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My Ireland

Looking for inspiration? Planning a trip? Or just want to scroll yourself happy? We'll show you an Ireland that's tailor-made for you.

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    Irish whiskey

    Take in 700 years of distilling heritage on tours, tastings and more around the island

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    Medieval Kilkenny. 1324. Bishop Ledrede records the earliest known recipe for distilling whiskey in a Latin manuscript, the Red Book of Ossory. They called it Aqua Vitae or “water of life”, and used it to treat illness. In the Irish language, “water of life” translated to “uisce beatha”, which evolved into “whiskey”, and so the tale began.

    It’s an intriguing story that continues to this day; on tours and tastings at world-famous distilleries and at exhilarating whiskey experiences from the Causeway Coast to County Kerry. The origin stories of global Irish whiskey brands such as Tullamore D.E.W. and Jameson are waiting to be uncovered. Grab a glass and make it a good one – a fine single malt, perhaps? We’re raising a toast to the Irish whiskey tradition, a celebration 700 years in the making. Sláinte!

     

    The spirit of Ireland

    The history of Irish whiskey is a classic story of rise and fall... and rise again! From its heyday in the 1800s when Dublin’s “Golden Triangle” in the Liberties area of the city produced most of the world’s whiskey, Ireland’s whiskey industry plummeted to just two operational distilleries by the 1980s – Midleton in County Cork and Bushmills in County Antrim.

    Today, after decades of resurgence and rejuvenation, there are dozens of whiskey distilleries that you can visit on the island. Whether it’s an established giant such as Jameson or a new kid on the block like Titanic Distillers, streams of whiskey are flowing here once again. You can enjoy distillery tours, blending classes, premium tastings, cocktail-making masterclasses and much more. There’s never been a better time to visit the home of whiskey.

    5 Irish whiskey facts

    1
    To be classified as “Irish whiskey” by law, the spirit must be distilled and matured on the island of Ireland for a minimum of three years.
    2
    There are four styles of Irish whiskey: single grain, single malt, single pot still and blended. Each category is defined by either the grains used or the distillation method.
    3
    The Old Bushmills Distillery in Northern Ireland is the OLDEST licensed whiskey distillery in the world, dating back to 1608.
    4
    Jameson is the best-selling Irish whiskey worldwide – shipping 10 million cases a year – and every drop is produced at the Midleton Distillery in County Cork.
    5
    There are more than 28 whiskey distilleries across the island of Ireland!

    Ireland’s whiskey heritage

    L-R: Barley fields, Clonakilty Distillery, County Cork; Ger Buckley, Head Cooper, Midleton Distillery, County Cork; Croithlí Irish Whiskey, County Donegal; Hinch Distillery Whiskey Tour, County Down

    Experience Irish whiskey

    Wondering where to start your whiskey adventure in Ireland? History lovers should make a beeline for St Canice’s Cathedral in Kilkenny city, where the legendary Red Book of Ossory is on public display for the first time ever.

    Drop into the Irish Whiskey Museum in Dublin to delve deeper into the history and heritage of whiskey on the island.

    If it’s tours and tastings you’re after, Irish Whiskey 360° and Northern Ireland’s Spirit Trail have them all. Big hitters, micro-distillers, hidden gems... it’s the stuff of Irish whiskey bucket list dreams!

    Irish whiskey distilleries

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    Tullamore D.E.W. Distillery Experience

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    Offaly

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    Teeling Whiskey Distillery

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    Dublin

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    Wild Atlantic Distillery Gin School & Distillery Tour

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    Castlederg

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    St Patrick's Distillery Ltd

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    Cork

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    McConnell's Distillery

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    Belfast

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    Midleton Distillery Experience

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    Cork

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    Old Bushmills Distillery

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    Bushmills

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    Dingle Whiskey Distillery

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    Kerry

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    Killarney Brewing & Distilling

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    Kerry

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    Titanic Distillers at Thompson Dock

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    Belfast

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    Hinch Distillery Tours

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    Ballynahinch

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    Micil Distillery

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    Galway

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    The Ardara Distillery

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    Donegal

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    The Shed Distillery Experience

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    Leitrim

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    Skellig Six18 Distillery & Visitor Experience

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    Kerry

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    Roe & Co Whiskey Distillery

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    Dublin

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    Powerscourt Distillery

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    Wicklow

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    The Dublin Liberties Distillery

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    Dublin

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    Clonakilty Distillery

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    Cork

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    Slane Distillery

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    Meath

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    Pearse Lyons Distillery

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    Dublin

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    Royal Oak Distillery

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    Carlow

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    Shortcross Gin Discovery & Tour Experience

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    Crossgar

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    Connacht Whiskey Distillery

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    Mayo

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    The Echlinville Distillery

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    Kircubbin

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    Jameson Distillery Bow St.

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    Dublin

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    Kilbeggan Distillery Experience

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    Westmeath

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    Ballykeefe Distillery

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    Kilkenny

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    Drioglann Loch Measc

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    Mayo

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    Killowen Distillery Tour & Tasting

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    Newry

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    The Crolly Distillery

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    Donegal

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    Ahascragh Distillery

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    Galway

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    The Copeland Distillery Tour

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    Donaghadee

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    Achill Island Distillery

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    Mayo

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    Smooth Irish whiskey reads