SLÁINTE TO IRISH WHISKEY
Visitors to Ireland have long savored the island's incredible food and drink products, through culinary tours, restaurants, farmer's markets, food festivals, farm visits, brewery tours and seafood festivals. And lately, tourists are enthusiastically adding Irish whiskey to their travel itineraries.
Currently there are more than 30 distilleries in Ireland, and 17 of them have visitor centers. In 2019, new visitor centers opened at distilleries in Clonakilty, Powerscourt, Dublin Liberties and Roe & Co. In 2020, visitor centers are opening at the Hinch Distillery near Belfast and the Shed Distillery in Drumshanbo, Leitrim. William Lavelle, Head of Drinks Ireland, said that, “Irish whiskey is set to be a world leader in experiential tourism. Many distilleries and brand homes have innovated and expanded their offerings. We’ve seen a marked increase in blending and cocktail classes, for example, along with more ‘meet the maker,’ food-pairings and seasonal special events.”
Irish whiskey is also an important export, serving as a tourism ambassador throughout the world. It is sold in 135 markets around the world, encouraging tourists from these countries to visit Ireland.
ON THE IRISH WHISKEY TRAIL
The Irish Whiskey Museum, located on Grafton Street in Dublin, is the headquarters for over 100 different types of Irish whiskey. Storytellers take visitors through 2000 years of Irish whiskey history, give fully guided tours and lead interactive tastings of various Irish whiskeys.
John Jameson opened his distillery in the heart of Dublin in 1780, and today Jameson Distillery on Bow Street is Ireland’s number one whiskey distillery destination. In fact, it is the #1 whiskey visitor attraction throughout Europe. You’ll also find a Jameson Whiskey Distillery in Midleton, Cork.
Granted a license to distill in 1608, Bushmills Whiskey Distillery in County Antrim is the oldest licensed whiskey distiller in the world. Public and private guided tours help visitors explore the landscape and terrain that give Bushmills its legendary character. Whiskey tastings occur all year round.
Slane Castle in the Boyne Valley in County Meath, a perfect setting for concerts, now has a distillery. Housed within a 250-year-old horse stable, visitors to the distillery can learn the ancient art of whiskey making and sample the flavorful, triple casked whiskey.
Clonakilty Distillery in County Cork uses barley grown on a family farm and wild botanicals harvested from the shoreline off Galley Head Lighthouse to produce its premium Single Pot Still whiskey. The tours offer a hands-on experience, multi-media presentations and the wisdom and wit of expert guides.
CHEERS TO IRISH GIN
Irish gin is also gaining a following from visitors searching for the Irish spirit in Ireland. Here are three gin destinations.
At the Listoke Distillery & Gin School near Drogheda, County Louth, visitors can tour the distillery, then attend a workshop where experts help you craft your own gin, using available local ingredients. Bottle it up, label it, and take it home as a memento of your visit to Ireland.
The new visitor center at Rademon Estate Distillery in County Down, is an ideal place to sample award-winning Shortcross Gin, made by the husband-wife team of David and Fiona Boyle-Armstrong. The small-batch distillery offers tours and tasting experiences of its gin and single-malt Irish whiskey.
The Lough Derg Gin Cruise from Ballina, County Tipperary offers a 90-minute onboard Gin masterclass, 3 premium gins and a gin cocktail upon return. The tour leaves from Flanagan’s on the Lake, voted Tipperary’s best gastro-pub. Flanagan’s has a whiskey tower where exclusive whiskey tastings are offered.