Nestled near Dublin’s iconic Guinness brewery, the Roe & Co Distillery revives the legacy of Ireland’s largest 19th-century distillery.
And, while it isn’t as well known as some of the whiskey distilleries in Dublin, a visit to Roe & Co is easily paired with the Storehouse, as they are just a quick 5-minute walk apart.
Located inside the imposing former Guinness Power House in The Liberties, Roe and Co Distillery is named after legendary 19th-century whiskey pioneer George Roe.
Some quick need-to-knows about the Roe and Co Distillery
Although a visit to Roe and Co in Dublin is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.
Note: if you book a tour through one of the links below we may make a tiny commission that helps us keep this site going. You won’t pay extra, but we really do appreciate it.
1. Location
Situated inside the imposing former Guinness Power House in The Liberties, Roe and Co are located on James’s Street, 5 minutes from the Guinness Storehouse.
2. Getting there from the city centre
Getting around Dublin is nice and easy. You have 4 options to get from the city centre to the Roe and Co Distillery:
- Walk (35 minutes): From O’Connell St
- Public Bus (15 minutes): Get the 123 from Dame St or O’Connell St in direction of Walkinstown and hopp off at James’s Street
- Hop on/off Bus: If you plan on visiting multiple attractions, the hop on/off bus drops nearby
- LUAS (15 minutes): Take the Red Line in the direction of Tallaght to James’s Street
3. The tours
There are two tours you can head-off on here:
- The main tour (around €25): 45-minute guided tour with cocktail class (see reviews)
- The flavours tour (around €42): 45-minute tour with 3-whiskey tasting
Which of the Roe and Co Distillery Tours to do
Photos courtesy Diageo Ireland Brand Homes
There are two different tours of the Roe and Co Distillery that you can head off on, depending on the type of experience you’re after.
1. The main tour (€25)
The Flavours Workshop is the tour that’ll likely be most suitable to all but keen or budding whiskey enthusiasts.
Dive into the Five Pillars of Flavour—sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami—selecting a whiskey cocktail that suits your unique palate, all guided by expert staff.
Conclude your journey at the Power House Bar with a seasonal whiskey cocktail.
2.Beyond the blend tour (€42)
The 45-minute “Beyond the Blend” experience offers a guided tasting of three premium Roe & Co whiskeys, paired with artisan confectionary by Pastry Chef Tara Gartlan to enhance the flavours.
Participants also get hands-on by creating their own whiskey blend and transforming it into a unique cocktail.
The history of Roe and Co
Named after legendary 19th-century whiskey pioneer George Roe, Roe and Co are actually one of Dublin’s youngest distilleries after opening their doors in 2019.
But despite their youth, there’s actually a vast distilling history around the very spot where you’ll enjoy your glass of Roe and Co whiskey today.
In fact, the Thomas Street Distillery (owned by George Roe) was at one stage Ireland’s largest exporter of whiskey!
Producing twice as much as Jameson
Producing twice the number of gallons per year of John Jameson’s now-illustrious Bow Street distillery, it was described by some visitors as arguably one of the biggest distilleries in the world during its 19th-century heyday.
Occupying around 17 acres and employing over 200 staff, the Thomas Street distillery exported its quality whiskies to Great Britain, the United States, Canada and even Australia.
Harder times
By the late 19th century, the Thomas Street Distillery was having trouble keeping up with the competition from Scottish producers and was eventually amalgamated with a couple of other local distillers.
However, thanks to American Prohibition and ongoing trade tensions with Great Britain following Irish Independence, the distillery closed its gates for good in 1926.
Regeneration
In January 2017, Diageo announced that they would invest €25 million in building a new distillery in the old brewery powerhouse building on James Street, close to the site of the original Thomas Street Distillery.
Paying homage to George Roe, they named the site Roe and Co and thus, a new chapter in the neighbourhood’s distilling life was begun!
Although it’s still one of the lesser-known whiskey distilleries in Ireland, often overshadowed by the Jameson Distillery, the Pearse Lyons Distillery and the Teeling Distillery, it’s well worth a visit.
Things to do nearby
One of the beauties of the Roe and Co Distillery is that it’s a stone’s throw from some of the most popular tourist attractions in Dublin.
Below, you’ll find more distilleries and breweries to historic sites, ancient pubs and much, much more.
- Guinness Storehouse (5-minute walk): Cross the road and explore the home of Ireland’s most famous export
- Dublin’s Oldest pub (10-minute walk): There are many old pubs in Dublin but the Brazen Head, which dates to 1198, reigns supreme
- Phoenix Park (15-minute walk): Dominated by the 200ft tall Wellington Monument, it’s home to Dublin Zoo and Áras an Uachtaráin
- Kilmainham Gaol (20-minute walk): The infamous Dublin prison that’s steeped in history and legend