Welcome
The Dublin Whiskey Experience - The ultimate whiskey tasting tours in Dublin. With Gareth Downey as your whiskey guide, his vast experience in the Irish hospitality industry will give you a truly unique experience in whiskey tastings around Dublin.
We take in some of Dublins historical distilleries and also a selection of Dublins most historic pubs and learn about the process of whiskey making and taste the different styles along the way. The tour takes 2 hrs approx at €75 per person.
Private tours and corporate events available on request.
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Irish Whiskey - a potted history
War, famine, power struggles and politics - these are some of the ingredients that go to make up the story of Irish whiskey.
George Roe Distillery, Thomas Street, Dublin
Irish whiskey dates back more than 1,000 years, when Irish monks began making their own “uisce beatha”. In 1608, The Old Bushmills Distillery in Co Antrim became Ireland first licensed distillery. By the middle of the 18th century, there were more than 1,000 registered distilleries in Ireland, as demand for whiskey reached saturation levels. In the 19th century, Irish whiskey sales were badly hit by the Temperence movement and the Great Famine. Whiskey exports thrived, however, and America in particular was fast falling in love with the smooth nectar from the ould sod. In the early 20th century, Ireland was fighting a War of Independence, and Irish whiskey became a major casualty. Prohibition in the US also badly hit exports. Scottish distillers were quick to seize the opportunity, and Scotch soon overtook Irish as the world’s favourite whiskey. In 1987, John Teeling launched Cooley Distillery, the first independent distillery in 100 years, marking the beginning of a renaissance for Irish whiskey.
Irish whiskey is now the fastest-growing premium spirit category in the world, and Whiskey tourism is growing in Ireland, too, with 814,000 people visiting Irish whiskey attractions in 2017.
