The Old Jameson Distillery - Dublin
|
The Old Jameson Distillery is located on the original site of John Jameson’s distillery in Bow Street in Dublin. This distillery, founded in 1780, was Ireland’s most famous distillery for nearly 200 years, until its closure in 1971, when distilling of Jameson Irish Whiskey was transferred to the Midleton Distillery. For many years the Bow Street Distillery lay abandoned, but today, once again, it is a hub of activity, welcoming visitors from all over the world.
This award wining visitor centre is one of Dublin’s and Ireland’s favourite attractions. Located on the north side of the city, it is an easy walk from the city centre along the river Liffey, a short bus ride with Dublin’s Hop on Hop off bus tours, or only 3 minutes’ walk from the Smithfield Luas tram stop. It is open throughout the year, with guided tours at regular intervals throughout the day.
Each tour starts with a short audio visual presentation, detailing the history of Irish whiskey and specifically the John Jameson Distillery throughout the ages. The Old Jameson Distillery has recreated, on a smaller scale, the old distillery, and although no distilling actually takes place here, it is an excellent way to understand the how and why of whiskey. Every step of the distilling process has been recreated, from malting and storing barley, to mashing and fermentation, to distilling and maturation. Guides are very friendly and often multi-lingual. The tour ends with a complimentary glass of Jameson for everyone (or a soft drink) and for a lucky selected few, a comparative whiskey tasting, which compares and explains the differences between Jameson Irish whiskey, Scotch and Bourbon whiskies. If you fancy doing the comparative tasting, make sure to pop your hand up as soon as the guide looks for volunteers, which is usually at the end of the audio visual show. Volunteers are rewarded with their very own Whiskey Tasting Certificate. Tours can be booked on arrival or in advance online.
There is a very good restaurant on site, the 3rd Still, which is popular not just with tourists, but also with nearby office workers. The menu is both diverse and contemporary, the atmosphere relaxed and friendly and it offers a bird’s eye view into the bustling lobby below. In fact, if you peer over the balcony of the 3rd Still, you can see into the original foundations of The Jameson Old Distillery which were purpose-built to bear the formidable weight of the enormous whiskey vats. There are also two bars on site, the ‘JJs Bar’ situated in the reception area and the Jameson Reserve Bar upstairs.
The Old Jameson Distillery includes a well stocked shop, where you can buy Jameson merchandise and the many different Jameson whiskeys produced nowadays. You can also purchase the Jameson Distillery Reserve, a 12 year old whiskey which is exclusively sold here and at the Jameson Experience in Midleton, and each bottle can be personalised.
For the whiskey enthusiast, the Old Jameson Distillery offers a choice of tutored tastings on request (a supplement applies for these tastings). If you would like to book a Tasting please do so at reception upon arrival (or byemail beforehand for groups). Please refer to the Jameson website below for opening times, tour prices and further information about the Old Jameson Distillery.
From April to October, the Old Jameson Distillery also hosts Irish Nights - an award winning show of Irish music and dancing - on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. The evening includes a guided tour of the Old Jameson Distillery, a complimentary Jameson cocktail, a four course meal and live entertainment with The Jameson Players and the Claddagh Dancers. You can book tickets for these evening shows directly online or by email at reservations@ojd.ie. Tickets are €47.50 pp and subject to availability.
|
.jpg)
