Dublin Whiskey Tours

Tourism
Irish Whiskey Tourism
W
ith nearly 9 million tourists in 2016 and
nearly 10 million arriving this year, Ireland
has established itself as a prime
destination for world travellers. Over 700,000 visited
a whiskey experience of one shape or another in
2016, and this is set to rise to almost 2 million by 2025.
We are only turning the page on Irish whiskey’s next
chapter and we have a great road ahead, with lots of
seasoned tipplers, first time converts and everybody
in between.
My name is Andrew Rooney. I started Dublin
Whiskey Tours in January 2016 to provide a premium
whiskey experience for visitors to our shores and
locals alike. I had worked as a tour guide for 5 years
and wanted a tour that mixed history, literature, music,
stories and everything else I love about Ireland.
I decided to mix all of the above with our beautiful
whiskey. It was a revelatory moment, and one I am
still happy I had.
As an amateur tippler I knew I would need lots
of help setting up. Everyone I asked, from Michael
Lawlor - Irish Whiskey Tours to James Scales - Celtic
Whiskey Shop, told me to talk to Fionnán O’Connor.
Author of our ‘A Glass Apart’, and a whiskey guru who
deserves the name, Fionnán set about training our
guides and selecting our whiskeys.
After input from our guides and Dublin’s whiskey
stalwarts, we decided on a two hour tour, tasting five
premium whiskeys, with the option to add gourmet
food or aged statement whiskeys too. We visit four
bars; Dingle Whiskey Bar, Bowes, The Palace Bar
and The Rag Trader. Visitors get to hear the history of
Irish whiskey, how it’s made and most importantly, to
taste our great whiskeys in the special atmosphere of
a Dublin pub.
Visitor Responses
Dublin
Whiskey
Tourism
Andrew Rooney of Dublin
Whiskey Tours shares his views
I feel people come to Ireland because we have
something missing from modern life - warmth, humour
and with stories to tell and the time to tell them. Every
whiskey in Ireland has a great story and just needs the
right person to tell it. This can be bar staff, distillers,
tour guides or locals. Modern tourists are clued in, always
online and fully researched before they travel, so
it’s better to treat tourists with respect, keep the paddywhackery
low or non-existent and show our best
features first. We don’t need leprechaun whiskeys and
tweed caps to sell our spirits.
Most visitors have had bourbon, Scotch and some
Irish, most trying Jameson at some stage, but some
have never tried Irish whiskey and are pleasantly
surprised when they taste the sweet spice of a Green
Spot or the robust flavour in a Knappogue 16 year
old. It is always a great experience to see people warm
to our beautiful malts, grains and pot still whiskeys.
Sampling our whiskeys, with a whiskey lover in a great
bar should leave them wanting to sample more back
home and spreading the good word.
64 Irish Whiskey Magazine | Issue 2

Common Tourist Comments and Questions
“I thought all
whiskey was
smoked”
“who made it first?”
“how do you
make it?”
“What is the difference between
American, Scotch and Irish whiskey?”
“why are the Irish
known for drinking
to excess?”
“can
I add
water
and
ice?”
“How are you
not drunk all
of the time?”
“How are you
not drunk all of
the time?”
“what’s your
favourite
whiskey?”
“where can I get
it back home?”
Industry
Irish whiskey is a great boost to farmers, publicans,
tour companies, distillers, local communities and the
country in general. It needs protection from bland
blends, fake lineage, caramel colouring and other
unworthy elements. All the people in whiskey tourism
need to communicate with each other, from the
barman, to the distiller, from the office worker to the
factory floor. In whiskey every element affects taste and
texture.
The more we as an industry put in, the more we
will all get out of this boom, and it will set up the industry
and the country as a whole for future generations
as it has in Scotland and the United States. Not every
distillery has to be craft sized and not every distillery
needs to be owned by the big four industry giants.
There is room for small, medium and large, and each
can learn from one another.
“Words are thoughts clothes,
said Samuel Beckett, then
let’s say whiskey is the tailor”
~ Andrew Rooney
"It was a great way to try different
whiskeys at different bars in Dublin,
while learning about the history of
Ireland, whiskey and making new
friends."
Jeremy - Tripadvisor
DUBLIN WHISKEY TOURS
April 2017
65