When in Ireland, you must commit to the Irish ways to enjoy the local experience! Cheers lassies and laddies because we are about to take you through our Trip Advisor’s pick to tour the local Jameson Whiskey Distillery. First, a shout-out to TripAdvisor for allowing us the opportunity to partner with them on this experience! Be sure to check out their website to see what city you are in has to offer.

We were so excited at how easy it was to book attractions, tours, and experiences on TripAdvisor. It was convenient to be able to book in advance and just walk right in. We were able to research the tour on TripAdvisor first so we knew what to expect and where to go. We really just compared which one to go to first, the Jameson or Guinness tour. We went to both.

Booking attractions in person can be risky. When you’re in another country you don’t want to miss anything. It would have not been a good experience if we had arrived at Jameson and they were sold out. I was traveling with 5 girls total so booking online ahead of time on TripAdvisor was the smart choice.

TripAdvisor removes this friction:

• Knowledge: They consolidate the options in one place, so you can easily search for what best suits your needs.
• Reviews: They show you thousands of reviews on attractions so you can make informed choices.
• Ease: They make booking online or on their free mobile app quickly and easily – no hotel concierge, no guidebook, no ancient brochures.
• Whenever, Wherever: You can book a month in advance, a week in advance, a day in advance, or a ‘skip the line ticket from the very line you’re standing in.
• VIP access: They offer skip-the-line opportunities, behind-the-scenes access, private viewings, and more.
• 24/7 customer service: Book with TripAdvisor Attractions and you’ll have 24/7 access to our customer support team.
• Low price guarantee: If you find a lower price for the same tour or activity within 72 hours of booking, or if you arrive at your destination and find your activity offered at a lower price by our operator, let them know. They will refund the price difference.

Before every trip, I plan out the things I want to do. I check TripAdvisor for the top list of activities in the area and do a little research until I find the ones I like best. Even if I don’t have time to do all of them, I always like to know what activities are popular in a particular travel destination. You usually have several options to choose from like outdoor activities, museums, tours, or day trips. This makes it easy and allows you to be organized. All you need to do is create an account or sign in and then create your trip. Click on the heart icon at the top left of a photo to add it to your trip’s list of activities! Easy peasy!

We choose to explore the Jameson Distillery while we were in Dublin! Check out the tour below!

Jameson Distillery

Jameson Whiskey was created in 1780 by John Jameson but was not formally established until 1810. Today, Jameson is the world’s third-largest single-distillery whiskey. It is produced from a blend of grain whiskey and single-pot still whiskey. This includes a mixture of malted and unmalted barley which is all sourced within a fifty-mile radius around the distillery in Cork. Jameson has received many awards and recognitions over the years for its highly rated international spirit ratings. Their Rarest Reserve is rated as one of the Top 20 whiskies in the world by Proof66.

Our VGB Squad happened to be staying right in front of the Jameson Distillery in Dublin, so we made sure we arranged a tour. Now, I am not a whiskey drinker or even a drinker for that matter. But when in Ireland…do as the Irish! The tour was sectioned into 3 parts and each session captured our full attention. It lasts about 40 minutes with 30 participants. You get a comparative whiskey tasting and a complimentary drink in JJ’s Bar!

Part 1: Virtual History

To keep things modern and interesting, the first part of our tour was the history of Jameson Whiskey. Our tour guide lead us to a dark room, and the show began! There was a projection on the center table that followed his commentary on the foundation of Jameson. If you get bored with history, I promise you won’t be bored during this presentation. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and passionate and with the technology twist, it captivated us all. It was the perfect amount of information. Not too much, but enough to understand and appreciate it.

Of course, five American women stand out from the crowd so we received some fun attention with the group of about 25 others. We were welcomed with open arms, and the statement, “We will prove our whiskey is better than yours!” We of course couldn’t wait and were excited for the opportunity to try it!

 

Part 2: How They Make It

This part may have fleeted my mind a bit, but the tour guide goes into detail about what makes Jameson different than other whiskies. You are led into another room where you are able to smell the barley, hops, and other ingredients while the technology keeps rolling on! It is like you are in a show instead of an old fashion tour. You get to see all of the effort and time that goes into making each bottle.

 

Part 3: Taste Test

The part everyone waits for, the taste testing! Ady was sick, so I was excited to get these shots down her to hopefully help clear up some of her congestion. Who knows if it worked, but her spirits were high afterward! We said “cheers” and slowly tasted the best-selling American, Scottish, and Irish Whisky available. I voted, and Irish was absolutely my favorite. They sure do know what they’re doing! Scottish Whisky was on the smoky side, and the American just lit my throat on fire. The Jameson Irish Whiskey was smooth and went down easy. They were right, they made the best in my opinion!

On a side note, this setup was beautiful. Notice the backlighting and arrangement of each sample. They even gave you a glass of water to cleanse your palate.

 

For those of us who needed to be taught how to take a sample, that training was available too! I thoroughly taste-tested my first two in the correct way, but by sample three, I slung it back like I was in a bar on college night. And no one even judged me!

Jameson Finale

After the three-part tour, we were able to get a free drink that comes along with your ticket purchase. That’s right…3 shots and a free drink. We tried the local favorite which is Jameson, ginger, and lime. It was delicious and the perfect combination.

The tour also takes you through a gift shop, which is pretty fun! They have all types of gifts for everyone you can think of. They also have different things such as personalized whiskey bottles that you can customize with your name!

Here are some of the fun photos we shot while taking the tour!

  

  

 

 

 

A little more about TripAdvisor Attractions

The things you do on your trip are the things you remember…Scuba diving in Thailand, seeing Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower, hunting the Northern Lights in Iceland, or getting to know New York City by foot. With the time, money, and anticipation that goes into your trip, you naturally want to get the most out of those experiences, forming the best possible memories for years to come.

That’s where TripAdvisor comes in. TripAdvisor is the world’s largest provider of tours, activities, and attractions, with more than 56,000 bookable experiences in 2,500 destinations worldwide. TripAdvisor Attractions offers something for every kind of traveler; book everything from walking tours, skip-the-line access, and theatre tickets to hot air balloon safaris and Everest base camp treks.

The next time you are in a new city, check out TripAdvisor and see what awesome recommendations you have.

If you are ever in Ireland, stop by the Jameson Distillery. We promise you will have an incredible experience, and be able to cheers with loved ones!

 

Two Locations:

Jameson Distillery Bow St., Bow Street, Smithfield Village, Dublin 7, Ireland

Jameson Distillery, Midleton, Ireland

 

Read Next:

How We Turned Ourselves into Galway Girls and followed Ed Sheeran’s Music Video Through Galway, Ireland

5 Top Picks To Do in Dublin, Ireland

What the Guinness Storehouse Tour is like in Dublin, Ireland

The Hidden Jewel of Cobh, Ireland

Why you should travel to Ireland and visit the Cliffs of Moher

 

*thanks for sponsoring this post TripAdvisor