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Dublin: Jameson Distillery Whiskey & Chocolate Pairing Class
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From €140 per person
This is the Jameson experience for people who want to go well beyond the standard distillery tour. Held in the only live maturation warehouse on Bow Street, the Whiskey and Chocolate Pairing Class brings together four exceptional pot still whiskeys from Midleton Distillery with hand-crafted Irish chocolates selected specifically to complement each pour.
The whiskeys here are serious. You’ll taste Redbreast, Red Spot, and Midleton Very Rare Barry Crockett Legacy - expressions that whiskey collectors actively seek out. A Jameson Craft Ambassador guides you through each pairing, explaining how the chocolate’s sweetness, bitterness, and texture interact with the whiskey’s oak, fruit, and spice notes. The standout moment comes when you draw whiskey directly from the cask - pulling liquid from the barrel before it’s been blended or bottled, tasting the raw character of the spirit in the room where it’s been ageing.
After the tasting, you move to a reserved area for a pot still whiskey cocktail - a relaxed finish that gives the flavours time to settle and the conversation to continue. You’ll also take home a personalised gift. At EUR140, this sits at the premium end of Dublin’s whiskey experiences, but the quality of the whiskeys alone makes a strong argument for the price. It’s a world-class tasting in a genuinely atmospheric setting.
Book as early as you can. These sessions are small and they sell out - not because of marketing, but because word has spread among people who’ve done it. A few weeks in advance is sensible; if you’re planning a trip specifically around this experience, book it first before anything else.
Smithfield is worth arriving early for. The distillery sits in the Smithfield neighbourhood, which has changed enormously in the past decade and is now one of the more interesting parts of the city. There are good coffee spots and a few excellent bars nearby. Give yourself 30 minutes before your session to have a wander around the square.
The cask draw is the moment people talk about afterwards. Tasting whiskey straight from the barrel - before it’s blended, before it’s bottled, before it’s become the finished product - is a genuinely different experience from anything you can get from a bottle. The alcohol is higher and the flavour is rawer. Pay attention to how it changes when you add a drop of water.
If you’re buying a bottle of Midleton Very Rare as a gift, you’re in the right place to do it. The distillery shop at Bow Street has good stock and the staff know the range well. After the tasting you’ll have a much clearer sense of which expression to choose.
The chocolate pairings are more considered than they might sound. It isn’t just chocolates on the side. Each one has been chosen to draw out specific characteristics in the whiskey it’s paired with. Try eating the chocolate before you sip and again after - you’ll notice the difference.