Midleton Distillery Experience

Midleton Distillery Experience has reopened following flooding and damage caused by Storm Babet in September 2023. Thanks to an incredible team effort, coupled with immense support from construction partners and the local community, the revamped site is ready to welcome visitors.

Refined experience
The revamped attraction features a wide range of fun and interactive experiences such as masterclasses, tastings, and an Irish whiskey academy. These are perfect for any whiskey enthusiast!

The main highlight is the chance of getting around the distillery on the Behind The Scenes Tour (€75). The extended tour includes visiting grounds and distillery buildings: the Cooperage, Distiller's cottage, and Maturation Warehouses. At the warehouses, attendees are allowed to draw and taste whisky straight from the cask. Tasting premium whiskeys within reach of the stills where they are made, even as you speak, is a genuinely high-level experience. Watch a short film to get a deeper insight into the site's history, production and heritage.

Enjoy exclusive access to the cocktail-making room as the list of activities has been enriched with the Midleton Cocktail Class (€60). The class occurs in the custom-designed Kiln Bar, nestled comfortably on the upper floor. The new experience fully immerses visitors in the cocktail-making process. Have fun creating and learning how to prepare a cocktail from start to finish. You will surely make a few new friends along the way! A Midleton mixologist will guide visitors through making specially curated cocktails. Marvel at the mix of the finest Irish whiskeys and delicious local ingredients. Visitors will finish the tour by sipping the cocktails they made at the bar. Needless to say, there’ll be plenty to talk about after this fascinating tour.

The Midleton Distillery Experience and Premium Whiskey Tastings (from €56) take visitors on a journey from the past to the present by sharing the stories of the distillery’s rich heritage and ongoing innovations. During this unforgettable experience, you will hear about the hardworking craftsmen and enjoy the stunning surroundings of the distillery. After the tour, you can relax and savour four of the finest Irish whiskeys under the guidance of an ambassador.

The Discoverer Academy (€350) provides guests with full details on the whiskey distilling process at Midleton. If you seek a more educational experience, the Academy will immerse you deeper into the production process. You can trace the whole way whiskey does from grain to glass: brewing, distillation, and maturation. An interactive and sensory approach brings the craft of making Irish whiskey to life. It includes practical experiments and a visit to the production site, where every drop is made. This experience takes a whole day and will leave you fully understanding what they do in Midleton. Lunch and a personalised gift are included.

Welcoming and engaging location
At Midleton Distillery, the team looks forward to welcoming brand fans, domestic tourists, and international visitors to the town of Midleton this year and in the future. The Distillery has the potential to greet more than 200,000 visitors annually.

A one-of-a-kind whiskey experience offers guests more than just whiskey tasting. Guests will be introduced to the very essence of Irish whiskey. The location compiles an outstanding Irish Distillers whiskey collection under its roof. Take advantage of all that a 15-acre site has to offer. It is home to all seven Irish Distillers’ whiskey brands, such as Redbreast, Midleton Very Rare, Powers, The Spot Whiskeys, Method and Madness, and Knappogue Castle. Jameson, the world’s most-awarded Irish whiskey, is included, too.

Besides unique whiskey tours and an immersive auditorium, the improved distillery experience includes upgraded bars and cafés. Guests can stroll through the renovated retail facilities, too. Everyone can find an exclusive distillery and personalised gifts for any budget. If you are feeling peckish, do not think twice about having a leisurely lunch in the newly built Malthouse Café. Bars offer numerous signature drinks – neat, on the rocks, shaken or stirred.

Decades of development 
Midleton’s distilling history dates back to the 19th century, when the Murphy family gave life to Irish whiskey. Despite great hardship through the years, the roots of Irish whiskey production remained strong in Midleton. The local community has always been pioneering, as whiskey is a people's lifeblood and aspirations.

The 1960s were a time for radical actions. Numerous distilleries closed as Irish whiskey saw a drastic decline. In 1966, the three most prosperous distilleries that remained operating—John Jameson & Son, John Power & Son, and the Cork Distilleries Company—came together to pool resources. That is how a new Company, Irish Distillers Limited, was established.

In the 1970s, it became clear that the old distilleries were no longer fit for purpose. That’s why a modern distillery was built in Co. Cork, near the Old Midleton Distillery. Production from the partner distilleries was transferred to the new site. The traditional distillery was famous worldwide, demonstrating growth and the re-emergence of Irish Whiskey. After closing its doors in 1975, it became a distinguished part of the Irish distilling narrative.

The industry’s revival in the 1980s saw the Midleton Very Rare range of vintages launch to critical acclaim. It recently celebrated its 40th anniversary with a Ruby Edition bottling. Midleton Very Rare stands out among many luxurious whiskeys on the market. In addition to being all that Irish whiskey has been known for, it has an unsurpassed level of consistency and quality, with three Master Distillers behind it.

Standing the test of time, the distillery was again brought back to life in 2020 through the Silent Distillery Collection. The first of six releases is a 45-year-old Irish single malt. Only one release per year is planned until 2025. This scarce set of releases illustrates the pioneering spirit of Old Midleton Distillery, an example of distilling experimentation and creation. At Midleton, emphasis is placed on redesigning the cask maturation programme, laying the foundations for future innovation.

The Old Midleton Distillery spirit has survived after falling silent many years ago. It continues living in the hearts and minds of the dedicated team of workers and craftsmen, as well as in the cobbled yards, old buildings, original pot stills, and aged oak casks.