12 Best Ireland Whiskey Tours for 2025

Whiskey runs deep in Ireland’s history, and there’s no better way to appreciate it than by stepping inside the distilleries where it’s made.

 The best whiskey distilleries in Ireland aren’t just places of production—they’re where grain, water, and time blend with heritage to create something truly… delicious!

As of 2025, there’s no shortage of exceptional Irish whiskey tours, from iconic Irish distilleries like Midleton to newer names like Pearse Lyons, you’ll find the finest on offer in this guide.

The best Ireland whiskey tours

Now, while there’s nothing wrong with ordering a great Irish whiskey at a bar or pouring one for yourself at home, a tour of a working distillery is a far more immersive experience.

The map above shows the locations of the Irish distilleries featured in this guide, giving you a clear sense of where each one can be found.

1. Jameson Distillery Bow Street (Dublin)

One of the world’s most famous Irish whiskey brands also owns the most-visited of the Ireland whiskey tour.

Opened way back in 1780 by John Jameson, the distillery on Bow St in Smithfield has been a staple of Dublin life for over two centuries.

And while Jameson moved the bulk of their operations down to County Cork in 1975, tourists still flock to this old place.

Tours include whiskey tasting (of course), a bit of storytelling and a complimentary drink at JJ’s Bar.

Related read: Discover the best pubs in Dublin for Guinness and live music

2. The Old Bushmills Distillery (Antrim)

On the rugged Causeway Coast, the brilliant Bushmills Distillery has stood for over 400 years, making it one of the oldest whiskey distilleries in Ireland.

Established in 1608, it proudly claims the title of the world’s oldest licensed distillery. With water drawn from the River Bush and a name rooted in the mills that once ground its barley, Bushmills is an enduring icon of Irish whiskey.

And if you appreciate rare craftsmanship in both whiskey and nature, the legendary Giant’s Causeway—one of Ireland’s most striking rock formations—is just a stone’s throw away.

3. Tullamore D.E.W. Distillery (Offaly)

Founded in 1829, Tullamore D.E.W. carries nearly two centuries of whiskey-making heritage.

Named after the town where it all began, the brand owes much to Daniel E. Williams, a stable boy who rose to distillery manager, shaping its legacy.

Today, the Tullamore D.E.W. Distillery offers a deep dive into this craft, from triple-distillation to cask maturation.

Visitors explore the still house, inhale the aroma of ageing whiskey in a vast warehouse, and sample straight from the cask. The experience ends in the blending lab, where guests uncover the secrets behind Ireland’s world-famous triple-blended whiskey.

4. Teeling Whiskey Distillery (Dublin)

The first new distillery in Dublin for 125 years, the Teeling Whiskey Distillery is only a stone’s throw from where the original family distillery stood.

Located in the heart of the Golden Triangle, Dublin’s historic distilling district, Teeling opened in 2015 and is part of the area’s vibrant whiskey revival.

Book a tour and learn about Walter Teeling’s original craft distillery on Marrowbone Lane where he was pouring drams of his finest for locals back in 1782.

Thankfully, this promises to be a far more comfortable experience than industrial 18th century Dublin.

5. Jameson Distillery Midleton (Cork)

Another of the most popular distillery tours in Ireland can be found in Midleton in Cork.

Now almost 50 years since the big move from Dublin, the proximity to freshwater, barley farmers and the extra space gave the company ample room to expand the business.

Less than 30 minutes from Cork, the Midleton distillery is a great spot to spend a day out of the city.

Take a deep dive into this Irish icon with their Behind the Scenes tour, a two-hour extended tour where you’ll come out the other side knowing everything worth knowing about Jameson.

6. Slane Irish Whiskey Distillery (Meath)

Often associated with epic gigs and huge crowds, Slane’s whiskey is big on taste, too!

The Boyne Valley’s clear water and lush soil provides a fine base for Slane’s triple casked whiskey.

Only a 50-minute drive from Dublin, the immersive distillery tour is an hour long and takes place in the 250-year-old stables of one of the most impressive castles in Ireland – Slane.

There’s also an option to combine your distillery tour with the famous old castle itself.

Traveller tip: I know several people that visited this place last year. By all accounts, this is one of the best whiskey distilleries in Ireland that’s still slightly off people’s radar – get here sharpish!

7. Kilbeggan Distilling Co. (Westmeath)

Few Irish distilleries are as overlooked as the Kilbeggan Distillery. This is Ireland’s oldest licensed distillery and it has been crafting whiskey since 1757.

Stepping inside, visitors are transported to a time when whiskey was made by hand, and tradition guided every step.

The tour winds through old copper pot stills and stone-walled warehouses, revealing the artistry behind Kilbeggan’s signature double-distilled whiskey.

The experience ends with a masterclass in tasting, where guests sample a selection of Kilbeggan’s finest expressions.

8. Pearse Lyons Distillery (Dublin)

A distillery in a church? Yes, you read that correctly. Founded by the late Pearse Lyons in the Liberties district of Dublin, his boutique distillery is a unique spot to learn about the brewing and distilling processes.

Set inside the impressively restored St James’ Church on James St, there are four separate tours to choose from (including a VIP tour lead by the head distiller) so you’ll have plenty of ways to discover the secret behind Lyons’ style.

Related read: Check out my guides to the most popular Irish drinks (from Irish stout and whiskey to Irish beers and plenty more).

9. Dingle Distillery (Kerry)

The Dingle Peninsula out in west Kerry has long been one of Ireland’s supreme beauty spots so it’s no surprise that the town of Dingle has its fair share of pubs and bars.

And since 2012, the Dingle Whiskey Distillery has been distilling some excellent single pot still whiskey for those who can’t handle any more pints.

Take a trip on the Dingle Whiskey Experience tour to get the inside story on how this independent family-owned business got started.

Traveller tip: The Dingle Distillery is one of the most popular whiskey distilleries in Ireland – make sure that you book a ticket in advance!

10. Clonakilty Distillery (Cork)

Perched on the windswept edge of West Cork, Clonakilty Distillery harnesses the raw power of the Atlantic to craft whiskey with true coastal character.

Rooted in nine generations of farming tradition, the Scully family grows heritage barley in the salty air and misty rain, bringing terroir into every bottle.

This Irish whiskey tour takes you inside the distillery’s meticulous process, from fermentation to maturation, revealing the secrets behind their triple-distilled whiskeys.

Guests sample the finished product in a guided tasting, where smooth, oak-kissed flavors meet a whisper of the sea.

11. Powerscourt Distillery (Wicklow)

Nestled within the historic Powerscourt Estate, Powerscourt Distillery blends centuries-old heritage with modern craftsmanship.

Housed in a restored 18th-century mill, the distillery produces Fercullen whiskey using pure mineral water from Powerscourt Waterfall.

The tour reveals the meticulous grain-to-glass process, from distillation to maturation in the on-site warehouse.

Interactive tastings showcase a range of Fercullen whiskeys, with the option to pair them with locally sourced artisan foods. Visitors experience the essence of Wicklow’s landscape in every sip—refined, complex, and unmistakably Irish.

12. The Liberties Distillery (Dublin)

The last of the Irish whiskey distilleries in this guide is back in Dublin. The Dublin Liberties Distillery, set, naturally, in the district from which it takes its name.

A modern, state-of-the-art distillery on Mill St, the visitor experience is immersive and contains a cocktail bar if you want to stick around afterwards.

You’ll hear all the stories about the Liberties district, stretching back hundreds of years to when it was outside of the official Dublin city limits (and thus its laws and taxes). Expect tales of trade, conflict and debauchery.

Related read: Check out my guide to six of the best whiskey tours Dublin has to offer (includes the Irish Whiskey Museum).

Explore beyond the whiskey distilleries in Ireland

Now that you’ve a good sense of the different Ireland whiskey tours, it’s time to plan for more adventure.

If you’d like to discover the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries, visit my Road Trip Hub.

They range from 3 days to 4 weeks any the majority of them will see you join one of not more Irish whiskey tours.