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Founded in the early 19th century, the Old Midleton Distillery is home to some of Ireland's most famous whiskeys. Jameson, Paddy and Powers were all produced here for 150 years before commercial production was moved to a more modern plant next door.
Today, you can tour the historic distillery buildings to learn about the traditional processes used here and see the original water wheel, malting houses, corn stores and still houses as well as the world's largest pot still. In the company of an expert guide you'll discover the secrets of whiskey distilling and blending and get a tutored tasting of several varieties of whiskey.
The two-hour tour takes place in a small group and once you arrive at the distillery you’ll be asked to wait for a short while until your group has assembled and is ready to start the tour.
You begin with a short film introducing the distillery, the brand and its history, before moving on to explore the distillery itself. Your tour guide will explain about the milling, mash and fermentation processes as you walk through these areas of the old distillery, then take you to see the stills themselves.
You then learn about the process of distillation and visit the experimental micro-distillery where you’ll have a short classroom theory session along with a sample of whiskey. There's the chance to see this distillation in practice, before you move on to the casks to learn about the maturing process. Finally, visit the cooperage, where you’ll be taught about this craft and the casks' significant role in determining the final taste and tone of the whiskey. You can also try another whiskey sample while here.
The last stop behind the scenes is the distiller’s cottage, where you can peruse the full Old Midleton collection and read archive notes with another whiskey sample. Finally, return to the visitor center where you can end the tour with either a whiskey or a whiskey cocktail.
You round off your tour with a chance to explore the historic buildings which are full of character. Once the tour is complete, you can have lunch (not included) in the on-site restaurant or browse in the well-stocked distillery shop.
Start planning your tailor-made trip by contacting one of our Ireland specialists
These activities are designed to give you the most authentic experiences around where you're staying. We work with local guides, who use their knowledge and often a resident's eye to show you the main sights and more out-of-the-way attractions. Our specialists can suggest tours and activities that will introduce you to the local ways of life.
Walking tour of Cork
Explore Cork's history on a walking tour of the city, learning about its links with ancient saints and fleeing French Protestants. You'll also learn how it came to be an international maritime hub and the impact all these influences had on the city.
You can enjoy this activity as part of the suggested tours below, or we can weave it into a trip shaped entirely around you.
