On a trip to Dublin? So don't miss visiting the Jameson distillery, a must for whisky culture!
Located in Smithfield, the Jameson distillery is located in the original building where the Jameson Irish Whiskey was distilled until 1971. This real small museum presents the production of this great whisky label, as well as all the subtleties of this whisky, which is among the most sold in the world! If the Guinness is the best known emblem, you must not forget the Irish whisky. Just a few minutes’ walk from the famous Temple Bar district, you can discover the whisky culture in the former Jameson whisky distillery.
Would you like to visit the Jameson distillery in Dublin? In this article, you will find all the necessary information to discover it at best. Tips, history and practical information through rates and schedules, you will know the essentials to plan your visit and enjoy it!
Also: The 12 things to do in Dublin
The Jameson Distillery in a few words
Photo credit: Shutterstock / Giancarlo Liguori
The history of Jameson whisky began in 1780, when John Jameson, a rich Dublin entrepreneur decided to create his own distillery. Smithfield is then a booming industrial district of Dublin. Quickly, the Jameson whisky becomes a reference and wins in reputation throughout Ireland. The ensign then expanded to such a point that the distillery was described by many as a city in the city!
The Jameson Distillery, however, experienced difficult moments in its history, especially during the American Prohibition or the commercial war between Ireland and Great Britain. However, she was able to survive and spread. From 1780 to the present day, Jameson has become the Irish whisky par excellence.
The Bow Street site finally closed in 1971. Jameson whisky is now produced outside Dublin, in the New Midleton Distillery . On the site of the old distillery, the brand wanted to build a museum dedicated to this typical Irish product, to tell history and subtleties.
Our tips to visit the Jameson Distillery in Dublin
Are you coming to Dublin soon? So here are some tips to visit this Irish whisky museum. You will be able to organize your discoveries at best and thus, not to waste time!
The best time to visit the Jameson Distillery
Fortunately for travellers, the tour of the Distillery is guided. The Bow St. Experience Tour lasts about forty minutes and takes place in a small committee. You thus have the possibility of book in advance Your time slot, what we recommend! Indeed, you will be certain to be able to visit the Jameson Distillery at the appropriate time. So you can easily organize your other visits around this niche.
It is also possible to visit the boutique and the Distillery bar at any time of the day and without a guided tour reserved. If you don’t have tickets, you can wait in these places before visiting. It should be noted that these visits take place on average every 15 to 30 minutes.
Some practical information
The experiences of the Distillery do not have the same length. The flagship visit "The Bow St. Experience" lasts 40 minutes, the Secret Whiskey Tasting, while the Whiskey Blending Class lasts 90 minutes, the Cocktail Making Class 60 and the Cask Draw Experience 20 minutes. All these experiences can be booked on site or online. The visit "The Bow St. Experience is available in French, there is unfortunately only one to two niches available per day.
For longer experiences, it is strongly recommended to book online, the frequency being lower than the normal visit.
Note also: The Jameson Distillery is perfectly accessible to people with reduced mobility.
What to do during your visit to the Jameson Distillery in Dublin?
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Before the visit, do not hesitate to admire the Jameson distillery building. The latter was only partially restored. Much of his architecture dates back to the 1780s, when John Jameson founded the distillery.
Once inside, you can obviously participate in the “ The Bow St. Experience "the flagship visit of the distillery. Playful and enriching, this visit presents you the different stages of production of a typical whisky at Jameson. You will discover how the Jameson whisky passes from the state of barley to this smoked beverage consumed with joy in Ireland and around the world!
The Bow St. Experience
The visit begins first with the projection of a small film, presenting the history of the founder of the distillery, John Jameson . After this short documentary, your guide will lead you to the upper floor of the building. You will discover beautiful alambics and vats of nature, where the famous Jameson whisky was distilled! Some are even the first alambics used by John Jameson at the time of the foundation. The barrels stored everywhere, as well as the smells of barley, malt, and alcohol, will eventually plunge you completely into the atmosphere of this true distillery.
On this floor, you will also learn that the quality of water used during production is of great importance to the taste of the final product. The triple distillation process, essential for this product, will also be explained. Thanks to this process, the distillery can obtain the characteristic flavors of an Irish whisky!
After a 40-minute visit, your guide will offer you a rather nice and fun way to discover the subtleties of Irish whisky. You will participate in a test shield and taste up to 5 Irish whiskys! This first experience can be enriched with other activities proposed by the distillery.
Jameson Chimney
To finish your visit, you can finally climb to the top of the Jameson Chimney. This old chimney was reopened in turn. A lift will easily lead you to its top. All up there, you will enjoy a wonderful view of the city of Dublin!
How much does a ticket cost to the Jameson Distillery?
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Here are the rates for the flagship experience of the Distillery, the Bow St. Experience Tour:
- Adults : 22€ (visit in French), from 17€ to 22€
- Students and Seniors (65+) : 18€
- Children (less than 18 years old) : 11€
The Jameson Distillery also offers other visits and experiences, such as the Whiskey Blending Class (60€) or Whiskey Cocktail Making Class (50€) . You can also opt for the classic visit with the Live Maturation Warehouse Visit for 37€ by adult or with Secret Tasting for 47€ by adult. For more information and details, you can visit the official website of the Jameson Distillery.
How to book an online ticket for the Jameson Distillery?
You can easily book your visit to the Jameson Distillery on its official website. Once on the homepage, click on "Visit Us" in the menu and then on "Visit Jameson Bow St." on the page, you can book your guided tours of the Jameson Distillery. Other option: many specialized platforms in tours and activities offer a cut ticket for the distillery. Here again, go online to order your ticket: you will then have to present your e-billet at the reception.
Opening hours of the Jameson Distillery in Dublin
Visits usually take place every day, 9h to 7h . Hours may vary depending on the season or days of the week.
We recommend that you book your time range in advance. You are thus sure to be able to visit the Jameson Distillery in Dublin at the moment you are best. You will also avoid the disappointments on site. The traditional visit takes place with only 30 participants maximum.
How to go to the Jameson Distillery in Dublin?
The Jameson Distillery is at the following address: Bow St, Smithfield Village, Dublin 7.
- By tram : you can stop at the Smithfield Luas Stop tram stop on the red line.
- By bus : use the bus lines 83 and 83A that both have a stop near the Old Jameson Distillery: Church Street.
- On foot : from Temple Bar, the Distillery quickly joins on foot, only 15 minutes walk separate this festive area from the museum dedicated to whisky.
Where to park near the Jameson Distillery in Dublin?
Would you like to go to the Jameson Distillery by car? No panic, you will have no trouble parking near the museum. Nearby, you can opt for the Smithfield parking Park Rite. You can even book your place in advance. Parking is open from 7am to midnight and until 1am on Friday and Saturday. The prices are 3.40€ for one hour and 23.80€ for 7 hours of parking.
Where to stay near the Jameson Distillery in Dublin?
The Old Jameson Distillery is easily accessible from Dublin city centre. The area where this whisky museum is located, Smithfield , is an excellent choice to stay in Dublin. Effervescent and dynamic, it crawls around every hour of the day. There are many bars and restaurants, as well as a local market. We also recommend the neighbourhood Temple Bar . Located on the south shore of the Liffey, this neighborhood is the most festive and vibrant of the city. Many irish pubs are in these streets and you will not be bored!
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