What about an experience that brings you to the heart of your favorite drink and tells the story of how an idea of flavours became a thirst-quenching reality….

There are many reasons to visit the garden of Ireland with walking and exploring the great outdoors being what it’s most famous for. But what is the perfect post-activity treat to wet your whistle?  What about a local Irish whiskey or gin, a cold, crisp craft beer or even a glass of wine ?

Wicklow offers various experiences that bring you to the heart of locally crafted drinks and tell the story of ideas, knowledge and passion to produce local flavours to drink.  Whether it’s beer, whiskey, gin, liqueur or wine, Wicklow has an array of exceptional breweries, distilleries and even a winery, that run tours and tastings to suit your buds.

And for the fans of the ‘black stuff’,  come and see the pint shaped Guinness Lake at Lough Tay  (did you know that Wicklow provides the most important ingredient of every pint of Guinness: water!).

See below the various local drink tours and experiences:

Wicklow Brewery

Redcross:  This brewery believes the best beers are made fresh, and enjoyed fresh.
At Wicklow Brewery, the quicker the pint reaches the lips, the better- and by that, we mean they don’t waste any time from the production process to the enjoying process! Head brewer Bryan Kelly says; “by using our own home-grown malted barley and pure water from our own land, we don’t barrel and store the beer in a warehouse for weeks.” For Bryan, the magic of making a beer begins at the raw ingredients you choose, and it’s only complete when someone buys and enjoys, your product. But the brewery isn’t the only attraction on the premises, there’s Mickey Finn’s Pub and Restaurant as well as The River Valley Glamping experience. You could quite literally plan your entire weekend here in this one spot.

Powerscourt Distillery

Enniskerry:  Possibly the grandest of the tours offered in Wicklow, is the Powerscourt Distillery Experience, situated within the stunning grounds of the Powerscourt Estate. This special pairing has been carefully put together by in-house chef and food and beverage historian, Santina Kennedy. Inspired by the quality of Powerscourt’s Fercullen whiskey range and the history and location of the Powerscourt Distillery, Santina has chosen foods that reflect the history, legacy and the innovation of local food producers. Santina, who is a Wicklow native herself, has a personal interest in the heritage of the Powerscourt estate, which is apparent throughout the tour. Her ancestors worked in the Mill House when it was a central part of farming life on the Powerscourt Estate over hundreds of years. The food and whiskey pairings include Irish Farmhouse Cheeses, many of which come from Wicklow.

Wicklow Way Wine

Newtownmountkennedy:  From the mountains of California into the valley of the Wicklow mountains, this wine combines a love for Irish food, flavours and nature. Brett and Pamela took what they learnt in California, Florida and Massachusetts and brought it home to Ireland where they opened their vineyard on the outskirts of Newtownmountkennedy, just 15 minutes from south Dublin. The Wicklow Way Winery offer tours of the winery for small groups, followed by a wine tasting of three wines, along with local artisan cheese and chocolate pairings. By the end of the tour and tasting you’ll walk away with a new appreciation of wine, wine tasting, food pairings and the care and precision that go into the whole process, from meadow to glass. Wine, chocolate, cheese and the Wicklow Mountains, what more could you want?

Bonac Irish Gin

Newtownmountkennedy:  Father and son team Michael and Gavin Clifford shared a passion for distilled spirits, how they were made and the people behind the process. After spending years broadening their knowledge on how to make the perfect gin, they retired home in 2016 to the Wicklow mountains to set up their own distillery; Bonac Gin. After three years of perfecting the process the Clifford’s wanted to open the doors of their distillery and give people the chance to learn about the process and make their own bottle of gin to take home! So, what can you expect on one of Bonac’s gin tours? Well, quite a lot actually! The Gin Making Experience lasts approximately 3 hours, and each guest will receive 3 drinks, some food, a guided tour of the distillery, the gin making experience, a bottle of personalised gin, and a gift bag to take home.

Wicklow Wolf

Newtownmountkennedy:  This craft beer is quickly becoming one of the more popular pints to have pulled in your local. Established in 2014 by two friends with a mutual love for good craft beer, this beer is brewed not only with love but in a sustainable way. They brew 8 different beers which they call their ‘Alpha Pack’, but they also have a range of limited-edition beers. Learn about the power of the Wicklow mountains and how they capture that in their craft beer and what’s the story behind the wolf.

Bailey’s Liqueur Farm

Tinahely:  There are some things we do, only once a year. One of those things is drink a Baileys, whether it’s on ice, in your coffee or poured over your warm Christmas pudding. Baileys has its place in everyone’s annual calendar. So, imagine going to the farm and seeing the silky, creamy magic being made in real life? What a festive treat that would be, or just a treat in general, no festive occasion needed! The Baileys farm in Tinahely is something for everyone in the family. Their 30/40-minute workshop tour includes a mixing demonstration of the ingredients used to make Baileys and a short history of the liqueur….as well as multiple samples of one of Ireland’s most successful brands!