Jameson Whiskey Distillery
Nestled in the heart of Smithfield you can’t miss the Jameson Whiskey distillery.
The Ultimate Whiskey Tasting Tour
Founded by John Jameson in 1780, today the former Jameson Whiskey Distillery factory stands as a monument to Irish Whiskey with frequent tours and unique experiences for groups and individuals. Nestled in the heart of Smithfield, Jameson Distillery Bow St. Experience is a must for visitors to the capital. The Jameson Distillery guides will show you around, take you back in time, and serve up an award-winning tour that includes stories, laughs, and a Jameson comparative whiskey tasting. You’ll also get to hear all about the all important Jameson ‘Grain to Glass’ process.
What Makes Jameson Whiskey Irish?
So what allows Jameson Irish Whiskey to call itself Irish Whiskey?
Similar to scotch or bourbon, Irish whiskey has the same nationalism requirement, stating that distillation and aging of the spirit must occur in Ireland (either the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland). While it’s not an official rule, most Irish whiskeys are distilled three times.
Tours and Experiences
Tours of the distillery run every 15 – 30 mins and the duration of the tours and experiences differ in length. The Bow St. Experience is 45 minutes, the Secret Whiskey Tasting is 60 minutes, the Jameson Black Barrel Blending Class is 90 minutes, the Cocktail Making Class is 60 minutes and finally, the Cask Draw Experience is 10 minutes. Depending on what you’d like to see and how much you would like to experience (and taste), there’s a range of options for every group size and budget!
Pre-booking is advised, especially for the Jameson Whiskey cocktail making masterclass, Jameson Black Barrel Blending class, Cask Draw Experience and Secret Whiskey Tasting experience as spaces are limited. The flagship tour, the Bow St. Experience offers additional availability, so if you arrive without a booking, the team aim to get you on the next available tour (where possible). They start approximately every 15-30 minutes. However, to guarantee a specific time slot, please book online ahead of time.
The "water of life"
Jameson Irish Whiskey is made by blending rich pot still whiskey made from both malted and unmalted barley, with the finest grain whiskey, both distilled three times for smoothness.
The barley is all grown locally in Ireland and it’s water source comes from the Dungourney river, which flows right through the new distillery. This is quite fitting as the word “whiskey” is derived from the Irish “uisce beatha”, meaning ‘water of life’.
Now, while barley comes from up the road and their water comes from outside the window, Jameson knows that maize is a sun-loving crop.
Ireland’s famous climate is anything but sun-soaked, so they work with a farmer in the South of France to provide them with all their non-genetically modified maize.