Home of Jameson celebrates its first birthday as most-visited whiskey experience in the world
More than 350,000 visitors from over 70 nations across the world visited new-look Jameson Distillery Bow St. in first year
- Jameson Distillery Bow St. receives TEA Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Brand Experience category at prestigious ceremony in California
- 50,000 Jameson whiskey sours served
- 32,000 whiskey enthusiasts enjoyed Bow St. whiskey blending & cocktail masterclasses
- 25,000 personalised distillery edition Jameson bottles sold
- Four marriage proposals in John Jameson’s secret office
Dublin, April 08, 2018 – Irish Distillers, Ireland’s leading supplier of spirits and wines, and producer of the world’s most well-known and successful Irish whiskeys, today announced that Jameson Distillery Bow St. is the most-visited whiskey experience in the world – with visitor numbers topping more than 350,000 in the first year since it reopened in March 2017 following an €11M refurbishment.
Commenting on the announcement, Claire Tolan, Managing Director Jameson Brand Homes said: “As is evidenced by the incredibly strong visitor figures recorded over the past year, the new-look Jameson brand home has fast become the must-visit whiskey destination in the world. In one year alone, we have welcomed visitors from over 70 countries; taught 32,000 whiskey enthusiasts how to blend whiskey and create whiskey cocktails; served over 50,000 Jameson whiskey sours; sold 25,000 personalised distillery Jameson edition bottles and facilitated four marriage proposals in John Jameson’s secret office!
“Entertainment is more immersive and interactive than ever before, and audiences place more value on storytelling and the quality of the guest experience. Our redeveloped Jameson brand home draws on technology to complement the historic surroundings of the iconic distillery to deliver an unforgettable experience. Visitors are invited to touch, smell and most importantly, taste Jameson in the original Bow St. Distillery building – this has been the key to our success in our first year. We look forward to welcoming even more visitors to Bow St. and the Jameson Distillery Midleton over the next year.“
As Jameson continues its phenomenal growth story, with 28 years of consecutive growth, the redeveloped Jameson brand home places storytelling at the core of the visitor experience bringing the 230-year history of Bow Street to life. Five fully-hosted tours are offered: The flagship ‘Bow St. Experience’ tasting tour focuses on the stories of Jameson’s rich heritage and on-going innovations while ‘The Whiskey Makers’ and ‘The Whiskey Shakers’ experiences provide more in-depth whiskey and cocktail masterclasses, a premium whiskey tasting in John Jameson’s secret office and a visit to Dublin’s only live Maturation Warehouse with the opportunity to sample whiskey straight from a cask.
In addition, it was also announced today that Jameson Distillery Bow St. received a Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Brand Experience category at the prestigious TEA Thea Awards ceremony in Anaheim, California. TEA is the international association for the makers of compelling places and experiences. The TEA Thea Awards were created to bring recognition to achievement, talent and personal excellence and is internationally acknowledged as the equivalent of an Academy Award in the themed entertainment industry.
Commenting on the announcement from the TEA Thea Awards ceremony in Anaheim, California, John Carroll, Marketing & Sales Manager, Jameson Brand Homes said: “Today is a very special day for us for two reasons; not only are we celebrating an incredibly successful first year having welcomed more than 350,000 visitors to our new-look Jameson Distillery Bow St., but we are also the recipient of the ‘Best International Experience’ TEA Thea Award. This prestigious award has long been considered one of the attractions industry’s greatest honour, and we are absolutely thrilled to be recognised in this category.”
To book tickets for Jameson Distillery Bow St., visit www.jamesonwhiskey.com
Notes
About Irish Distillers
Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard is Ireland’s leading supplier of spirits and wines and producer of the world’s most well-known and successful Irish whiskeys. Led by Jameson, our brands are driving the global renaissance of Irish whiskey. Jameson is the world’s fastest-growing Irish whiskey, experiencing 28 years of consecutive growth and hitting sales of 6.5m cases in 2017. Our brands are exported to 130+ markets, with over 71 of those experiencing double- or triple-digit growth.
Irish Distillers was formed in 1966, when a merger took place between John Power & Son, John Jameson & Son and Cork Distilleries Company. In 1988 Irish Distillers joined Pernod Ricard, gaining access to unprecedented levels of investment and an extensive global distribution network. Since 2012, we have invested over €250m to double our production and bottling capacity to meet global demand for our products.
We employ over 600 people across our operations in Cork and Dublin.
About Pernod Ricard
Pernod Ricard is the world’s no.2 in wines and spirits with consolidated Sales of €9,010 million in FY17. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has undergone sustained development, based on both organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin&Sprit (2008). Pernod Ricard holds one of the most prestigious brand portfolios in the sector: Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Malibu liqueur, Mumm and Perrier-Jouët champagnes, as well Jacob’s Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo and Kenwood wines. Pernod Ricard employs a workforce of approximately 18,500 people and operates through a decentralised organisation, with 6 “Brand Companies” and 86 “Market Companies” established in each key market. Pernod Ricard is strongly committed to a sustainable development policy and encourages responsible consumption. Pernod Ricard’s strategy and ambition are based on 3 key values that guide its expansion: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust and a strong sense of ethics.
Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN code: FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 index.
Tour Options at Jameson Distillery Bow St.
The Bow St. Experience
€20
Few things go together better than whiskey and a good story. The Bow St. Experience brings the stories of Jameson’s rich heritage to life in an immersive, 40-minute tasting tour of the home of Ireland’s best-selling Irish whiskey.
Discover how John Jameson’s focus on the highest quality ingredients, triple distillation process, and constant innovation resulted in an exceptionally smooth whiskey that is celebrated and enjoyed all around the globe. Our story will, of course, end on a good note as an expert Jameson Ambassador leads you in a comparative whiskey tasting and a celebratory toast to Jameson Barrelmen everywhere.
Your experience will conclude in JJ’s Bar, where you can share a story and a whiskey with some new-found friends.
Experience Includes:
- Fully guided tour
- 40 minutes in duration
- 30 participants
- Available 7 days
- Comparative whiskey tasting
- Complimentary drink in JJ’s Bar
The Whiskey Makers
€60
The Whiskey Makers experience is a whiskey masterclass which provides a 90 minute, in-depth exploration of Jameson Original and the three whiskeys that make up the Whiskey Makers Series: Distiller’s Safe, Cooper’s Croze and Blender’s Dog. Each was developed by one of our Master whiskey Makers and represents their ideal expression of a whiskey.
One of our knowledgeable Jameson Ambassadors will guide you through a tasting experience that teaches you how to deconstruct the ingredients, craft and different flavour profiles of each whiskey. As well as using it to impress your friends, your new-found knowledge will come in handy when you get to blend your own whiskey to take home. Our motto is ‘fear a bit less, live a bit more’ and to that point, we think blending your own whiskey in the home of Jameson is one for the bucket list. Most whiskey blenders spend decades learning their craft, so ninety minutes is a pretty handy shortcut.
The whiskey tour continues into the Maturation Warehouse where you’ll have the rare opportunity to sample whiskey straight from the cask.
Experience Includes:
- Fully hosted experience
- 90 minutes in duration
- 16 participants
- Available 7 days
- Blending exercise
- Visit to Maturation Warehouse
The Whiskey Shakers
€50
Like a house, a cocktail requires a good foundation. The 90-minute Whiskey Shakers experience is a cocktail masterclass which immerses you in the world of Jameson whiskeys and explores the cocktails that have emerged from them. Your skilled Jameson bartender will guide you through the history, ingredients and recipes of both world famous and freshly-minted Jameson cocktails. In the Shakers’ Room, you’ll be provided with all of the professional bar tools and ingredients required to turn the recipes into masterpieces.
Juggling and other bartender tricks won’t improve the taste of the cocktail, but we won’t judge whatever helps you unleash your inner mixologist. After all, we wouldn’t be living up to our family motto, Sine Metu, which translates as “without fear”, if we discouraged you from taking a bold approach. After enjoying your new creations you’ll continue into the Maturation House where you’ll have the rare opportunity to sample whiskey straight from the cask.
Experience Includes:
- Fully hosted experience
- 90 minutes in duration
- 16 participants
- Available 7 days
- Blending exercise
- Visit to Maturation Warehouse
Whiskey Tasting Experience
€30
A 40-minute in-depth tasting of some of Bow St.’s most loved whiskeys in the comfort and secrecy of JJ’s Office; a unique room which can only be accessed as part of The Whiskey Tasters.
Experience Includes:
- Fully guided tasting
- Four premium whiskeys
- Access to John Jameson’s (JJ’s Office)
- 18 participants
- 40 mins duration
Maturation House Cask Draw
€20
A 20-minute premium whiskey experience visiting Dublin’s only Live Maturation Warehouse – Magic!
Experience Includes:
- Fully hosted experience by a Jameson Brand Ambassador
- Jameson Whiskey Cask Draw and Tasting
- Up to 20 participants
- 20 minute Live Maturation House Visit
- Available 7 days a week
