Irish Whiskey Museum, Dublin - March 2017
Ireland is famous for a lot of things; its beautiful green countryside and dramatic coastline, wonderful food and the hospitality of its people, a love of music and of course the great Irish craic, and last but not least its whiskey.
The last time I was in Dublin I paid a visit to the Irish Whiskey Museum. One of the city’s most central attractions it’s located on the corner of Grafton Street opposite the Irish Houses of Parliament on one side and Trinity College on the other.
Many people travelling to Ireland will visit one of the country’s distilleries and see the process of how Irish whiskey is made, a fantastic experience to be sure. However, the Irish Whiskey Museum provides something more than a distillery tour.
This fantastic attraction in the heart of Ireland’s capital not only tells you how whiskey is made, it also describes the fascinating tale of how whiskey made its mark on Irish history: from the very beginning of the spirit’s conception as Uisce Beatha (the Water of Life in Gaelic) through the rise and fall and rise again of whiskey production in Ireland to its place in the global market today.
The Irish Whiskey Museum is an absolute must for any whiskey-lovers visiting Dublin, not only are the guides engaging and knowledgeable they are also entertaining and friendly. On the day that I visited, I was lucky enough to be given the tour by a young man called Aaron whose enthusiasm and easy Irish charm had us all smiling from the get go.
The tour is of course rounded off with a visit to the bar where guests are invited to taste three whiskies and are guided expertly through the process. For a few extra euros, they’ll bring out the really good stuff and you even get a lovely little whiskey glass to take home as a souvenir.
Being a lover of whiskey myself, I asked a lot of questions and was delighted to find that my hosts were able to answer them intelligently and, more importantly, with interest, discussing the whiskeys with me rather than reeling off a pre-prepared speech.
Aaron and his colleagues who helped serve the whiskeys were like any great bar staff; confident, jovial, and not stingy with the measures!
I think what I enjoyed the most about my experience at the Irish Whiskey museum is that, with its relaxed and convivial atmosphere, it felt like a microcosm of the city of Dublin and of Ireland itself; a wonderful place for a good drop of whiskey and a bit of craic with funny, friendly people.
The Irish Whiskey Museum has achieved that rare thing of being an attraction that will make you laugh and learn, and with four delicious whiskies down the hatch you’ll certainly walk out happier than when you walked in!
To start planning your own inspirational itinerary for Ireland call us on 0344 847 5004 or send an email to destinations@travelb.co.uk.