The 13 Best Whisky Tastings in Ireland

1.Dublin: Irish Whiskey Museum Tour and Whiskey Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 999 reviews · from $22Our pick

At 119 Grafton Street, an English-speaking guide such as Brian, Daniel, Linda, or Andrew leads you through four rooms on Irish whiskey’s rise, collapse, and revival. The one-hour tour ends with a tutored tasting of three classic or four premium whiskeys. The premium option includes a souvenir tasting glass.

“It was the best Tour in Dublin. Our Guide was so good. A really really friendly and funny guy. We come back again.”

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2.Cork Midleton DistilleryJameson Experience & Whiskey Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 681 reviews · from $37Top rated

Visit the historic Midleton distillery about 15 minutes from Cork. You’ll watch a short Jameson film, tour old kilns and mills, enter a restored 19th-century warehouse, then compare whiskey styles in the Jameson Bar. Guides such as Killian, Connor, Ines, and Daniela are known for making the process clear and lively.

“Nice, fun, informative experience. Our guide was great and very knowledgeable. I would highly recommend for those that want a distillery tour.”

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3.The Dublin Liberties Distillery – Guided Tour and Whiskey Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 150 reviews · from $24

Spend 45 minutes to an hour inside Dublin Liberties Distillery with a guide such as Kelly, Kate, or Kevin. You’ll hear about the Liberties and Dublin whiskey, see a working distillery, and taste Dubliner Honeycomb Liqueur, Dubliner Bourbon Cask 3YO Blend, and Liberties Whiskey Oak Devil 5YO Single Malt. A café, bar, and gift shop make it easy to linger.

“Kelly was a great guide, sharing the history of the Liberties area of Dublin, describing the whiskey making process in detail and leading us through the whiskey tasting. Pleasing to the palette and educational”

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4.Whiskey Tasting Tour of Dublin

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 117 reviews · 1 hour 45 minutes (approx.) · from $57

Meet your English-speaking guide at The Lincoln’s Inn for three premium Irish whiskey samples, then continue to The Palace Bar for two more tastings in its upstairs whiskey room. Guides such as Andrew, Rachel, Niall, Owen, and Tiernan explain production, styles, glasses, and Dublin pub life in a small group setting.

“Niall was a great whiskey guide! He was easy to talk to and it was immediately apparent that he knows his whiskey. He went over the history of Irish whiskey as a foundation for all the tastings we were going to have and knew a lot about the different processes and the different whiskey businesses in Ireland. You get to go to three different locations (off the tourist path) and taste about 5 different whiskeys. He also had good recommendations for food, pubs, and whiskeys that weren't full of tourists. I wish it hadn't been my last night so that I could have tried more of those recommendations and gone…”

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5.Clonakilty Distillery Tour & Classic Whiskey Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 110 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $24

You’ll spend about 75 minutes inside Clonakilty Distillery with an expert guide, following the making of Irish whiskey, gin, and vodka. A cinematic flight over the family farm adds local context, and the tour ends with a guided tasting of two award-winning Clonakilty whiskeys. Groups are capped at six.

“Good tour, not an awful not to the distillery in fairness but interesting non the less. The product is far more interesting than the tour!”

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6.Premium Irish Whiskey Tasting Hosted by Local Dublin Expert

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 77 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $72

Meet at 3:00 pm on Aungier Street for a two-hour Irish whiskey lesson in The Swan Bar. A local guide, including Derek on some sessions, leads you through six premium whiskeys, Irish pub culture, whiskey styles, brand stories, tasting notes, and a whiskey-based cocktail. The group stays in the traditional pub for the full experience.

“Great experience and tasting. The local guide was an expert in relaying information you never would have got elswhere. Absolute with the prize. The surroundings with the pub we met was outstanding.”

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7.Dublin: Whiskey Tasting Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 73 reviews · from $51

Meet your English-speaking whiskey guide at The Lincoln’s Inn, across from the National Gallery of Ireland. Over two hours, taste five premium Irish whiskeys at The Lincoln’s Inn and Palace Bar, connected by a short walk through central Dublin. Guides such as Tiernan, Andrew, and James bring in whiskey-making, Irish culture, and Dublin history.

“Amazing tour, very nice and knowledgable tour guide, definitely recommend this tour.”

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8.Dublin 6 Whiskey Tasting & 3 Food Pairing Walking Tour with Local

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 42 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $102

Spend about three hours walking central Dublin with a small group of up to 15 people. Guides such as Gráinne, Adam, Shane, and Sean lead tastings of Irish whiskeys including Jameson, Bushmills, and Wild Geese, with a Deluxe option adding food pairings. The route includes historic sights and usually finishes near Temple Bar.

“Our experience was ‘top shelf’ from beginning to end!! Our guide was so engaging and knowledgable. She literally made the tour a highlight of our trip!! We learned about Irish whiskeys and background stories on several distilleries. The accompanying food was great too! We highly recommend. We will definitely be taking the food tour provided by this guide on our next visit to Dublin!!”

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9.Dublin Guided Irish Coffee Masterclass with Whiskey Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 32 reviews · from $48

Meet Derek or another host at the Palace Bar in Temple Bar for a one-hour Irish Coffee Masterclass. You’ll taste two 20ml Powers whiskeys, learn the drink’s history, and build your own hot, creamy Irish coffee upstairs in the private Whiskey Palace. All ingredients and alcohol are included.

“We absolutely loved this experience! Patrick made everything so much fun. He taught us about the history of Irish coffee and told some great stories along the way! We would definitely do this experience again!”

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10.Dublin: Jameson Distillery Secret Whiskey Tasting Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 30 reviews · from $45

Spend one hour in JJ’s Office at Jameson Distillery Bow St., a room reserved for this tasting. A Jameson Brand Ambassador leads you through four portfolio whiskeys, including a seasonal Maker’s Choice pour. This is a tasting only, not the Bow St. distillery tour.

“Very informative and I learnt a lot about whiskey”

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11.Clonakilty Distillery: Tour & Classic Whiskey Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 5 reviews · from $23

Spend 75 minutes at Clonakilty Distillery with an English-speaking guide, a virtual flight over the family barley farm, a working distillery tour, cask-room lessons, and two 20ml whiskey samples in the Speakeasy tasting bar.

“Very friendly guide, only downside is that there is no translation into French.”

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12.Cork: Midleton Distillery (Jameson) Premium Whiskey Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · from $40

At Midleton Distillery, your English-speaking whiskey expert guides you through four premium Irish whiskeys in a 25-minute tasting. You’ll learn how Jameson, Redbreast, Powers, Midleton Very Rare, and other brands fit into Ireland’s whiskey story. The small group is limited to 10, and the tasting ends back at reception, with time to shop afterward.

“My tasting host was great. Beautiful Irish redhead who knew her stuff backwards and forwards. Whiskey was great and I don’t think you can improve the experience! I recommend it highly!”

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13.Portmagee: Spirit of the Sea Whiskey Tasting Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2 reviews · from $34

Spend about an hour with an English-speaking guide exploring Portmagee village, its historic Seine Boat, and 300 years of maritime tradition. You will taste a selection of Portmagee whiskeys aboard the boat, then watch a 360-degree presentation in the Portmagee Domes. The experience is for adults 18 and older.

“Personalised experience, very informative of the local history and what the experience is out to achieve for the local community. Not exactly a whisky drinker but was very nice and makes for great gifts for the whisky drinkers back in Australia. Great local knowledge.”

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