It is great to see the city distilleries welcoming visitors again and sharing the love of Irish whiskey. Some of the newer distilleries had hardly opened when they had to close during the height of the pandemic. We are happy to see them all open and hope you enjoy your visit to Dublin and taste one of Ireland’s finest exports.
Explore Irish Whiskey in Dublin
Jameson Distillery, Bow Lane, Ireland’s Oldest Distillery
Founded in 1780 the Jameson Tour is very authentic and on the premises where the whiskey was made. Jameson Whiskey is now made in the headquarters in Middleton in Cork, where there is another tour. Last year, 2021, Jameson sold over 100 million bottles of the spirit.
This is not just one tour, but a variety of tours to help you explore and discover Jameson Whiskey. You can even learn to blend your own whiskey and make cocktails. Tours cost from €25 – €100 and run every day Monday – Thursday 11am – 5.30pm, Friday and Saturday, 11am – 6.30pm and Sunday 12 – 5.30pm. Book here.
Dublin’s Whiskey District – The Liberties
The Liberties of Dublin was the centre of distilling and brewing in Dublin for hundreds of years. The Medieval area is steeped in history. Prohibition in the United States in the 1920s forced many distilleries to close. Now there is a revival, and happy to say it is happening in the Liberties again with four new distilleries appearing in less than 10 years.
Teeling Distillery, Newmarket, Dublin 8
On a square that was a famous market, the Teeling Distillery is making its mark on Dublin. The Teeling brothers have whiskey in their blood, their father John founded Cooley Distillery in Co. Louth. Further back ancestor Walter Teeling had a distillery on Marrowbone Lane, also in the Liberties.
Right from the start Teeling Whiskey began picking up awards and has more than 300. Recently the 30-year-old single malt won World’s Best Irish Single Malt from World Whiskies Awards. Book visits to Teeling Distillery here.
Pearse Lyons Distillery, St. James’s Street. Dublin 8
Unusually for a distillery this one is in the former St. James’s Church of Ireland church and was the brainchild of Dr. Pearse Lyons. It opened in 2017 and is an independent family-owned business.
The Distillery Tour gives an insight into the whiskey heritage and stories behind the iconic Dublin district known as The Liberties. Visitors can also touch, taste and smell every step of the distilling process, meet with the distillers and taste the signature Pearse Irish Whiskey. Tours are available every day, and the graveyard is also worth a visit, from €20, book here.
Dublin Liberties Distillery, Mill Street, Dublin 8
Enjoy a Dubliner Whiskey & Honeycomb on arrival followed by a tasting of the blended and single malt whiskeys. This is a real working distillery and you will get a chance to see how whiskey is made.
Tasting and talks will be in the distillery bar or the blenders room, where the knowledgeable staff can answer all your questions. This area was in the past, an area full of mills, important for the brewing industry. Book your visit here.
Roe & Co, St. James’s Street, Dublin 8.
This red-brick building is a great example of re-purposing. It was formerly the power station supplying the Guinness Brewery across the road at St. James’s Gate. Roe & Co was one of the most famous whiskey distillers in Dublin in the 19th century. The distillery covered 17 acres of land around Thomas Street.
Relive the golden age of whiskey here in this usual building. From May, there will also be an opportunity to dine in the Power House Garden with the D-8TE modern Irish food experience. There will also be visiting ethnic food restaurants. Book your visit here.
Irish Whiskey Museum
This is where you will discover the history and stories of the fabled Irish Whiskey or uisce beatha (water of life, in Irish). The tour will give you a great insight into the development and popularity of Irish whiskey.
You may even learn to be a true whiskey expert with tasting some special Irish whiskeys. There is a whiskey blending experience too. The Whiskey Museum is also a bar and retail outlet, where you can buy your favourite whiskey or just have a drink in the traditional bar.
The location of this museum is in a historic building on Grafton Street opposite the gates of Trinity College. Tours are on every day from 10.30am and cost from €20, book here.