Ireland is famous not only for its spectacular scenery and friendly locals but also for its super high-quality whiskeys, and a whiskey tour of the country is a fabulous way to discover them. Irish whiskey, also known as Uisce Beatha (Gaelic for “water of life,” a term coined by early Irish monks), has been produced since the 7th century. At the height of its popularity in the 18th century, there were over 1.000 distilleries on the island. This fizzled down to less than 25 legal distilleries over the next century; these days, only a handful are left. They are revered and considered to be national treasures. Ireland also has the privilege of being home to the oldest surviving whiskey distillery in the world- Bushmills.
This Irish whiskey tour was created for connoisseurs, although novices will quickly become experts on the trip! With your private driver and comfortable Mercedes, explore the whiskey trails of the Emerald Isle, taking in visits to the Jameson Bow ST. in Dublin, Locke’s Old Kilbeggan Distillery Museum, Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre, Cooley Distillery and the Old Bushmills Distillery in Northern Ireland. Complement these fun and educational tours and tastings with a whiskey masterclass at Ireland’s best whiskey merchant in Dublin, charming Irish pubs, colorful villages, dramatic landscapes, live music, and sightseeing along the stunning Northern Irish coast.
Signature journey
Highlights include Luxury Transportation, VIP tour and tastings, Gourmet Experience, Luxurious Accommodation, and Fabulous Excursions.
Day 1Dublin
Jameson Whiskey Distillery
Arrive at Dublin airport, and your driver will be waiting for you. Climb in, sit back, and relax for the drive to the historic center of town. After dropping off your luggage at your luxury 5-star hotel, The Merrion, you will have a welcome lunch at the outstanding 2-starred Michelin Chapter One restaurant around the corner. This popular eatery manages the difficult task of being elegant and high-end without being stuffy. This is mainly due to the charismatic chef Ross Lewis and Mickael Viljanen. Settle into a delicious four-course lunch paired with wines served by the house sommelier.
Your local celebrity guide will pick you up at the restaurant when you finish lunch, and you will enjoy a guided walking tour through Dublin’s colorful center, including Temple Bar with its lively pubs and picturesque streets. Arrive at the old Jameson Bow Street for your first whiskey experience of the tour. The fine whiskeys of Jameson were made here for over 200 years before moving premises to Midleton in Cork in the ’70s. The Dublin distillery remained abandoned for decades until finally revamped and turned into a distillery museum with tasting rooms.
The visit is stellar, very educational and detailed. You will be privy to a connoisseur’s tour (not the standard visit) with your own private whiskey master and tasting of Jameson NV, Jameson 12-year-old, Jameson 18-year-old, plus a Scotch and American Bourbon for the comparison tasting. A terrific introduction to Irish Whiskey!
Tonight, then, is yours to explore Dublin’s pubs on your own. A visit to the Brazen Head (Ireland’s oldest pub) is obligatory for whiskey lovers!
Day 2Dublin - Kilbeggan - Dublin
Kilbeggan Distillery
After a splendid, filling Irish breakfast, hit the road and head west to the heart of Ireland, to the neighboring counties of Westmeath and Offaly. Today, you will visit two important Irish distilleries. First up is the delightful 18th-century Kilbeggan Distillery experience in the tiny hamlet of Kilbeggan in a picturesque setting overlooking the River Brosna. Founded in the 1750s, this is one of the oldest distilleries on the island. It closed in the 1950s but is now reopened, distilling and maturing fine whiskeys. Its claim to fame is that it is the oldest continually licensed distillery worldwide. You will visit the museum and working distillery, admire their still functioning water wheel dating to the 1800s, and check out their ancient ‘pot still’ (thought to be the oldest working whiskey pot still in existence).
Conclude the tour, naturally, with a tasting! Taste Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey and a connoisseur’s sampler of the Cooley range. Lunch will then be in a traditional Irish pub and could include local unfussy delicacies like steamed mussels, seafood chowder, and smoked salmon on Irish soda bread. Try one or two of Ireland’s fabulous local brews like Kilkenny Red or Beamish Stout. Carry on to the Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre in the historic D.E. Williams Tullamore Distillery, which dates back to the 1800s.
The location for both of these distilleries was selected as the Irish midlands were ideal for whiskey distillation (the waterways provide ample fresh water throughout the year; you find turf in abundance, and this was used for fuel, and the microclimate was perfect for the cultivation of barley). Apart from whiskey, the Tullamore company updated an ancient Irish recipe for heather wine and coined it “Irish Mist,” which boosted sales.
After a tour, enjoy further whiskey tasting, including goodies like the Ten-Year-Old Tullamore blend or the Ten-Year-Old Single Malt. Sláinte Mhaith! In the afternoon, head back to Dublin. On the way, drive through colorful Dalkey and Sandycove, two of Dublin’s prettiest neighborhoods. See Dalkey Castle and enjoy a stroll on the pretty main street.
Your driver will drop you off at your hotel in the early evening, and the rest of the day is yours. You could do a spot of shopping on Grafton Street and St Stephen’s Green, go for a walk in the delightful Iveagh Gardens, or visit the Guinness brewery. For dinner tonight, we suggest Glovers Alley, a beautiful place with top cuisine in the Fitzwilliam Hotel overlooking St. Stephen Green.
Day 3Dublin - Bushmills
From Dublin, you will travel north today. You will visit the newish Cooley Distillery and the historic Bushmills distillery, which are excellent contrasts. Drive first to Riverstown, about halfway to Belfast, and tucked away in the scenic Cooley Mountains. Arrive at the Cooley Distillery, Ireland’s only independent distillery, founded in the late ’80s. They invested in creating this distillery, renovating the Kilbeggan distillery (you visited the day before), and breathing new life into Irish whiskey brands like Tyrconnell and Millar’s Blended Irish Whiskey. Cooley makes a wide range of high-end whiskeys, including Connemara Peated Single Malt, Greenore Irish Single Grain, Inishowen, Locke’s Premium Blended Irish whiskey, and Kilbeggan. Visit the facilities with the onsite whiskey master and enjoy an informal tasting.
The historic town of Belfast, in Northern Ireland, is next to where you will stop for a fabulous lunch and walking tour. Dine at Deanes, the most stylish and elegant haunt in town. Enjoy a three-course tasting menu that might include lobster risotto, an aged loin of Black Angus beef, and Bourbon vanilla crème brûlée. Delicious! Your charming local guide will meet you at the restaurant when you finish lunch, and you will digest lunch over a 90-minute walking tour of the most exciting sites in downtown Belfast. Pop into the Victorian Crown Liquor Saloon and stroll through the Cathedral and Queen’s quarters: fresh air, a healthy walk, and an excellent cultural interlude during your whiskey tour.
Bushmills awaits now, and you will drive northwest into beautiful Country Antrim. Not all whiskey makers can say they have 400 years of history, but Bushmills can, and it is indeed the oldest distillery in the world – founded in 1608. British King James I granted Sir Thomas Phillips a “royal license” to distill ‘uisce beatha’ (the water of life the monks had distilled non-commercially). In the 1880s, the distillery burned down to the ground but was rebuilt and returned to distilling quickly. During WWII, distilling stopped, but the property kept working as it became a lodge for the American and Allied Forces.
Today, Bushmills offers well-organized tours and tastings, which you will enjoy. On a connoisseur’s tour, explore the facilities and finish with tasting some of their flagship whiskeys like Black Bush and 16-year-old Malt. Tonight, you will sleep in a darling Bushmills Inn (a coach house inn dating to the early 1600s) with cozy wood-beamed ceilings and sumptuous bathtubs. Dinner is on your own; welcome to Northern Ireland at its best!
Day 4Bushmills - Dublin
Dunluce Castle, County Antrim
Before driving down to Dublin today, no tour of the north would be complete without a visit to the spectacular “Giant’s Causeway,” a Unesco-protected geological wonderland on the coast, close to Bushmills. Created by a volcanic eruption millennia ago, the Giant’s Causeway is composed of thousands of basalt columns (solidified lava) of different heights, interlocking (hence the name “steps”) jutting out into the sea. It’s an astounding site that will take your breath away. Enjoy some free time here this morning to explore independently; don’t forget the camera! On the way back to Dublin, you can also visit the evocative Dunluce castle, whose ruins perch over romantic cliffs- another captivating scene and well worth the detour.
Arrive in Dublin around lunchtime and get dropped off at your hotel, with free time to freshen up and relax. This afternoon is one of the highlights of your whiskey tour in Ireland- a private VIP Whiskey Masterclass at the country’s best whiskey merchant. With your charming local expert, taste an array of whiskey styles such as Pure Pot Still, Single Malt, Single Grain, and Blended Whiskeys. Learn about the key differences between Irish whiskey, Scottish whiskey “or “Scotch” and American Bourbon. Before leaving, you will be given a special gift to take home with you. This is a treat and will leave a great flavor in your mouth!
The rest of the evening is yours. We suggest dinner at Guilbauds for a fancy feast or at Elys Wine Bar for trendy, primarily organic fare and a fabulous selection of wines available by the glass.
Day 5Dublin
Safe journey home.
This morning at your preferred time, your private driver will take you comfortably back to Dublin airport for your outbound flight. You will leave Ireland a veritable Whiskey expert!
Cellar Tours private itineraries include chauffeur-led transportation, carefully selected hotels, winery appointments, restaurant planning, and practical support before and during your journey.
Depending on the destination and proposal, your tour may also include private guides, tastings, special experiences, cultural visits, regional transfers, and dining reservations.
Your custom proposal will clearly show what is included, what is optional, and what is not included.
Our custom itineraries include chauffeur-led transportation, carefully selected hotels, private winery appointments & tastings, restaurant planning, and support before and during your travel.
International flights, travel insurance, personal expenses, optional spa treatments, gratuities and meals or tastings not listed in your itinerary are usually not included unless specifically stated.
All itineraries are private and pre-arranged for your party.
Yes, 100%. Share mobility considerations, allergies, dietary preferences, and pacing needs early so we can adapt hotels, transport, restaurants, and visits wherever possible.
Jenny M Elliott
Gen, We absolutely loved Ireland!
We had perfect weather, Gerard was fabulous, and every destination you scheduled was wonderful. We’re already thinking about our family trip next year 🙂
Jill Parr
Had a fabulous trip!
We departed Dublin early this morning, and had a fabulous trip! Thank you. Ireland is such a beautiful country. We had such a great experience at all hotels, restaurants, etc. John Daly was a great driver/guide. He went above and beyond for us. He knows the country inside and out, and has a lot if history knowledge. We had so much fun, and he’s a true gem.
Ellen Malasky
Wonderful Trip
Hi Gen, You did a fantastic job of putting together our Ireland trip and everyone agreed that they felt like they really covered it in a short time. We loved Cliff House and Sheen Falls- both very special places. The Merrion was perfect! Dinner at The Pearl, Cliff House and Moxie’s were all great. Patrick Gilbauld was also special.
