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Midleton, Co. Cork
Description
The Old Midleton Distillery is a popular attraction - a
little advance warning: people pack in for the tours here. But it is not a bad experience; everyone is
well-behaved, and the tours are extremely well organized. I learned a lot about Irish whiskey on our
tour. My brain buzzing with new
information, I was just as eager for the glass of Jameson waiting for me at the
end of the tour. Each adult ticket comes
with a coupon for a glass of whiskey, redeemable at the Jameson Bar.
The visit begins with a film that tells the history of Irish
whiskey, from American prohibition to the present day. The film explains that the distillation
process is what distinguishes Irish whiskey from Scottish whiskey and
Bourbon. Irish whiskey is distilled
three times. Scottish whiskey is
distilled twice. Bourbon is distilled
once.
The second part of the tour is a guided walk through the Old
Midleton Distillery - a full tour of the process of Irish whiskey making.
There are special factors that go into creating a distinctly
Irish whiskey. The ingredients are
important. Irish whiskey is made from a
blend of malted and unmalted barley and water.
We tour the Malting Building and learn the details of this process. Irish whiskey contains malt dried in kilns
fueled by anthracite, a smokeless fuel from Wales. Scottish whiskey contains malt dried using
open turf fires, which give Scotch its peatey flavor. This smokey taste is deliberately absent from
Irish whiskey.
Another factor is the ageing process. Irish whiskey matures in oak barrels imported
from Portugal, Spain, and America. These
barrels originally contained sherry, port, or Madeira wine. The different casks give different qualities
to the whiskeys as they mature, such as a sweet flavor and red toned
color.
I was fascinated with the fact that the plant was powered by
a waterwheel, which dates back to 1852, up until the distillery closed in
1975. Take about eco-consciousness! The waterwheel turned the millstones that
ground down the barley and malt into grist.
By the end of the tour, I'm ready to taste the Irish
whiskey. It is good! I appreciate its
color. I taste the subtle sweetness in
its flavor. Soon it numbs my mouth with
its potent alcohol content, making it difficult to taste. No matter.
After learning what went into making it, I know it's good stuff.
Recommended as an informative education in Irish whiskey
making.
How to get there
By car:
From Cork City, take N25 east to Midleton.
From Waterford, take N25 west to Midleton.
By bus:
See www.buseireann.ie
website for all current travel details and restrictions.
Opening times
March 1st - October 31st:
Tours daily, from 10:00-18:00 (last tour at 16:30).
November 1st - February 28th:
Monday to Saturday - tours at 11:30, 13:00, 14:30, and 16:00
only.
Sunday - tours at 12:30, 14:30, and 16:00 only.
Admission fee
Adult 9.75 euro
Child 6 euro
Address
The Old Midleton Distillery
Midleton
Co. Cork
Tel: (0)21 4613594
Web: www.jamesonwhiskey.com
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