Jameson Distillery Bow St.
Former Jameson distillery in Smithfield, Dublin, with guided tours of the whiskey’s story, tastings and a bar at the original site.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
John Jameson, a Scottish lawyer, founded a distillery on Bow Street in Dublin in 1780. His son joined the business in 1805, and it became known as John Jameson and Son’s Bow Street Distillery. By the 1860s the works covered more than five acres, with its own sawmills, carpenters’, painters’ and coppersmiths’ workshops, and was described as a city within a city.
The twentieth century was harder. Prohibition in the United States, a trade war with Britain and the rise of blended Scotch hurt Irish whiskey, and in 1966 the Jameson firm merged with Cork Distilleries Company and John Power and Son to form Irish Distillers. Distilling at Bow Street ended in 1971, when production moved to the new distillery at Midleton in County Cork.
Since 1997 the old site in Smithfield has been open to visitors. The main experience is a guided tour of about 45 minutes through a story gallery that traces the history of Jameson and the grain-to-glass process, followed by a comparative tasting. The distillery no longer makes whiskey, but it houses a maturation warehouse, a gift shop and a bar called JJ’s. Other experiences include cocktail-making and blending classes and special tastings.
Highlights
- Bow St. Experience: 45-minute guided tour with a comparative tasting
- Story gallery on the history of Jameson and the grain-to-glass process
- Blending class for creating a personal blend
- JJ’s Bar and gift shop, open without a ticket
- Original 1780 site of the Jameson distillery in Smithfield
Permanent exhibition
- The Jameson story gallery – Part of the Bow St. Experience, a story gallery tells the history of Jameson from 1780 and explains how the whiskey is made, from grain to glass.
- Founded
- 1997
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €26 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | –Anyone under 18 can join the Bow St. Experience but receives a soft drink instead of the whiskey tasting; the other experiences are for over-18s only. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · Carers accompanying someone with a valid ticket are admitted free to the main experiences. |
| Jameson Experience with Tasting and Cask Draw (from) | €41 |
| Secret Whiskey Tasting (45 minutes) | €40Over-18s only |
| Cocktail Making Class (60 minutes) | €60Over-18s only |
| Black Barrel Blending Class (90 minutes) | €60Over-18s only |
| Redbreast Tasting (60 minutes) | €50Over-18s only |
The standard Bow St. Experience, a 45-minute guided tour with a comparative tasting of three whiskeys and a signature cocktail, starts from €26; prices depend on the booking. Visiting the bar and gift shop does not require a ticket. Carers accompanying a ticket holder are admitted free to the main experiences.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Most experiences are wheelchair friendly; the distillery asks visitors to email its reservations team in advance for details on each experience. Assistance dogs are welcome and water bowls are provided. The first room of the tour uses flashing lights for a short period; guides warn visitors beforehand and visitors can leave the room.
Kids & families
Only partly suitable for kids
| Time needed | approx. 45 min |
|---|
Under-18s can join the main tour but cannot take part in the whiskey tastings or in the other experiences.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Smithfield (Luas Red Line) · 2-min walk
The Luas Red Line stop at Smithfield is a 2-minute walk away, and the hop-on hop-off bus tours stop at Smithfield.
By car
Parking available
The nearest car park is on Queen Street, by Smithfield Square.
Amenities & dining
- Museum shop
JJ’s Bar and the gift shop can be visited without a ticket. All experiences take place indoors.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
The distillery offers private evening hire for events.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 45 min |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The Bow St. Experience starts about every 15 to 30 minutes. Pre-booking online is advised, especially for the cocktail, blending, cask draw and Secret Whiskey Tasting experiences, which have limited places; visitors without a booking are placed on the next available tour where possible. Groups of 15 or more should contact the reservations team by email. Reservations are not taken by phone. |
