Welcome to the Jameson Distillery

Having worked at the Jameson Distillery in Dublin’s Smithfield for 20 years, Ray Dempsey has seen this popular part of the city really come into its own. “I’ve been here since ’97, so I’ve watched the area evolve over the years”, he begins. “And now it’s really got a heart and soul.”
 
Ray runs the Jameson Distillery, a beautiful building that’s just undergone a massive refurbishment.

“We wanted to listen to our visitors”, Ray explains. “People nowadays like to be more in control of their experience. If you can create the tours in a way that they’re more involved, it really meets their expectations.”    

For Ray and the team, it’s all about providing an engaging, interactive experience. “We’re delighted to present a range of new immersions”, he says. “Craft Shakers for example sees a group of up to 16 people take part in a masterclass on how to make different types of whiskey cocktails.”

For the real connoisseurs, an incredibly exciting opportunity awaits. “We’ll take groups to visit the maturation warehouse, where we’ll open a live cask and taste whiskey directly from the barrel”, says Ray. “It’s not something you can do in many places! The whiskey is between 14 and 18 years old, so you really appreciate the taste. You’ll also breathe in the ‘angel’s share’ – that’s the 2% that evaporates during the year and creates that unmistakable aroma. You can usually only ever talk about it, but to be able to step into the warehouse and smell it for yourself is absolutely fantastic.”