Where is Jameson Whiskey Made?
If you’ve been reading our Whiskey Guide long enough, you probably know all about the What, the How, and the Why of Whiskey. These inquisitive questions on the quirks of Irish whiskey likely make you a curious whiskey fan and strongly indicate your drink of choice and of course that you Must be a Jameson. There is, however, one question left unanswered. That, of course, is the Where.
It can be argued that where whiskey is made is the most important component of a whiskey. Indeed the country, region or even town where a whiskey is made affects its processes, its ingredients and flavours, its availability, and of course, accounts for a varied history and wealth of inherited expertise. And so, the Where is the cornerstone of what makes a whiskey unique.
Jameson Irish Whiskey is and has always been produced in Ireland, using traditional Irish whiskey-making practices established by our founder John Jameson. Some of John Jameson’s practices are so integral and long-standing to Irish whiskey-making that they are now foundational to any new whiskey distillers to call themselves Irish Whiskey makers. So, where is Jameson made? Why Midleton in County Cork, of course!
Jameson Midleton Distillery Cork, Ireland
Jameson is the world’s favourite Irish whiskey. It is sold all over the globe. From Bangkok to Berlin to Boston, Jameson is poured, measured, shaken, stirred, and swallowed by the world’s whiskey lovers. Like many other beloved beverages, Jameson has a deep history of craft and tradition that is indisputably tied to its sense of place, and that place is Ireland. But where is Jameson whiskey made?
The Midleton Distillery (formally the Jameson Distillery Midleton) in the small town of Midleton Co. Cork, is where Jameson Irish Whiskey is made today. The Midleton Distillery has a long history that proceeds Jameson and has been the beating heart of the town for over 200 years. It was originally a woollen mill but soon became an army barracks during the Napoleonic wars. It was finally purchased and converted into a distillery by the Murphy brothers. In 1867, consolidating with some smaller local distilleries, the Cork Distillery Company was formed.
The Cork Distillery Company formed part of a merger with Jameson in the 1960’s and Jameson soon shifted its production to the small town of Midleton from its famous original home at Smithfield’s Bow Street in Dublin city, where a new state-of-the-art facility was built on the Midleton site to meet the increased demand for Irish whiskey globally.
Today, the Midleton Distillery is the largest whiskey distillery in Ireland and sits at the cutting edge of Irish whiskey-making, producing a vast range of Jameson brands along with other brands of Irish whiskey (but more on that later). So, when the MC asks “Where is the Jameson distillery in Ireland” at your pub quiz, you can say “Which one? Where it was made or where it’s made now.” Then everyone at the quiz will “ooh” and “ahh” and say under their breath “This person really knows their stuff”.
Can You Visit Where Jameson is Produced?
You absolutely can, and they would love to see you! The Midleton Distillery is open to the public and offers a whole host of tours that cater to everyone. From casual day trippers looking for a fun day out filled with history, knowledge, and great stories, to real whiskey enthusiasts seeking in-depth understanding and a behind-the-scenes look at the modern process of distilling guided by experts, there is something for everyone.
The newly opened Midleton Distillery Experience is where you’ll find information and tickets for all our tours. And that’s not all, there are whiskey tastings, cocktail-making classes, a full-day whiskey academy, and a colossal collection of Irish whiskey to taste and purchase. To get a sense of what the Midleton Distillery Experience is all about (before you run to buy your plane tickets to Ireland) have a look and discover our craft here.
Jameson Distillery, Bow St. Vs Midleton Distillery
“Wait a minute, I thought Jameson was a long-standing Dublin whiskey?” Long-standing… as in old? How old is Jameson? In a word? Old.
We’ve been distilling whiskey since 1780 and yes, for nearly 200 years Jameson was distilled at Jameson Distillery on Bow Street in Dublin.
Today, the Jameson Distillery Bow Street is the historical home of Jameson and has become one of Ireland’s most popular tourist attractions. The site of the old distillery was used as Jameson headquarters until 1997 when it was refurbished as a visitor centre. It was updated again from 2016 to 2017 to become Dublin’s premiere whiskey experience. Inside you’ll see the walls, rafters and foundations of the original Jameson Distillery, however, unlike the Midleton Distillery, this is where most of the original historical features end and the modern experiences begin.
While both the Midleton Distillery and the Jameson Distillery Bow Street share a fantastic interactive tour, sensational cocktail-making classes, whiskey tastings that will knock your socks off, and an excellent cocktail bar, Bow Street has distinct experiences you won’t find in Midleton (and vice versa). Bow Street offers a Cask Drawing Experience, blending classes and the opportunity to bottle your very own bottle of Jameson Black Barrel Cask Strength whiskey, all with Dublin City at your feet.
Yes, we agree. You will be spoiled for choice, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
More on Jameson Midleton Distillery, Cork
Where is Jameson Whiskey Distilled?
Jameson is distilled in the Midleton Distillery in Midleton Co. Cork using the traditional triple distillation method. Jameson uses a mixture of malted and unmalted barley, which is processed and distilled in traditional copper pot stills and column stills which produce all types of Jameson whiskey, including our single pot still.
We’ve already discussed the historical and technological reasons why the distilling of Jameson has moved to Midleton; however, three final components make Midleton an ideal place to produce Jameson Irish Whiskey: Location. Location. Location.
To begin with, Midleton Distillery is situated just adjacent to the beautiful town of Midleton, but has had the opportunity to expand greatly over the years. The Midleton site is vast, covering the historical old distillery and the current operational one while housing a vast expanse of maturation warehouses with room to expand further.
The distillery is also situated on the Dungorney River, which flows directly through the grounds. This much-needed water source is vital to our whiskey and plays a pivotal role in the final product.
Lastly, Midleton itself is surrounded by some of the best barley growers in the country. Come harvest time, one of Jameson’s key ingredients is shipped from local and nearby sources to the distillery. You just can’t beat homegrown grain!
Who Owns Jameson?
Jameson is owned by Irish Distillers, a subsidiary of the global spirits group, Pernod Ricard. Irish Distillers was formed in 1966 when John Jameson & Son, John Power & Son, and Cork Distilleries merged under the name.
Over the years, more whiskey brands have been developed under the Irish Distillers banner, including Jameson, Powers, Redbreast, Spot Whiskies, Method & Madness, Knappogue Castle, and Midleton Very Rare.
We know what you’re thinking. “All these amazing Irish whiskey brands under one roof?!”
What can we say? We strive for excellence.
Are All Types of Jameson Made in Midleton?
Indeed, they are! Yes, the entire range of Jameson whiskeys is produced at the Midleton Distillery, including some bottles of Jameson that are exclusive to the Bow Street Distillery and Midleton Distillery Experience. Our Master Distillers at the Midleton Distillery have spent years crafting Jameson’s unique whiskey offerings, producing some of the world’s favourite Irish whiskeys, including Jameson Black Barrel, and Jameson 18 Year. Of course, the only way to understand the truly unbelievable scale of whiskey production created in the Midleton Distillery is to see it yourself. Which leads us to…
How to Visit Jameson Midleton Distillery?
Visiting the Midleton Distillery is very simple. First things first you need to get to Ireland. This (believe it or not) is key. Once you’re here you can book one of the many amazing experiences on the Midleton Distillery Experience webpage.
Of course, you don’t have just the Midleton Distillery Experience to visit. There is also another excellent distillery experience in Dublin, the Jameson Distillery Bow Street, with lots of great whiskey-related activities available to you. To book your experience check out the Visit Our Distilleries page here.
