Best Whiskey Tours in Ireland
Here we share our own experience on a whiskey distillery tour in Ireland. This guide includes tips on what to expect, a list of Irish most famous whiskey distilleries, which tour to choose, and much more.
Home to one of the finest whiskeys in the world, Ireland is a top destination for whiskey enthusiasts and drinkers.
This doesn't come as a surprise, as the term Irish Whiskey is known all over the world. And whiskey tours are among the top activities on Emerald Isle.
Irish whiskey distillery tours, tastings, and experiences show visitors how spirits are made, how they taste, and their origin story.
As Ireland is one of the cradles of whiskey, it's the perfect place to learn the basics about this alcoholic beverage.
We wanted to incorporate a whiskey distillery tour into our Ireland itinerary, but the choice was overwhelming.
Therefore, we decided to round up a list of the best distilleries in Ireland to help you with your decision.
On top of that, we want to share some of our insights, as well as our personal experience on the whiskey tour in Ireland. Let's dive into it!
History
The story of Irish Whiskey is as interesting as the process of making this distilled drink itself. The name is derived from the old Gaelic Uisce beatha, meaning water of life.
In Ireland, it all starts with the local monks distilling whiskey for the first time, though the evidence is lacking, and the final product was very different from the drink we know today.
The first recorded mention was found in the Annals of Clonmacnoise from 1405, making Irish whiskey one of the oldest distilled spirits in Europe.
Irish whiskey became famous during the following centuries, with Ireland being the capital of the whiskey world.
It was the era when local whiskey producers seemed unstoppable.
By the end of the 19th century, about 30 distilleries were operating in Ireland. Nothing lasts forever, though.
There are several reasons why Irish whiskey lost it all.
The consequences of Irish Independence in 1919, the events of Prohibition in the USA, World Wars, and the rise of Scottish whiskey, Coffey still, and cheaper blends were behind the fall.
Together with the inability to adapt to the new rules on the market, the production of whiskey plummeted.
In the 1960s, only three distilleries were left, and they were forced to merge and become Irish Distilleries Ltd. in order to survive.
Irish whiskey is resurging in recent decades, and many new distilleries have been opened in the past years.
This is great news for all whiskey lovers, as the selection is getting bigger and better each year.
The name Irish Whiskey still resonates across the world, and the production of whiskey is growing each year.
Things to Know Before You Go
Even though we named this post the Best Whiskey Tours in Ireland, the word 'best' is highly relative.
Honestly, each distillery is unique, has its own flavor, and offers a multitude of reasons why to pick one over the other.
In principle, we believe that you can't go wrong with any of the whiskey tours.
Obviously, you should visit the distillery that makes the brand you like the most. But again, there are no wrong choices.
By the way, if you want to rent a car in Ireland and drive around Ireland, there is one important thing to consider.
A whiskey tasting is a part of the tour, and while the samples are small, you must wait for some time before alcohol leaves your body and you can hit the road once again.
It's something you should keep in mind, especially if you want to try multiple samples.
As we learned the hard way, booking a whiskey tour in advance is always recommended. Distilleries are not museums and can be closed for multiple reasons.
On the other hand, the large distilleries provide not only tours but also bars where you can come in for a drink even if the tours are fully booked out.
What is Irish Whiskey?
In a nutshell, Irish whiskey is a whiskey made from barley, wheat, and corn on the island of Ireland, either in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland.
It has to be stored in the wooden casks on the island for a minimum of three years and be bottled at no less than 40% ABV.
Malted barley must be used in order to make Irish whiskey. Unmalted cereal grains may be added.
There are four main types of Irish whiskey: Malt, Pot Still, Grain, and Blended.
Single malt Irish whiskey is made from malted barley and is distilled in copper pot stills.
Pot Still is made from a mash of malted and unmalted barley and distilled in pot stills.
Grain whiskey is made of malted barley and unmalted cereals and is distilled in column stills.
Blended whiskey is a mixture of malt and grain whiskey.
Single malt whiskey made of 100% barley malt is reputed to be a higher quality spirit than blends.
However, taste is subjective, so try different types and decide what you like best.
How to Choose a Whiskey Tour in Ireland
Here we just wanted to share our train of thought with you. In Czechia, Jameson and Tullamore Dew are the most popular Irish whiskey brands.
Not surprisingly, these are also the largest whiskey producers in Ireland.
Therefore, our first choice was either of these brands. Tullamore is located halfway between Dublin and Galway, while Jameson can be found in Ireland's capital.
I also added Kilbeggan, the oldest licensed distillery in Ireland, to the list.
However, our main plan was to do the Wild Atlantic Way, so we sort of left it for later. Basically, we pushed back the idea of a whiskey tour and focused on our Ireland road trip.
When we arrived at Bushmills in Northern Ireland, we realized that this would be a perfect opportunity to do the whiskey tour.
Road-tripping Causeway Coastal Route was a magical experience, and adding a whiskey tour would be just icing on the cake.
It was a weekend, so the only thing that worried us a bit was the fact that the tours could be booked out.
When we pulled over at Bushmills parking, we immediately realized that there were only a very few cars around.
Our suspicion was confirmed as soon as we stepped out of the car.
A small group of elderly Americans was returning from the entrance, and when they saw us, they just said hi and mentioned that it was closed. Back to square one.
Once we returned to Dublin, it was time to decide finally.
To our surprise, we made a decision to visit Teeling Distillery, one of the most prominent brands of the new wave of whiskey production in Ireland.
We had never heard about this brand, which was one of the contributing factors to why we booked this tour.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
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Whiskey Distilleries in Ireland
Here we share a list of Irish whiskey distilleries we had considered visiting, though we don't aim to create a definitive list of all distilleries on the island.
There are dozens of whiskey distilleries scattered across Ireland, so it's usually fairly easy to find a distillery you can visit nearby.
On top of that, there are several independently owned brands, and many new distilleries are in development.
All things considered, we do believe that most Irish whiskey distilleries offer a very similar experience.
On our tour, we learned about the general history of whiskey in Ireland, in Dublin, and the story of the Teeling company.
On top of that, the guide showed us around the distillery and how they produce the whiskey.
At the end of the tour, we sampled three different types of whiskey they make. How many whiskey samples you can taste depends on the type of tour you book.
In our case, we decided to book the regular tour with three types of whiskey.
However, there are tons of different tours, ranging from basic tours, private tours, and tastings to whiskey cocktail-making classes to bottling your own whiskey.
Each distillery offers a unique variety of tours, which will also affect your final decision.
As a rule of thumb, the most popular tours feature a guided walk around the distillery, seeing the whiskey production in action and the oak barrels, and finally, sampling their finest products.
It's a good start, as these tours serve as an introduction to the world of whiskey and have a reasonable duration.
As most of the whiskey tours are very popular, booking the guided tour in advance makes sense.
Tullamore Distillery
Tullamore's popularity, informative tours, and easy access from M6 make this distillery a great choice for all visitors and whiskey lovers.
The Tullamore Distillery was established in 1829, with the DEW name derived from Daniel E. Williams.
It was closed in the 1950s and brought back to production in 2014 by William Grant & Sons, a Scottish company that distills Scotch whisky.
This distillery provides a great overview of how the whiskey is made; you will get a chance to taste not only the locally produced whiskey but also the Irish coffee.
On top of that, knowledgeable guides will answer all your curious questions about the process of turning malted barley into whiskey.
Simply put, Tullamore Distillery is a place you should not miss when traveling from Dublin to Galway.
Tullamore is located about 100 kilometers west of Dublin.
Teeling Distillery
As mentioned above, this was the distillery we visited on our first trip to Ireland. It's located in Dublin City Center, about a 15-minute walk from Dublin Castle.
The history of the distillery goes back to 1782 when Walter Teeling founded a small business on Dublin's Marrowbone Lane.
Teeling Distillery was officially opened in 2015 and represents the new generation of Dublin distillers, as it's the first new distillery that was opened in Ireland's capital in 125 years.
The enthusiastic guide told us first about the company's history and showed us the process of making the whiskey from start to finish.
At the end of the tour, we tasted their small batch, single grain, and single malt whiskey.
It's a fun, informative experience that's definitely not to be missed.
Here you can reserve a Teeling Whiskey Distillery Tour in advance.
Jameson Distillery
In terms of whiskey tours variety, Jameson Distillery has no competition. Jameson is by far the largest producer of whiskey in Ireland and one of the most popular whiskey brands in the world.
The original Bow Street Distillery was established in 1780 and renamed Jameson at the beginning of the 19th century.
In the 1960s, the company formed the Irish Distillers Group with its former competitors but eventually closed down in 1971.
If you can't decide which distillery you should visit, this is one of the safest choices. Jameson is often rated as one of the best things to do in Dublin.
Knowledgeable guides are great at describing the distillery's history and the company's heritage, the distilling process, and the different flavors of the whiskey you will get a chance to taste.
Jameson Distillery Bow St. can be found in Dublin City Center, and it's easy to get there on foot.
Alternatively, you can visit Jameson Distillery Midleton in County Cork, located about 20 kilometers east of Cork.
Here you can reserve a Jameson Whiskey Distillery Tour in advance.
Powerscourt Distillery
The main reason to visit Powerscourt Estate is the house and gardens, the luxury Powerscourt Hotel, a golf course, and the nearby Powerscourt Waterfall.
From 2019, you can also add a Powerscourt Distillery to this list.
The guided tours start at the converted old Mill house from 1730 and allow visitors to learn as much as possible about the whiskey distillery process, company history, and whiskey in Ireland.
If you haven't done a whiskey tour yet, this is definitely a good place to start. Powerscourt Distillery is located 30 kilometers south of Dublin.
Bushmills Distillery
With official records stretching back to 1608, Bushmills is the oldest licensed whiskey distillery in the world.
Without any doubt, Bushmills is a fantastic place to visit for all whiskey enthusiasts or complete novices who want to learn about the secrets of the craft.
The secret to their fine product is the water flowing over the River Bush's basalt rock beds, Irish barley, and the spirit of County Antrim.
The only downside of the Bushmills experience is that the distillery is located in Northern Ireland, about a 3-hour drive from Dublin.
Otherwise, the distillery offers an informative whiskey tour that provides a fantastic experience for all visitors.
As they say, they are not good because they're old, but they're old because they're good.
It's a bold claim, but it's backed up by their 400 years old history.
Kilbeggan Distillery
Remember when we mentioned that Tullamore has a great location? Then Kilbeggan is only a short drive from this town.
In fact, its location is even more convenient, as the small town of Kilbeggan is situated just off the highway.
There are many reasons to visit Kilbeggan Distillery, considered among the top things to do in County Westmeath.
Established in 1757, it's the oldest continually licensed distillery in Ireland.
The distillery produces great whiskey, and it's easy to get there by car. It's also said that Kilbeggan was one of Sir Winston Churchill's favorite whiskies.
As you can clearly see, you won't make a mistake by choosing this distillery.
Roe & Co Distillery
Situated halfway between Jameson and Teeling, Roe & Co Distillery is another interesting whiskey distillery you can visit in Dublin.
Thomas Street Distillery was founded in 1757 by Roe Family, and during its peak, it was the largest distillery in Ireland.
However, the company ran into financial troubles and was forced to shut down in 1926. Eventually, it was bought by Guinness, and the brand was revived under the name Roe & Co.
The story illustrates the rise and fall of Irish whiskey, with the anticipation of the new golden age on the horizon.
Is It Worth to Visit an Irish Whiskey Distillery?
If you are wondering what Ireland is famous for, one thing is certain, whiskey is with lush green hills, epic scenic drives, and Irish pubs, somewhere at the very top of that list.
Even if you're not a whiskey person, the tours and tastings are really interesting and provide a very enjoyable experience.
We don't have to mention that immersive whiskey tours are also one of the best things to do on one of Ireland's rainy days.
So whether you're visiting Ireland for the first time or tenth, we believe that a visit to an Irish whiskey distillery is a must.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
