Luck O’ The Irish – Irish Whiskey Distillery Visitor Figures Higher Than Ever!

It’s safe to say that the 2020s have gotten off to a somewhat shaky start, and by that, I mean they’ve been absolutely abysmal. We’ve seen global conflicts, natural disasters, political unrest, economic turmoil, extortionate energy prices, Euro 2014 Cup Final heartbreak, and oh yes, the small matter of a global pandemic that lasted the best part of two years.

Between 2020 and 2022, much of the world was in lockdown. We were confined to our homes for months on end, had to social distance, work from home whenever possible, and generally try to avoid large crowds. Needless to say, a number of businesses and sectors were affected, including those affiliated with hospitality and tourism.

While tourist attractions enjoyed a spike in visitors once restrictions were lifted, visitor figures have been slow to recover. This is especially true for Ireland. Pre-Covid, the number of people visiting Irish whiskey distilleries topped one million for the first time in history. Since then, though, that figure has not been beaten. Until now that is.

For the first time since 2019, Ireland’s fantastic whiskey distilleries have recorded more than one million visitors! This is great news, not only for Ireland and its whiskey industry, but for the whisky/whiskey biz in general. Here’s a quick look at why that is.

A Growing Interest in Irish Whiskey

If you’re familiar with Irish whiskey and the history behind it, you’ll know that it has enjoyed its fair share of ups and downs over the centuries.

From the mid-19^th century, Irish whiskey was absolutely thriving. It was enjoyed all over the globe, was seen as a smoother, less-harsh alternative to Scotch, and at one point, there were close to 100 licenced distilleries in operation across Ireland.

The mid-20^th century however, painted a very different picture. Prohibition decades earlier had taken its toll, whiskey palates were changing, and Scotch, rye, and bourbon were all seen as favourable alternatives. The industry took a huge hit and distillery after distillery fell silent. By 1980, only two distilleries remained – Midleton and Bushmills.

Decades earlier, with the industry at risk of going under completely, the decision was made for rivals to become allies. John Power & Son, John Jameson & Son, and Cork Distilleries Company, who all once competed with one another, made the drastic decision to merge and become Irish Distillers. They helped to modernise the distilleries that remained and focused on smoother, triple-distilled, blended whiskies such as Jameson.

During the 1980s, Pernod Ricard purchased Irish Distillers, and, thanks to huge investment and clever marketing tactics, the industry gradually began to recover. It’s once again in a boom period, and I personally am all for that.

Today, there are 50 working distilleries across Ireland, with more in the pipeline. Some of the country’s newest, most popular distilleries include Crolly Distillery, Tullamore DEW, and of course, Teeling Whiskey Distillery.

It isn’t just the spirit that’s proving popular once more either. It turns out, that whiskey distilleries are incredibly popular tourist attractions.

Irish Whiskey Tourism on the Rise

In 2019, the number of people visiting Irish whiskey distilleries topped one million for the first time ever, coming in at a whopping 1.02 million visitors. Then of course, 2020 happened and the Covid-19 pandemic killed off this momentum.

Since then, the magic one million figure hadn’t been broken again. Until now. Official figures from the IWA (Irish Whiskey Association) reveal that for the year ending June 2025, a staggering 1,010,261 people visited Ireland’s whiskey distilleries. This is especially impressive as it’s an increase of 23% for the previous year.

What I find most encouraging about this, is the fact that there was a strong gender and age balance amongst visitors, with the average age of visitors ranging from 34 – 45, closely followed by 45 – 54. See, whiskey isn’t just an old man’s drink!

So, which of Ireland’s stunning distilleries were most popular? Well, from what I can find out, it looks as if Jameson’s Bow Street Distillery in Dublin was the most popular, closely followed by Antrim’s Bushmills Distillery, Dublin’s fabulous Teeling Whiskey Distillery, Cork’s Midleton Distillery Experience, and finally, Leitrim’s The Shed Distillery.

Before I jump to the next section, I’ll quickly give a shoutout to Teeling. The distillery opened a decade ago in 2025 and recently welcomed its one millionth visitor. You just love to see it.

Supporting Ireland’s Tourism Sector

With so many amazing Irish whiskies now in production, not to mention the stunning distilleries, the interactive whiskey experiences on offer, and that amazing Irish hospitality I like to talk about so much, it’s easy to see why whiskey tourism in Ireland is on the rise. This is especially fortunate as Ireland’s tourism sector in general, looked a little shaky last year. Again, Irish whiskey was the knight in shining armour in 2024, as it helped to draw in strong domestic and international crowds.

According to the IWA, whiskey distillery visits were supported by five key markets: US, UK, Germany, France, and Ireland.

Now, I’m sure it’s not just the whiskey that people visit the distilleries for. To some tourists, it’s a way to learn more about the history behind one of the country’s most famous exports, whereas to others it’s just a fun way to spend a few hours. Regardless, each paying customer is not only helping the Irish whiskey market, but Ireland’s tourism sector as a whole.

To help capitalise upon the popularity of these distilleries, the IWA will shortly be launching a tourism initiative known as the Irish Whiskey Way. I’m especially excited about this initiative and may look at it in more detail in a future blog. Basically, this new initiative will celebrate Ireland’s thriving food and drinks scene, along with showcasing other Irish cultural cornerstones and of course, serving as a guide to Ireland’s many distilleries. This could very well rival Scotland’s Speyside Malt Whisky Trail, so watch this space.

Of course, tourists and visitors to whiskey distilleries are also helping to generate money, not only for the Irish whiskey industry, but for local economies too. For the year ending June 2025, each visitor spent, on average, €41.24. It’s estimated that this made €41.6 million for local businesses.

While the industry isn’t yet back to where it was nearly two centuries ago, the comeback is most definitely on. If you’re ever in Ireland and are looking for things to do, I can wholeheartedly recommend a visit or two to a whiskey distillery. The surroundings are likely to be stunning, the stories are fascinating, the locals are friendly and hilarious, and of course, the drams are out of this world (you’ll also likely get a few samples along the way). Slainte.

If you’d like to learn more about your favourite whiskies, or simply treat yourself to a dram or two in the process, head on over to GreatDrams.com and take a look at the diverse selection of unique whiskies we currently have in stock.

With an impressive selection of limited-edition, rare, and award-winning whisky, as well as heaps of whisky info on our blog, it’s the perfect spot for any whisky lovers out there.

Tags: Irish Whiskey Distillery

Greg

My name is Greg, and I’m a brand strategy consultant, writer, speaker, host and judge specialising in premium spirits. My mission is to experience, share and inspire with everything great about whisky, whiskey, gin, beer and fine dining through my writing, my brand building and my whisky tastings.