With demand for Irish whiskey soaring worldwide there is a major distilling revival underway around the Emerald Isle, which means an explosion of flavours can be found both in the historic distilleries of the venerable old Irish brands and in a wave of newcomer establishments.
Travel might be at a standstill right now, but that needn’t stop you charting a route through the best whiskey experiences on the island of Ireland.
There would be no better place to start than Jameson, the world’s best-selling Irish whiskey. Its Jameson Whiskey Distillery in Dublin has scooped the prestigious title of World’s Leading Distillery Tour for the last three years in a row.
The excellent experiences and tastings on offer here can include a full tour of the Bow Street Distillery, as well as a premium whiskey tasting of four Jameson blends, cocktail making and whiskey blending masterclasses all hosted by friendly Jameson ambassadors. You can also take an extended tour of the Jameson Distillery in Midleton, County Cork to gain insights into the history, production, stories and enjoyment of this famous Irish whiskey.
Another true Irish icon is Bushmills, made at the world’s oldest licenced working distillery in County Antrim, on Northern Ireland’s beautiful Causeway Coastal Route. The experiences here encompass guided tours around the working distillery with all the associated sights and smells, plus tutored whiskey tastings, a specialist whiskey shop and a well-stocked gift shop with exclusive Bushmills merchandise.
The Kilbeggan Distillery Experience in County Westmeath, perfectly representative of the classic age of Irish whiskey, also makes for an excellent stop on any itinerary in Ireland. In addition to its daily tours, it has a wonderful series of special experiences aimed at Irish whiskey connoisseurs.