8 March 2024
By Bryan McCarthy
bryan@TheCork.ie
The revamped distillery experience includes new whiskey tours, an immersive auditorium, as well as upgraded retail, bar, and café spaces
Midleton Distillery Experience today celebrates the re-opening of the rebranded and redeveloped Irish whiskey experience in Midleton, Co. Cork, showcasing some of the world’s most well-known and successful Irish whiskeys all under one roof. Taking visitors on a journey from past to present – with flagship distillery and behind-the-scenes tours, prestige portfolio tastings, cocktail making masterclasses and an Irish Whiskey Academy – the revamped attraction features a broad range of fun, interactive and immersive experiences, all fully hosted across a 15-acre site.
Midleton Distillery Experience
The new Midleton Cocktail Class fully immerses visitors in the cocktail-making experience, as they prepare (and enjoy) up to three specially curated seasonal cocktails from start to finish using the finest Irish whiskeys and local ingredients, under the tutelage of an expert Midleton Mixologist in the custom designed Kiln Bar, nestled privately in the upper floors within the original distillery buildings.
Led by Brand and Craft Ambassadors, the flagship Midleton Distillery Experience Tour brings visitors face-to-face with world’s largest pot still. The Behind-The-Scenes tour takes guests behind the curtain, visiting the many special distillery buildings, including The Cooperage and Distillers Cottage. Visitors can also visit one of Midleton’s original whiskey Maturation Warehouses to learn about the Angel’s Share and to draw, and taste, a blended whiskey straight from a cask.
For aficionados seeking a more in-dept educational whiskey experience, the Discoverer Academy immerses participants deeper into the production process, from grain to glass. The unique craft behind the Midleton Distillery Collection, Irish Distillers’ full portfolio of Irish whiskeys, is brought to life through interactive and sensorial experiments before a visit to the production site – where every drop is made.
Sample all that the Midleton Distillery Collection has to offer as the upgraded visitor destination incorporates all seven of Irish Distillers’ whiskey brands including Jameson, the world’s most awarded Irish whiskey, as well as Redbreast, Midleton Very Rare, Powers, The Spot Whiskeys, Method and Madness and Knappogue Castle.
While soaking up the magic of the Midleton Distillery Experience, guests can peruse the new premium retail facilities for distillery exclusive releases or personalised gift sets, before enjoying a leisurely lunch in the recently built Malthouse Café, or a signature drink – neat, on the rocks, shaken or stirred – from one of the new distillery bars.
Last September, Midleton Distillery Experience was forced to close its doors just two weeks after the official unveiling, following unprecedented flooding and damage caused by Storm Babet. In the intervening months, after an incredible team effort, coupled with support from construction partners and the local Midleton community, the redeveloped site is finally ready to welcome visitors back through its gates and into the revamped new spaces.
Greg Hughes, Brand Homes and Education Director, Irish Distillers said:“This is a huge day for the team in Midleton and everyone at Irish Distillers as we celebrate the reopening of the Midleton Distillery Experience. Midleton distillery is the Heart and Soul of Irish whiskey, and our revamped visitor experience will only enhance its already stellar reputation for excellence on the international stage and deliver a world class tourist attraction. We nowlook forward to welcoming our very many brand fans, domestic visitors, and international tourists to the town of Midleton and East Cork area this year and into the future”.
Midleton Distillery Experience has the potential to welcome more than 200,000 domestic and international visitors annually.
Tickets for Midleton Distillery Experience are available to book direct from the website.