The Irish Whiskey Association has launched a new campaign under the IrishWhiskey360° banner to encourage Irish staycationers to ‘Discover Ireland’s Whiskey Distilleries’.
Having been closed to visitors for months, Ireland’s whiskey distilleries are once again opening their doors to offer a range of exciting and safe experiences from self-guided tours to outdoor tastings and cocktail experiences.
IrishWhiskey360° is an industry-led platform to promote Irish whiskey tourism. It features 20 distilleries and brand homes with visitor experiences. The Irish Whiskey 360 website has been relaunched with details and maps on distilleries and regions to visit.
The website also features seven new regional videos which will be promoted during the campaign on Discovering Ireland’s Whiskey Distilleries. The campaign will see digital advertising across the web and social media platforms along with additional print advertising. The campaign has been supported by funding from the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine under its agri-tourism measure grant scheme.
The IrishWhiskey360° Passport
As part of the campaign, IrishWhiskey360° has launched a new passport scheme. The IrishWhiskey360° Passport is a unique record of your journey through extraordinary Irish whiskey distilleries where you collect stamps at every distillery on your journey.
To mark the kick-off of the campaign, Charlie McConalogue TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine, visited Powerscourt Distillery in Co. Wicklow.
Launching the campaign, Minister McConalogue, said: “Ireland is at the forefront of a global whiskey revolution. From the raw materials produced by our world-class farmers to the brewing masters who approach their work guided by centuries of knowledge, our sector is truly best in class.”
“As Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, I am very proud of our drinks sector and its constant desire to improve and innovate. I saw this first-hand at the Powerscourt Distillery this amazing commitment to excellence. As a sector and as a country, we can be exceptionally proud of the distilling sector.”
Also commenting, William Lavelle, Head of the Irish Whiskey Association, added: “Irish whiskey distilleries have developed a world-famous reputation as great places to visit. You can learn how Irish whiskey is made and have great fun along the way. Our distilleries have adapted to offer exciting and safe experiences, making them a must-stop location on any staycation or day trip.
“Irish whiskey distilleries attracted over one million visitors in 2019 but that fell 88% last year. We are hoping Irish visitors will support the distilleries on their doorstep by making them part of their Summer staycation plans.”
