Jamesons Bow Street

On my actual birthday it was a treat was a visit to Jamesons Whiskey Bow Street in Dublin. We didn't know much or really like whisky until we visited Scotland and although I have enjoyed a James whiskey I didn't really know much about it.

I didn't realise until our visit is that Jameson Whiskey is actually made at Midleton Distillery in Co. Cork. So what is Bow Street in Dublin?

Bow Street was the original distillery started in 1780 by John Jameson. It was a complete industry including all trades needed in the whiskey production; cooperage, saw mills, engineers, carpenters, smithy were all needed as well as brewers and distillers. 

The barrel men were key to keeping the industry working and in the late 1920s became the symbol of Jameson. Since then there has always been a barrelman embossed on the bottom of each bottle.

Bow Street is now an amazing space that celebrates, informs and shares the love of whiskey. The bar is a huge space with fantastic beams and stone floors, the bottle chandeliers were amazing.

Although not a working distillery Bow Street is a superb experience, very informative led by our knowledgeable guide. Starting with the choice of two cocktails or a neat dram we discovered about how Jameson started, the hard work, the struggles during the famine and how the company survived to become an icon of Irish Whiskey.

The darkened whiskey room was very stylish with displays set up for everyone to have a dedicated learning table. As our guide explained how whiskey is made each section lit up highlighting the ingredients or process. It was a very inclusive way of explaining quite a complex process.

Our final room was the tasting room where each place was set with three whiskey drams. Our guide explained how each whiskey was different and how that is achieved using varying barrels and conditions.

What a superb experience, even if it wasn't in a working distillery. With plenty of time before our dinner reservation we settled into comfy seats in the bar, why wouldn't you!

I really enjoy a Guinness and stout beers and Hubby likes IPA so we chose whiskeys made using those barrels.

Jameson Stout Edition is triple distilled and finished in stout beer barrels giving a nose of fields and apples followed by flavours of orchard fruits with a hint of nutty chocolate on the lovely long finish.

Jameson IPA Edition is also triple distilled and finished in beer barrels but this time using Irish Pale Ale barrels to give a happy finish to the whiskey. There's plenty of citrus, a hint of heroines and a slight woody finish.

We enjoyed both whiskeys but didn't buy either in the Jameson store, simply because they are cheaper here in the UK, maybe the Bow Street prices are good for the American visitors who might not be able to buy at home. We will be buying both these whiskeys once there is space in our drinks cabinet!

A great afternoon on my special day and what better way to finish our experience than an Irish Coffee. I'm a huge coffee fan and really enjoy a well made hot coffee cocktail. This one was pure indulgence made with whiskey, chocolate liqueur, house-made stout liqueur, coffee and smooth cream ... the best Irish Coffee ever.

Thank you Hubby and Jameson Bow Street for a super whiskey experience on my 60th birthday, one to remember ... Sláinte !

Turning 60 in Dublin

A special birthday to celebrate with a trip to Dublin, somewhere we've have not visited before. Sailing on Irish Ferries Ulysses from Holyhead we enjoyed priority boarding as part of our Club Class booking. 

Our crossing had a little swaying but it didn't prevent us enjoying Club Class food and drink whilst relaxing in the lounge on the top deck with great views .... or would be on a non-rainy day.

Dublin was very busy as we arrived during rush hour but we found our hotel's car park and soon checked in. Pembroke Townhouse is a Georgian style hotel; our room on the 6th floor was cleverly decorated in keeping with the era. It was a very comfy room and although no tea/coffee in our room it was freely available in the beautifully designed lounge.

In search of dinner we strolled along the canal to Wetherspoons Keavan's Port which although had a small frontage was huge inside with so many rooms and different levels. 

Strolling back we stopped by Searson's whiskey bar, an absolute delight with wooden panelling and shelves upon shelves of whiskey.

I will be writing a separate blog about the whiskeys as we had a flight and a couple of others. The bar staff were fantastic sharing lots of knowledge, they even let me read the huge whiskey bible.

A great start to our holiday in Ireland was followed by the big 60 finally arriving ... I do like to spread my celebrations. After a delicious breakfast we took the bus into Dublin city centre. 

Our first stop was the famous Temple Bar, what a lively place even at 11am. I can imagine evenings are great fun as the atmosphere with the live band was brilliant, the Guinness was good too.

Dublin was very different to how I'd imagined. It didn't have many old buildings but lots of concrete block buildings that were amazing places inside. The traffic lights and road systems seemed very European and I was very surprised at how much graffiti there was. It was expensive to visit anywhere; the castle, Cathedral and museums so we didn't. We did find Molly Malone before wandering our way to Jamesons.

The tour and tasting at Jamesons was very good, lots of information and a chance to try various styles of whiskey. I will be writing a dedicated Jamesons blog post.

For my birthday dinner we went to PHX Bistro which lies along the River Liffey held within its concrete banks. Our meal was delicious, the restaurant had a mix of Italian French Spanish vibes which reiterated our European feelings. I had a lovely surprise at the end too.

I had a super birthday but our trip wasn't over as the following day we returned to Dublin centre to visit the Guinness Storehouse. What an experience over numerous floors finishing in the rooftop Gravity Bar with a pint or two. Again I will write a dedicated post as there was so much to see.

Our final experience in Dublin was discovering a new whiskey, Roe & Co. Owned by Diageo who also own Guinness this distillery is fairly new in the whiskey world.

It was great to see the stills and although we didn't take a tour the young lady who served our flight gave us lots of information about each whiskey and the company. Our flight was Roe & Co 106 with orchard fruits flavours with a touch of vanilla and soft spice: Roe & Co Solera Single Malt with plenty of caramel, fruit and nuts: and Roe & Co Flor Single Grain 14 Year Old which was the strongest of the three with tropical flavours and grassy notes. My favourite of the three as the 106 but all three were delicious.

It was a great way to end our few days in Dublin, as mentioned I will be writing about Searson's, Jamesons and Guinness. Our blog and our visit does seem whiskey/beer focused but Dublin didn't offer beautiful buildings or lovely views, unless we missed it, all we noticed was lots of concrete, graffiti and many many busses. We had a lovely lovely time but I don't think Dublin is a place we'll visit again. 

I will be writing about our trip to Waterford the home of Crystal glass. I'll end with a huge thank you to my super Hubby and Dublin for a great 60th birthday, all said it was a great way to celebrate turning another decade.

A Leamington Night Out

Our super friends treated Hubby and me to a gin tasting at Warwickshire Gin Company, an early birthday pressie for my upcoming 60th. Taking the train to Leamington we had plenty of time to enjoy a meal in town before heading over to the old railway arches and its lively atmosphere. 

Before our tasting we enjoyed a beer at Windmill Hill Brewery a great Taproom next door. As the weather was so nice we sat outside but there was plenty of indoor seating. It was lovely to see the brewing vats and a variety of taps, so many beers to choose; it's certainly a place we would visit again.

Almost hidden in the arches, the doors to Warwickshire Gin hold quite a secret. From the outside there is an air of being in a production location but its much much more more, as we discovered through the beautiful glass doors.

What a delight, a room full of comfy sofas and chairs with low lighting offering a 'come, relax and enjoy' atmosphere. It was very different to other gin tastings I have been too, it was such a superb atmosphere.

David, Warwickshire Gin's owner, was our gin pourer and mixologist with Olivia our gin host sharing her passion and knowledge. Settling in with a delicious welcome gin based cocktail it was so interesting to learn about how the company began and the future plans for this small but brilliant gin maker. 

The still is one of the smallest I have seen, however it is perfect for the quantity of gin Warwickshire Gin produce and gives time for their other spirits to be made as well. Olivia explained how each gin is made, how and when the botanicals are used depending on the flavour required and how making vodka and rum is slightly different. 

In all we tasted six gins and one rum, each spirit served as a neat short. After each two tastings we each chose our favourite and David poured us our choice with a mixer, or as I prefer it, neat with ice. There was plenty of time to learn about each spirit and enjoy each longer drink. 

I really enjoyed all the gins, I have given a brief descriptions but to fully appreciate these spirits a tasting experience is very much recommended, or an afternoon tea or cocktail night.

Leamington on Parade - honouring the elephants brought to Royal Leamington Spa this gin's botanicals include Ceylon tea, cinnamon and hibiscus

The Philosopher's Daughter - flavoured with rosehips, rose petals and orchard fruits this gin is named after an Elizabethan philosopher's daughter with links to Kenilworth Castle

Kingmaker - named after the 16th Earl of Warwick this gin includes many hedgerow botanicals such as blackberries and elderberries

Pelota - full of citrus flavours from the Mediterranean this gin's name is a form of early lawn tennis, a game developed by a Spanish Merchant. Royal Leamington Spa was the home of the first Lawn Tennis Club

Emperor - in honour of locally based Purity Brewing Co.'s founder who loved Roman history there is an abundance of bergamot and black tea in this gin

Peeping Tom - a legend involved in Coventry's Lady Godiva history, this gin is as cheeky as the young spy with it's unusual flavours of cinnamon, star anise and nutmeg

The Pugilist - a warm rich rum named after the town's famous boxer 'The Leamington Licker' 

I cannot say enough about just how lovely our evening was, it is certainly the best gin tasting I have ever done and is on my must do again list for sure. 

Thank you David and Olivia for your hospitality, knowledge and great skill in producing these amazing spirits, two of which I couldn't resist. 

Huge thank you to our super friends Kay & Colin, it was an amazing birthday gift, thank you.

Our friends took part in the Warwickshire Gin Company video to promote the business, I think you can see from the video we all had a great time. 

Video link 

As a footnote: Warwickshire Gin Company have kindly donated Gin Tasting Tickets for our Grand Raffle to raise money for our replacement minibus at Nuneaton North Scout Group as our previous minibus is no more. I cannot thank them enough for their generosity.

If anyone can help too please email NunNorthEvents@gmail.com ... thank you