A Whiskey Expert’s Guide to Irish Whiskey Distillery Tours

“The light music of whisky falling into glasses made an agreeable interlude.”
― James Joyce, Dubliners

Anyone who appreciates the complex taste of whiskey, as well as the art of distillation, should book a ticket to Ireland today. Whiskey has been produced in Ireland for centuries making it one of the oldest spirits in Europe. There has never been a better time to indulge in Irish Whiskey, since the industry is experiencing rapid growth and shows no signs of slowing down.

To learn more about drinking whiskey in Ireland, Travel Observed reached out to whiskey aficionado Paul Kavanagh, Managing Director of Adventure Trails, a Dublin and Galway-based food and drink tour company. This Irish Whiskey guide explores his thoughts on whiskey trends, his favorite food to pair with whiskey and his picks for best Irish Whiskey.

How long have you been giving whiskey tours in Dublin?

We have been running food and drink tours in Dublin for close to 5 years now. We also run tours in Galway and Cork. Our most popular tours are the Irish Food Trail, The Whiskey Trail and our Irish Whiskey Tours.

How many distilleries are operating throughout Ireland?

25+ distilleries are currently in operational on the Island of Ireland (Including Northern Ireland) and counting. Every time I read another article it seems another distillery has opened so, when you are reading this please check the facts as more might be open before 2020.

In general, how does Irish whiskey compare to Scottish and American Whiskeys?

Irish Whiskey is the fastest growing spirit industry in the world. To compare the styles is difficult as the range in all three countries is so wide and varied. If you go with the stereotypes you might say Scottish (scotch) is smoky, American is dominated by sweet Bourbons and Irish Whiskey is sweet and spicy. But if you dig below the surface you find smoky Irish Whiskey, Rye Whiskey and Bourbons style Irish Whiskey finished in a variety of different woods.

Have you noticed any recent trends regarding the flavor of Irish whiskey?

Irish Whiskey has one or two notable advantages compared to other countries. Our law states that Irish Whiskey must be made on the Island of Ireland and aged for a minimum of three years in wooden barrels. So we are not restricted by our choice of wood and can experiment with different variety’s like chestnut and walnut. We also have a local style of whiskey called Single Post Still Whiskey which is made in a copper pot still using a mash bill of malted and unmalted barley. A good example of this is Powers John’s Lane which you can taste on our Powers Quarter Tour.

What is the proper way to drink Irish Whiskey? And, should whiskey be paired with food?

Whiskey should be enjoyed the way you like it. Don’t listen to the snobs, if you like water add water, if you like ice, throw it in there. If you like cola you can pour that in but I prefer whiskey straight or in a cocktail. If you come on one of our tours, we might advise you not to put cola in a 12-year-old whiskey and how ice diminishes the flavour. We might also pair food with a wide range of whiskeys, my favourite being Bean & Goose handmade Irish Chocolates. Sure how could you go wrong?

What are some of your favorite Irish Whiskeys?

Oh wow, that is a difficult question as I have so many. It’s like asking a father to choose his favourite child. But since you asked, I’ll name a few that spring to mind: Power’s, Lambay Single Malt, Green Spot, Glendalough 13-Year-Old Mizunara Single Malt, Teeling 24-year-old Single Malt (which won whiskey of the year) or anything from Midleton.

What is something about Irish Whiskey culture that might surprise visitors?

Don’t be too surprised but the Irish like a drink or two. But as I mentioned previously whiskey is about trying different styles and finding “your whiskey” but most importantly it’s about where you drink it and who you share it with. Irish pubs are the best in the world.