Once the world’s leading whiskey producer in the 18th and 19th centuries, Dublin’s Liberties was the beating heart of the industry - until the 20th century saw its decline.
Today, the neighborhood is experiencing a spirited comeback, with new distilleries reviving its golden era. Discover how Irish whiskey is reclaiming its place on the world stage and how you can experience this revival firsthand with an exclusive whiskey tour through Dublin’s historic Liberties.
The first records of whiskey distilling in the world date back to 1324. These records relate to Irish whiskey and are found in the "Red Book of Ossory," written in Co Kilkenny in Ireland’s Ancient East. That means the Irish invented whiskey!
Although our friends in Scotland claim their records are more accurate and therefore they claim they invented whisky (no "e" in Scotland). That debate will continue for some time yet, what we do know for certain however is that Irish whiskey was the biggest-selling whiskey in the world in the late 18th century and throughout the 19th century. The hub for Irish whiskey was the Liberties neighborhood, in Dublin.
This area is quite residential today, but back in the Victorian era, it was filled with distilleries and breweries, including the Guinness Brewery which is still operating in the Liberties today on 64 acres. A variety of challenges cropped up in the early 1900s, the big challenge being the failure of Irish distilleries to properly adopt new quicker, cheaper ways of making whiskey.
These new technologies were warmly embraced by the Scots and Scotch whisky conquered the world. By 1976, we had just one distillery left in the Liberties, and they closed this year – distilling disappeared from this neighborhood completely and Irish whiskey sits on shelves in bars around the world gathering dust.
Read more
However, the few distilleries left in Ireland do not give up – they merge and they start to rebuild the category. By the early noughties, Irish whiskey is on fire around the globe and it becomes the fastest-growing premium spirit in the world.
Today, distilleries are popping up in the Liberties again, there are five distilleries in operation. Whiskey Island has a daily tour that celebrates this renaissance of our national drink in Dublin, we operate this tour privately for small groups, including hotel pick-up and transportation. We share this story of Irish whiskey through the ages, visiting some of the old remnants of the golden era of Irish whiskey making in the Liberties followed by a private sampling trail of three small-batch distilleries. It’s a Dublin city tour with whiskey in its heart!
Here are just some of the most popular and well-known distilleries in the area:
Teeling Whiskey Distillery
Teelings.
One of the most famous modern Irish whiskey distilleries, Teeling opened in 2015 and was the first new distillery in Dublin in over 125 years. It offers tours and tastings, showcasing its innovative approach to Irish whiskey.
Roe & Co Distillery
Roe & Co Distillery.
Roe & Co Distillery, located in the former Guinness Power Station in Dublin’s Liberties, offers a modern whiskey experience with interactive tours and hands-on cocktail workshops. Inspired by the legacy of George Roe, it produces smooth, contemporary blended Irish whiskey.
Jameson Distillery Bow St.
Jameson Distillery.
(near The Liberties)
While not a working distillery anymore, the Jameson Distillery in Smithfield offers an immersive whiskey experience, including tastings and historical tours.
Pearse Lyons Distillery
Pearse Lyons Distillery.
Located in the restored St. James’s Church, this boutique distillery is known for its small-batch, high-quality whiskeys. The setting alone makes it a must-visit.
Dublin Liberties Distillery
Dublin Liberties Distillery.
Producing The Dubliner and Liberties whiskeys, this distillery embraces the rich history of the Liberties area and offers a range of engaging whiskey experiences.
Comments