Everyone knows the two main alcoholic beverages of Ireland are Guinness beer and Jameson whiskey. What most don’t know is that Dublin is home many more breweries and Distilleries. I hope to not only bring these two iconic beverages to your attention, but to also bring some equally impressive libations to the forefront so that you will visit, tour and sample more than just Guinness and Jameson.
When researching for our last trip to Dublin, I was unaware of the many breweries and distilleries surrounding the city. At its height in the 1820’s, there were 40 distilleries producing Irish whiskey within a mile radius known as the Liberties. We made a point to visit as many as we could during the short amount of time we had. Below are some of my favorites. I hope you’ll like them as much as I did.
Jameson Distillery Bow Street- Even though the Jameson whiskey that is imported to the United States comes from Midleton, Ireland, it’s worth noting that the distillery on Bow Street is the original and offers an excellent tour. Recently renovated, the tour provides an in depth look into the history of Irish whiskey and the perseverance that made them the number one Irish whiskey. The tour offers a guided whiskey tasting experience as well as a drink at the end. You may have seen the Dublin Pass mentioned in earlier posts. This tour is one of the many that is part of the Dublin Pass experience. If you get the pass, I highly recommend fitting this into your trip. You won’t be sorry.
Guinness Storehouse- Take this seven floor adventure through history. Step inside and see the lease signed by Arthur Guinness. This self-guided tours takes you through the history of Guinness. From the brewing process, the proper way to pour a pint of Guinness (yes, there is a proper way to do this), to the Gravity bar at the top, each floor has a plethora of history behind the making of Guinness. The 360 degree view at the Gravity bar is worth the trip, plus you get a free pint of Guinness with your ticket!
When you come down from your seven story adventure, make sure you pick up a souvenir at the gift shop on your way out. They have something for everyone and you can even get a pint glass with your name on it.
This is another tour that is included with the Dublin Pass.
Teeling Whiskey Co.- Priding themselves as being different shows when compared to other Irish whiskeys. This is by far one of my favorite Irish whiskeys to drink. Teeling Whiskey Co. opened its doors in 2015 and was the first new distillery in Dublin in 125 years. This tour takes you through the history behind the Teeling family and how they began distilling Irish whiskey. See the process of how they produce their whiskey. This tour was by far one of my favorites. The guide we had, Cormac, was friendly and answered the many questions our tour group had. At the end, you enjoy another tasting experience. If you haven’t tried Teeling Whiskey, wait until you are there to experience it, you won’t regret it. If you do like it, you can pick up a bottle in the gift shop to bring home.
This is another tour that is included with the Dublin Pass.
Pearse Lyons Distillery at St. James- Located in the center of Dublin’s historic whiskey district, Pearse Lyons offers a thorough tour of the distillery and the restored St. James Church, along with it’s graveyard. With it’s glass steeple and stained glass windows, it is hard to miss this very unique distillery. There are several different tour options, so make sure to visit their website to see which one you want to do. Depending on which experience you choose, there will also be a tasting along with the tour. Make sure you don’t miss out on this unique experience.
