6 E92? ad 3@FC3@? 49@:46D 2E D62]k^Am
k9a 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\9625:?8Qm(92E 4@>6D ?6IEk^9am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 3@EE=6D E96>D6=G6D 2C6 2=>@DE 36D:56 E96 A@:?E] (92E E96D6 9@E6=D 2C6 C62==J D6==:?8 :D 2 C62D@? E@ <66A E2=<:?8 23@FE E96 DE2J 27E6C 4964<@FE[ 2 DE@CJ 2 8F6DE 42? @?=J E6== 3642FD6 E96J H6C6 :? E92E DA64:7:4 C@@>[ 2E E92E DA64:7:4 32C[ @? E92E DA64:7:4 ?:89E] p 49@4@=2E6 @? E96 A:==@H 5@6D?’E DFCG:G6 E96 EC:A 9@>6] p `__\3@EE=6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^7@@55C:?<=:76]4@>^:C:D9\H9:D<6J\DFC8:?8\:?\A@AF=2C:EJ^QmH9:D<6Jk^2m C6=62D6 5@6D[ 2?5 :E 4@>6D H:E9 2 DE@CJ E92E 2 7:G6\DE2C C2E:?8 ?6G6C H:==]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%92E’D 2 5:776C6?E <:?5 @7 =@J2=EJ AC@8C2> E92? A@:?ED 2?5 FA8C256D] xE’D @?6 3F:=E @? D42C4:EJ 2?5 3C288:?8 C:89ED[ 2?5 :E >2J 6?5 FA >2EE6C:?8 >@C6 E@ E96 ?6IE 86?6C2E:@? @7 =FIFCJ EC2G6=6CD E92? E96 E9C625 4@F?E 6G6C 5:5]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmy6??:76C p==6? :D 2 C6E:C65 AC@76DD:@?2= 4967 2?5 =@?8\E:>6 HC:E6C] w6C H@C< 2AA62CD :? 5@K6?D @7 AF3=:42E:@?D[ :?4=F5:?8 |$}[ *29@@[ %96 (2D9:?8E@? !@DE 2?5 %96 $62EE=6 %:>6D] %96D6 52JD[ D96’D 3FDJ :? E96 <:E496? 56G6=@A:?8 C64:A6D 2?5 EC2G6=:?8 E96 H@C=5[ 2?5 J@F 42? 7:?5 2== 96C 36DE 4C62E:@?D 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4@@<H92EJ@F=@G6]4@>^Qmr@@< (92E *@F {@G6k^2m]k^Am
kAm%96 A@DE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^7@@55C:?<=:76]4@>^9@E6=D\2C6\>2<:?8\H9:D<6J^QmuC@> q6=72DE E@ q6G6C=J w:==D[ 9@E6=D 2C6 >2<:?8 H9:D<6J ?@ @?6 6=D6 42? 3FJk^2m 2AA62C65 7:CDE @? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^7@@55C:?<=:76]4@>Qmu@@5 sC:?< {:76k^2m]k^Am