Jameson Distillery Bow St.

Common questions about visiting the Jameson Distillery

Let us share some valuable comments to help you make your booking and stay at the Jameson Distillery even more pleasant.

1. Place

Jameson's Whiskey Distillery on Bow Street in Smithfield has not changed its location for over 240 years.

2. Entry

The standard tour cost ranges from €26 to €30 depending on visiting hours. The 40-minute guided tour and whiskey tasting are included in the price. Please note that prices may change.

3. Parking

Due to the limited space, Jamason Distillery does not provide parking facilities. The nearest one is on Queens Street/Smithfield Square.

4. Accessibility

The distillery and all experiences are inclusive and accessible for all.

5. Recycling

All the Jameson bottles, cans, and gifting boxes can be recycled. Over 300,000 plastic cups have been reused into recognised Jameson tote bags.

6. A variety of tours

Jameson Distillery offers indoor tours, including the Bow St. Experience and Whiskey Cocktail Making Class. All tours have various prices and duration.

7. Private event

It is possible to rent the whole building or just a part. Any of the offered experiences can be incorporated if needed.

The turbulent history of a prosperous distillery

A Scottish lawyer, John Jameson, founded his distillery in 1780. At that time, Dublin has over one hundred operating breweries and distilleries. One can imagine how intense the competition was.

Over time, his sons, one by one, joined the business, making it grow and expand. Over one century, the street started to resemble a city. The exterior walls were warm due to the ongoing process inside the building, which attracted low-income locals. Inside, there were sleeping quarters designed for night-duty workers. The factory provided a stable workplace for dozens of coopers, carpenters, engineers, blacksmiths, painters and stone masons. Positions and knowledge were inherited from ancestors and passed on from generation to generation.

In 1917-1918, the Jameson Distillery experienced a turbulent period and was closed due to a shortage of coal and corn. To top it all off, a considerable amount of workers were infected with a deadly virus, which immensely impacted the production and delivery processes. The 1920 American Prohibition of alcoholic beverage importation and the outbreak of World War II, with its ban on transatlantic shipping, severely hampered whiskey distribution. The middle of the 18th century was marked by a decline in Irish whiskey sales. Considering challenging times, John Jameson & Son merged with Cork Distilleries Company and John Power & Son. This is how Irish Distillers Limited was incorporated in 1966.

As early as 1963, Jameson Distillery initiated and launched the production of bottled whiskey for sale on the internal market. It was initially named Jameson Ten and changed into Crested Ten the following year. Constantly growing and improving, the Jameson Distillery needed more space and relocated in 1975. The chosen location was Midleton, County Cork. As the largest distillery in Ireland, it produces several renowned whiskey brands.

A new interpretation of the old distillery

Jameson Distillery used to be a great whiskey producer with hundreds of workers; now, it is a site of research and discovery, which is also essential nowadays. Once a workplace for hundreds of workers, it became home to thousands of visitors. Seven years later, it was open again and started to welcome tourists. The reopened building still required an extensive renovation as it survived the disastrous fire in 1990. 2017, it underwent an €11 renovation, which took several months. The costly refurbishment mixes classic whiskey tastings with innovative storytelling approaches.

The impressive changes have not gone unnoticed, and Jameson Distillery won the 'World's Leading Distillery Tour' at the World Travel Awards 2019.

The diversity of tours at Jameson Distillery

Jameson Distillery offers several tour options, depending on price and type of experience. The tours differ in length, ranging from 45 to 90 minutes. During fascinating indoor tours, you will be immersed in the ingredients and the entire distillation process. In the end, they will gladly treat you to a complimentary drink at JJ's Bar.

1. The Bow St. Experience

This experience is the best starting point for your journey. 

If you genuinely desire to learn about Jamason's renowned old whiskey, we recommend this 45-minute guided tour. The cost starts from €26 per person. Tour guides will reveal the whole story of the former factory to you! Take a chance to enjoy a comparative whiskey-tasting session. Jamason tastes different at the exact spot where its history began.

2. The Jameson Black Barrel Blending Class

Want to witness the process of producing whiskey from A to Z? Welcome to Black Barrel Blending Class, where you can try blending it yourself. Skilled Jameson Craft Ambassador will teach you how to blend professionally in 90 minutes. Besides, you can enjoy premium whiskey, which is available only here. Is it not worth €60?

The maximum number of guests is six. Please note that you cannot book the Bow St. Experience together with the Class.

3. The Whiskey Cocktail Making Class

This experience is not merely about making cocktails. It is all about creating memories that will stay with you for a long time. During a 60-minute masterclass at Shaker's Bar, you will make and enjoy 3 Jameson cocktails with seasonal variations. The experience is suitable for everyone who loves and adores Jameson Whiskey Sour, Jameson Old Fashioned and Jameson Punch. Take a chance to learn some tips and secrets on making your favourite cocktails perfect. A stylish and detailed Cocktail Book to take home will surely improve your skills! Imagine the friend's face when you easily craft a smooth cocktail in front of them.

4. The Secret Whiskey Tasting

This one-hour tour is ideal for guests who value their time and long for something unique. This experience allows you to enter John Jameson's secret office, a place that only a few people have been to before. The most fascinating part of this tour is the four of Jameson's finest whiskeys to try: Jameson Original, Jameson Crested, Jameson Distillery Edition, and Jameson Black Barrel Cask Strength. Experienced Ambassador shares nuances on how to nose and praise whiskey in the way it deserves.