VISITOR ATTRACTION: what’s new and what’s cool at the Dublin’s Teeling distillery

Teeling Whiskey Distillery, located at 13-17 Newmarket, Merchants Quay, Dublin 8 (D08 KD91), in the historic Liberties district, is Dublin’s first new operational distillery in over 125 years, opened in June 2015. As the only fully operational whiskey distillery in the city, it offers an immersive experience into Dublin’s whiskey-making heritage, earning accolades like the World’s Best Whiskey Visitor Attraction Team at the 2025 World Whiskies Awards and Ireland’s Best Whiskey Distillery Tour in 2024.

Guided Tours: All tours (45–60 minutes, €15–€30) are led by Teeling Whiskey Ambassadors, such as Marc, Alexandra, or Aiveen, known for their engaging, informative, and humorous delivery. Visitors explore the fully operational three-copper pot still distillery, experiencing the sights, sounds, smells, and heat of whiskey production, from grain to maturation. The tour covers the Teeling family’s history (dating back to Walter Teeling’s 1782 distillery on Marrowbone Lane), Dublin’s whiskey heritage, and the modern revival of craft distilling. Highlights include nosing Teeling Small Batch Whiskey straight from the barrel in the Maturation Space and viewing a Lego replica of the distillery. Tours are available in seven languages (English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Dutch, Mandarin) via a language app, ensuring accessibility for international visitors. Booking in advance at teelingdistillery.com is essential due to high demand (115,000–130,000 annual visitors).
Tasting Options: Tours conclude with tastings tailored to all levels:
Teeling Tasting (€15): Sample Teeling Small Batch and a seasonal whiskey cocktail.
Teeling Trinity Tasting (€20): Taste Small Batch, Single Grain, and Single Malt.
Distillery Select Tasting (€25): Includes Small Batch, Single Malt, Single Pot Still, and Blackpitts Peated Single Malt.
Premium Experience (€45): Features a tasting of Distillery Exclusive Whiskey, with the option to fill and personalise a bottle from the cask to take home.
Private tours for groups of 15+ are available, customizable in multiple languages.
Bang Bang Bar and Phoenix Café: The Bang Bang Bar, named after a beloved Dublin character, offers handcrafted whiskey cocktails and rare Teeling expressions, with large round windows providing views of the city. The Phoenix Café serves artisanal dishes using local ingredients, homemade treats, and coffee, praised for quality but occasionally noted for slow service. Both are open seven days a week, enhancing the post-tour experience.
Gift Shop: The shop stocks award-winning Teeling whiskeys (e.g., 24-Year-Old Single Malt, World’s Best Irish Single Malt for nine consecutive years), Distillery Exclusive bottlings, and merchandise like branded glassware and clothing. Visitors can personalise labels or fill their own cask bottle, a unique memento.
Atmosphere and Accessibility: The modern distillery, set in the historic Liberties, blends industrial charm with cultural significance, symbolized by the phoenix logo representing Dublin’s whiskey revival. The “Cocoon” space, with state-of-the-art AV, seats 30 for an introductory video featuring founders Jack and Stephen Teeling. The site is a 21-minute walk from Trinity College (1.7km), near Saint Patrick’s and Christ Church Cathedrals, and a short stroll from Guinness Storehouse. Public transport options include Dublin Bus Routes 27, 56a, or 151 to Saint Luke’s Avenue, or the DoDublin Hop-On Hop-Off Tour stop. Limited on-site parking is available, with nearby options for drivers. The distillery is partially accessible, with a lift to the café and shop, but the production area involves stairs, limiting wheelchair access.
Events and Community Hub: The distillery offers six event spaces for private hire, suitable for corporate events, weddings, or parties, with catering options. Its role as a community hub in the Liberties, supported by Fáilte Ireland and Dublin City Council, makes it a vibrant cultural stop.

What’s New:

As Teeling celebrates its 10th anniversary, having welcomed over one million visitors since opening, several new features and events enhance the experience:
10th Anniversary Celebrations: Special releases and new visitor experiences are planned to mark the milestone. Expect limited-edition whiskeys or exclusive tastings, tied to the Distillery Exclusive range or new cask finishes, building on the 2024 release of the Notre Dame Phoenix Legends Edition.
Enhanced Visitor Following a €200,000 Fáilte Ireland grant, recent upgrades under the Dublin Surprising Stories scheme (e.g., updated tour scripts, a new video, and the Cocoon space) continue to evolve., expect further storytelling enhancements, possibly with interactive digital elements or augmented reality to showcase whiskey production, reflecting Teeling’s focus on innovative visitor engagement.
World Whiskies Awards Recognition: After winning World’s Best Visitor Attraction Team for the second consecutive year, Teeling is likely to emphasise its award-winning status with new promotional materials or celebratory events, such as exclusive tastings led by the acclaimed team.
Potential Event Space Expansion: With six event spaces already popular, 2025 will see new private tour packages or themed events (e.g., whiskey-pairing dinners or mixology workshops) to leverage the distillery’s role as a cultural hub, especially after Bacardi’s majority acquisition in 2023.

Practical Information

13-17 Newmarket, Merchants Quay, Dublin 8, D08 KD91.
Contact: reservations@teelingwhiskey.com, +353 (0)1 531 0888, teelingdistillery.com
Tips: Book tours online at teelingdistillery.com to secure spots, especially for premium experiences. Allow 1.5–2 hours for the visit. Dress warmly for the production area. Combine with nearby attractions like Guinness Storehouse, Dublin Liberties Distillery, or Saint Patrick’s Cathedral for a full day in the Liberties. Check the website for seasonal hours and anniversary event announcements.
Teeling Whiskey Distillery offers an engaging, sensory-rich experience with award-winning tours, tastings, and a vibrant atmosphere, enhanced by 10th-anniversary celebrations, sustainable initiatives, and innovative storytelling. For the latest updates, visit teelingdistillery.com