It's not so long ago that Dublin was jammed with whiskey distilleries dotted throughout the capital and was the centre of global whiskey production.
Dublin's Liberties was the hotbed for Irish whiskey in the 18th and 19th century with a one-mile area becoming known as the Golden Whiskey Triangle, because there is as many as 40 distilleries in it.
Unfortunately, the Irish whiskey business fell on hard times with the entire industry almost wiped out.
Thankfully, in the last decade, distilleries have begun to spring up and have become hotspots for Dubliners and tourists alike.
Here are our top 4 distilleries to visit once they fully reopen for visitors.
1) Teeling Whiskey Distillery
Teeling has led the way in the rejuvenation of Dublin whiskey. The distillery, in the heart of the Liberties in Newmarket Square, first opened its doors in 2015 and became the first new distillery in the capital in 125 years.
There's a bunch of swag that you can purchase at the end of the tour including distillery-exclusive whiskeys. You can even fill your own cask strength Single pot still whiskey (2015) straight from the cask for €100. They've recently confirmed that distillery tours and tastings will resume on May 22.
2) Pearse Lyons Distillery
Another distillery to make The Liberties its home, Pearse Lyons renovated the old St James Church into a fully-functioning distillery that's producing some of the best Dublin whiskey.
Not only do you get a tour of a whiskey distillery, but you also get to learn the history of St James Church. Tour groups are usually small and run on the hour, every hour.
If you're a fan of cocktails, then you should try the whiskey cocktail experience. For €75 per person (discount for groups of 8-10), you get to 'create modern-day cocktails with traditional Irish Whiskey.'
'Light refreshments are served to complement the beverages and the experience ends with complimentary post-drinks in McCann’s bar.'
3) Jameson Bow Street
While no whiskey has been distilled at Jameson Bow Street for decades, it's a premier distillery experience and is the most visited experience in the world.
Have your choice of the flagship tour - The Bow Street Experience, Whiskey cocktail making class, whiskey blending making class, to name just a few.
Like Teeling, there are distillery exclusive releases as well as 'bottle your own' whiskey which is a cask strength Jameson Black Barrel at 59.8%.
4) Roe and Co Distillery
A recent addition to the Dublin Whiskey scene, Roe and Co is named after one of the leading whiskey figures back in the day, George Roe.
He was the largest exporter of whiskey in the world, while his distillery extended over 17 acres on Thomas Street.
Operating out of the former Guinness power station on James Street, Roe and Co has been distilling its own spirit since 2019. It has collaborated with the Open Gate brewery to release some limited edition whiskeys.
While they're currently closed to visitors, once opened you can choose from the flavours workshop or the 106 blending experience. You can also book the distillery for private events.
