Overview
In 1780, John Jameson opened the doors of the distillery on Bow Street, and over 200 years later they are still open to visitors. Bow St. is no longer a working distillery - whiskey production was relocated to Midleton, County Cork in 1975 - but today the original distillery buildings operate as an immersive visitor experience showcasing the heritage, craft, and story behind Ireland's best-selling Irish whiskey.
Following an €11 million refurbishment in 2017, the site now attracts close to half a million visitors per year and has been named the World's Leading Distillery Tour at the World Travel Awards.
What You'll See
The flagship Bow St. Experience is a fully guided 45-minute tour through three rooms focusing on the highest-quality ingredients, the triple-distillation process, and the brand's ongoing innovation, concluding with a comparative whiskey tasting that places Jameson against Scotch and American whiskeys.
Beyond the flagship tour, additional experiences include a premium Secret Whiskey Tasting, a cocktail making masterclass, a whiskey blending class, and the chance to draw whiskey straight from a cask in Dublin's only live maturation warehouse.
The cocktail making masterclass runs for 60 minutes and includes making three Jameson cocktails from start to finish, hosted by a Jameson Craft Ambassador, with a recipe book to take home. All experiences conclude with time at JJ's Bar.
Visitor Essentials
The distillery is open daily from 10am to 8pm in winter and 10am to 8:30pm in summer, with hours varying by day. Confirm current pricing for all other experiences directly on the official site, as these vary.
Pre-booking is advised for all experiences, but is essential for the Cocktail Making class, Blending class, Cask Draw, and Secret Whiskey Tasting as spaces are limited.
The flagship Bow St. Experience runs approximately every 15 to 30 minutes and walk-ins are accommodated where possible. Visitors under 18 may attend the flagship tour but cannot participate in whiskey tastings - a soft drink is provided in place of the whiskey portion.
Tips
No alcohol is sold in the bar or gift shop before 10:30am Monday to Saturday, or before 12:30pm on Sundays. The distillery sits in the Smithfield neighbourhood, a 10-minute walk from O'Connell Street.
Those with a serious interest in how Jameson is actually made today may prefer the Midleton Distillery Experience in County Cork, where production is active and a working micro-distillery is part of the tour.
Official Site: https://www.jamesonwhiskey.com/en/visit-our-distilleries/jameson-bow-street-distillery-tour
