Spirits Secret Ireland Whiskey Tour 2023

Day 1.
Dublin.
Arrive in Dublin Airport from your overnight flight. After clearing customs transfer on own via taxi or uber. You make your way to your hotel. You will have the rest of the afternoon free to explore Dublin. Today we will visit the famed Jamison Distillery. In 1780 John Jameson established Jamison Distillery. Jameson Irish Whiskey is made by blending rich pot still whiskey made from both malted and unmalted barley, with the finest grain whiskey, both distilled 3 times for smoothness. Enjoy the Black Barrel 90-minute Blending Class. Overnight the Camden Hotel.

Day 2
Dublin On Own.
I would suggest a Hop on Hop Off Dublin Bus Pass. You will be sure to see St. Patrick’s Cathedral where writer Jonathan Swift gave his sermons, The G.P.O. on O’Connell Street scene of the 1916 Easter Uprising where the bullet holes remain to this day. Drive through famous Phoenix Park where the Pope said Mass in late 70’s and finally Trinity College to view the 8th century manuscripts, The Book of Kells, still preserved as they were when the Monks produced them all those centuries ago. Afternoon we will visit the Guinness Storehouse, where we will also have a brew at the Gravity Bar. Next a visit to the Teeling Distillery is in the list! Overnight at The Camden Hotel. Tonight, we make our way via quick taxi or Uber to Taylors Three Rock Dinner Cabaret. Taylors Three Rock is a 3-part show with Irish folk singers, an Irish comedian, and Irish Riverdancers. DINNER AT TAYLORS THREE ROCK.

Day 3
Dublin-to Ballykeefe
Distillery-Cork. After breakfast we meet our Driver Guide in the lobby of the hotel. We then make our way to Kilkenny. Time for a whiskey tour that will be sure to delight all! Ballykeefe Distillery is proudly owned and managed by the Ging Family who trace their unbroken farming lineage as far back as written records exist. Morgan’s fascination with the shared history of Irish farming and Irish Whiskey, led him to dream of one day diversifying his farming enterprise with the addition of a distillery as was so common centuries ago. It took 25 years of research and painstaking effort to bring his dream to fruition. The tour will be a journey through every part of the Ballykeefe operation, which has revived the lost traditions of a family farm distillery, with a unique commitment to environmental protection, carbon neutrality and sustainability. Time to visit Kilkenny Castle if you like! Continue to Cork. Overnight Imperial Hotel Cork

Day 4
Kinsale.
Time this morning to enjoy quaint picturesque Kinsale. We then enjoy a “Walking Food Tour of Kinsale” with time to browse the artisan streets of this food capital. This afternoon we then travel along the coast, “The Irish Riviera” to the seaside village in Youghal. Enjoy some time in this quaint town. This afternoon we continue to Midleton famous for its school, Middleton College, founded in 1596 and its Midleton Distillery founded in 1825 which manufactures Irish whisky or what many Irish refer to as “Uisce Betha” meaning “Water of Life. Return to Kinsale. Overnight Imperial Hotel Cork.

Day 5
Cork-Clonakilty-Skibbereen-Bantry-Glengarriff- Killarney.
We depart Cork and travel to Old Head, the nearest point to the spot where the Lusitania was sunk in 1915. It is a lovely drive and worth the trip to admire the setting. Clonakilty is next and here; castles dot the shores of the bay. Colorful and traditional shop fronts have hand painted signs that reveal their contents. Here too, is the Michael Collins Centre. It tells the story of the Irish patriot who was born here and rose to prominence during and after the Easter Rising. We enjoy a visit to the Clonakility Distillery! Clonakilty Distillery founders, the Scully family, have farmed by this coastal land for eight successive generations. A commitment to both heritage and innovation has led us to revive ancient malting barley varieties. Privileged to be guardians of these scarce grains, they nurture them to create a range of whiskies that honors this unique inheritance. Continue along the coast and make a visit to the Drombeg Stone Circle. It is known locally as The Druid’s Altar and dates to around 900 bc. The circle of 13 stones is in a magnificent setting with beautiful sea views. The busy town of Skibbereen is rightly known as the capital of West Cork. It is the “hub” from which the many “sparkling jewels” of the area can be reached. The town has strong ties to the famine which devastated the local community and there is a large famine graveyard in nearby Abbystrowry. The Heritage Centre here has an excellent exhibition. Eight miles southwest the little fishing village of Baltimore is located. It is then onto Killarney for our overnight. It is onto Killarney. Sites of interest in the town reflect its strong religious and educational history. Killarney was a monastic settlement from the 5th or 6th Century and house settlement began here from around 1500. Explore colorful laneways, a fine cathedral and experience the ambience of busy streets in the town center. Nestled amidst deep, lake filled valleys with astounding sights such as the famous Ladies’ View (Named after Queen Victoria’s Ladies’ in Waiting) and the MacGillicuddy Reeks – Ireland’s largest mountain range, home of Carrauntoohil the country’s largest peak. Overnight at The Great Southern Hotel Killarney

Day 6
Dingle.
After breakfast we depart Killarney for the Dingle Peninsula. The journey begins with some of the most magnificent scenery in all of Ireland. The little town of Dingle is straight out of a story book. The fishing boats in the harbor and tiny brightly painted pubs portray a time that has continued to stand still. The population of 1500 people and only 52 pubs are ready to welcome you this afternoon. Worth the wait is the native seafood chowder served up at lunch time with freshly baked brown bread. We continue on to Slea Head. Along the way, we will see bee-hive style huts, originally inhabited by 12th century monks, which overlook the rugged Blasket Islands. The awe-inspiring beauty of this particular area is unmatched. There is no other landscape in western Europe with the density and variety of archaeological monuments as found on the Dingle Peninsula. This afternoon we visit the Dingle Distillery. When the Dingle Whiskey Distillery was founded, 500 casks were made available to whiskey lovers, investors, and connoisseurs. Those who chose to invest in a cask are known as Founding Fathers of the Dingle Whiskey Distillery. Each of these casks is individual, painted with the Founding Father’s name, fill date and cask number. Founding Fathers had the option of maturing their whiskey in whatever wood – port, sherry, madeira, or bourbon, that they wished. Overnight at The Great Southern Hotel Killarney.

Day 7
Killarney-Tullamore-Kilbeggan-K Club.
Morning departure from Killarney. We continue through Limerick, Ireland’s 3rd largest city and home to author Frank McCourt who wrote Angela’s Ashes. Limerick is an area steeped in history. The origin of Limerick city dates to the 9th century a site settled by the Vikings. Limerick City is known as “City of the Broken Treaty”, due to the treaty which was signed surrendering the city to William. The terms of the treaty included respect for the rights of Catholics were immediately breached. The treaty was signed on the Treaty Stone which can still be seen today. King John’s Castle is a fortified 13th century Castle on ‘King’s Island’ in the heart of medieval Limerick. The castle overlooking the River Shannon opens an exciting window on the lives and stories of the people through political upheaval, war and famine. We continue through the Irish Midlands first to the Tullamore Dew Distillery. We continue to Kilbeggan Distillery. Kilbeggan Distillery is an Irish whiskey distillery situated on the River Brosna in Kilbeggan, County Westmeath, Ireland. It is owned by Beam Suntory. A small pot still distillery, the licence to distil dates to 1757, a copy of which can be seen in the distillery. Overnight K Club.

Day 8
Dublin Airport.
Transfer on own via uber or taxi to Dublin Airport.