‘Surrounded by the beautiful Wicklow Mountains, guarded by the mighty Sugarloaf, enjoying a temperate coastline climate and bathed by pure spring waters, Powerscourt provides the perfect stage for distilling Irish Whiskey’, a bold statement by the team at Powerscourt Distillery.

The good news however is, they are telling the truth. Apart from the extremely well known Powerscourt House, Gardens and Waterfall, the estate now has a thriving Irish Whiskey distillery which opened on the 13th of June 2018.

I was invited as a guest to visit the distillery and promptly booked myself in for a Sunday visit. Mere minutes from the beautiful village of Enniskerry you could, should you be inclined plan an afternoon around the whole estate. Lunch in the hotel, a stroll in the gardens, a photo op by the waterfall and a warming whiskey to finish in the distillery.

If you are feeling a little more adventurous and want to spend a day in the arms of Wicklows finest producers, the Meet the Makers Wicklow team have a very special one day tour on offer. The tour takes in Killruddery House, Wicklow Way Winery, Wicklow Wolf Brewery and of course Powerscourty Distillery.

The distillery has found a home in the Old Mill House on the estate and the owners have been vigilant in ensuring the character and history of the building has been, not only preserved but showcased throughout. The tour itself is a fascinating insight into the creation of the Fercullen whiskey brand.

There is a tour or tasting to suit everyones level of interest. A Distillery Tour is €20, lasts 50 minutes and includes 3 tastings. A Distillery and Warehouse Tour is €35, lasts 75 minutes and also includes 3 tastings. If you are already familiar with the distilling process and want to get straight to sampling, you can book in for that for just €12 which includes sampling a 14 year old Single Malt and a 10 year old Single Grain. The distillery has a suite of six tasting rooms varying in style and size, all luxurious and the perfect place to relax and enjoy your whiskey.

A gift shop on site will cater to you carrying a bottle home and the cafe beside it will treat you to nourishment if you want to stay a little longer. Overall an enjoyable experience with an excellent tour guide who kept us informed, interested and entertained. Would I recommend it? Yes I would.