Wine

Cathal McBride: Discovering the spirit of Ireland in its many distilleries

Ireland is strewn with a range of exciting distilleries open to visitors, where you can discover the fascinating process of spirit making and perhaps sample the brands on a tasting tour

Fiona and David Boyd-Armstrong of Shortcross Distillery in Co Down offer an interactive and immersive experience for visitors. Picture: Elaine Hill

When we think about holidays, it’s easy for our minds to wander to exotic climes and faraway destinations. For the second in my series of columns on wine tourism, however, I decided to look a little closer to home.

What Ireland lacks in grape, we certainly make up for in grain, and our lands are strewn with a large number of exciting distilleries. International brands like Jameson deservedly get most attention for their commitment to ...