Roe & Co Distillery, Dublin 8
Roe & Co is owned by Diageo who runs the Guinness Storehouse. So, when this distillery was being built, the tourism experience was uppermost in the designer's mind. You won't be disappointed. It's a superb facility built in the former Guinness Power Station in the Liberties. You can choose between their blending experience (€28) or their cocktail-making flavours experience (€23). Both are hands-on sessions with Roe & Co ambassadors to explore the whiskey range and all its versatility. roeandcowhiskey.com
Irish Distillers, Bow St Dublin and Midleton, Co Cork
Jameson Distillery Bow Street, the original home of Jameson, is a state-of-the-art tourism experience that unlocks the story of this world-famous brand with 40-minute fully guided tours and tastings (€25). You can also opt for their premium level 90-minute black barrel blending masterclass (€60) or a cocktail-making class (€50). In Midleton, the distillery experience tour (€23) takes 75 minutes while their premium two-hour behind the scenes tour is wildly popular (€60). The Irish Whiskey Academy is also at Midleton where you can sign up for the discoverer package, offering a full day with tuition on all aspects of whiskey production, a tour, lunch, premium tasting and a bottle of single pot still to bring home (€350). jamesonwhiskey.com
Powerscourt Distillery, Co Wicklow
Powerscourt Distillery is home to Fercullen whiskey. Located in the old mill house on the Powerscourt Estate, this exclusive distillery is a wonderful addition to the tourism experience there. Facilities include a screening room and beautiful tasting rooms. There are two tours. The first takes you backstage at the distillery and the maturation warehouse and includes a tasting of the Fercullen range (€25). The second extends that experience with a Fercullen whiskey and food pairing option with local cheese and charcuterie (€35). powerscourtdistillery.com
Echlinville Distillery, Co Down
Echlinville Distillery is a family-run farm distillery on the Ards Peninsula in Co Down. It's a great tour that starts in the Echlinville manor house where the farm-to-glass story unfolds, before moving into the distillery building itself to get up close to the copper stills. Then you move into the maturation warehouse to experience the aroma of maturing whiskey and see the casks at rest. Echlinville produces Dunville's Irish Whiskey as well as Old Comber and Bán Poitín. The story of each is revealed on the tour. echlinville.com
The Shed Distillery, Drumshanbo, Co Leitrim
The Shed Distillery in the village of Drumshanbo has become an engine for this small midlands town. It produces Drumshanbo single pot still and the multi-award-winning Drumshanbo Gunpowder Gin. It offers a beautiful tour in a purpose-built guest facility that complements this remarkable working distillery. Called the curious journey tour, it takes an hour and a half and includes a tasting of Drumshanbo whiskey in the whiskey maturation hall and a gin tasting in the Honey Badger Bar (€19). thesheddistillery.com
