The Jameson Distillery in Midleton Ireland: Day Two of Our European Backpacking Trip

After 24 long travel hours and a successful first night in Ireland, we were up and headed to the Old Jameson Distillery for a scheduled tour.

The distillery was within walking distance so we left our bags and enjoyed the walk. Midleton is a genuinely beautiful and cozy looking place. The residents all seem to know each other, they could spot us as tourists but offered smiles and waves as we walked by. The walk was only 10 minutes away and the walk is worth every minute.

When You Arrive

We arrived at the County Cork Jameson Distillery, also known as the Old Midleton Distillery or the Jameson Experience. The distillery itself is actually two distilleries, the New Midleton Distillery opened in 1975 directly next to the Old Midleton Distillery. The old distillery was established in 1825 after being converted from military barracks left from the Napoleonic Wars to a distillery centered around the woolen mill on the Dungourney River.

The land and river rights were purchased by the three Murphy brothers, who quickly built several notable features that made this place a unique visit. John and I purchased the Jameson Distillery Experience Tour which includes a complimentary cocktail, 75 minute tour of the extensive grounds, and short film viewing. You can also add premium whiskey tastings, cask opening experience, and an extended Distiller’s Apprentice Tour.

When you arrive, there’s a lovely stone archway that says “The Jameson Experience”. Inside the yard features an enormous copper alongside a peaceful brook which leads to two huge, welcoming red barn doors. Once you enter, the visitor’s center is filled with Jameson décor and historical items. Glass cases hold historical distillation tools and remembrances of the Murphy family. In the middle of the center is a small bar, there you can grab a drink at the small bar while you wait for the tour to begin.

The Tour

The tour begins by offering a brief history of before being led to the ground within the old distillery. Inside the gates, visitors can see the incredible history immediately. Some of the buildings were built in the late 1700s, others built in the early 1800s. The water wheel is the most remarkable outdoor feature of the tour. The wheel once powered the entire distillery and continues to power the cogs and wheels in the Mill Building.

Afterwards, the tour leads you to the breathtaking Still House where you can find that largest cooper still in the world. Installed in 1825, this stunning still takes up an entire building and holds 31,000 gallons! Following the still, visitors are taken to the Cooperage where casks are made and fixed with coopers available to answer any questions. The tour guide shows you how casks are stored, the principles of maturation, and the uniqueness of the Jameson method. Everything about this tour leaves you with a sense of wonder and amazement. The age of the buildings, the size of their operations, the expertise of their workers … we left the tour feeling humble to say the least.

The tour ended at exactly the right time. The steady drizzle of light rained had failed to dampen our excitement but the rain was starting to pick up. Most tours end with the tour guide selecting three lucky individuals for a comparative whiskey tasting; John was one of the lucky three! He compared a Scottish whiskey (Macallan 12), American whiskey (Jack Daniels), and classic Jameson. They teach you the difference in flavor profiles, John knew everything about what he was tasting. Jameson is our number one favorite so there was clearly no competition.

We enjoyed our complimentary cocktail, a perfect Jameson and ginger. It was getting close to lunch time so we took a moment to check out the gift shop. The gift shop is smaller than the Dublin location, the prices are also higher for bottles in America; ultimately, we decided it would never survive the six-week trek back home. The Malt House Restaurant inside smelled amazing but the prices were a little high, the tables all full, and no takeout options so we decided to head back.

We had a train back to Dublin in just a few hours so we took a fun stroll back in the right direction with stops for medicine and lunch along the way. The walk nearby is also a lot of fun, there are tons of statues and memorials everywhere. Keep your eyes out for a statue of a small boy being absolutely terrified by a group of Geese. The statue is supposed to represent the popular market nearby Goose’s Acre but really, it’s just hilarious. We grabbed a quick bite at Pizzeria at San Marco, where you can get Mediterranean and Italian classics fresh from a wood-burning oven. It was both delicious and affordable, the staff was incredibly kind. We finished up, hurried to our host to grab our backpacks and we were back on the train to Dublin within a couple hours!

Have you been to one of the Jameson distilleries in Ireland? Have you always wanted to go? Tell us all about it in the comments below!