Tullamore D.E.W. Visitor Centre Launches The Tully Cocktail Making Class
To Celebrate Its Re-Opening, The Tullamore D.E.W. Visitor Centre Launches The Tully Cocktail Making Class.
Tully Cocktail Making Class – An Evening of Cocktail Making and Craic In Tullamore
After three months of closure, the Tullamore D.E.W. Visitor Centre is delighted to open its doors once more. To celebrate its long awaited re-opening, the Visitor Centre is introducing a new offering to visitors, The Tully Cocktail Making Class, which is due to go live on July 31st. This experience is designed for groups of friends or family who want to enjoy an evening out, learn something new and have craic along the way. A visit to the home of Tullamore D.E.W. brings the true heritage of whiskey making in Ireland to life. The cocktail class is a must for whiskey explorers or adventurous ‘staycationers’ eager to learn something new.
The Tully Cocktail Making Class will host four evening sessions per week. During the specially curated sessions, guests will receive a drink on arrival and learn how to make three delicious cocktails, one of which they will bottle to takeaway & enjoy at home.
The experience will be hosted by one of Tullamore D.E.W.’s brand ambassadors and cocktail experts. They will teach guests everything from the history of the brand in Tullamore to how to use simple ingredients to make great drinks. Guests will learn the importance of getting the balance of flavours right along with perfect presentation. This class will help elevate guest’s understanding of the world of cocktails and how Irish whiskey works wonderfully in some of the most iconic drinks. The Tullamore D.E.W. cocktail making expert will share tricks and tips that are sure to impress friends and family at any occasion.
The cocktail making menu includes some old favourites along with some new show stoppers that are sure to impress. The menu includes ; Whiskey Sour (Shaker), Tully XO Daiquiri (Stirred), Tullamore D.E.W. Old Fashioned (Stirred). This special experience can accommodate up to eight people and is perfect for a fun night out with a twist. The cocktail session will last 2 hours and is priced at €50 per person. This includes four delicious drinks, a cocktail masterclass, as well as a branded glass & cocktail making handbook/guide so visitors can perfect their skills at home! The tour can be booked online on www.tullamoredew.com
Speaking about the launch of The Tully Cocktail Making Experience in the Tullamore D.E.W. Visitor Centre Marketing Manager, Cathy Sullivan said; ‘
Ensuring the safety and well being of our guests was the number one priority when planning our reopening but we also wanted to deliver a new, innovative experience for our guests to enjoy. We know many people have found the last few months at home tough. We believe our Cocktail Making Experience offers visitors something both new and exciting to do within a safe, social setting. We’re really looking forward to welcoming guests back to Tullamore.’
Other key experiences that will recommence at the Visitor Centre include:
- Curious Tasters Journey – An introduction to Irish whiskey, taking in every step of the whiskey making process, with a tutored tasting of three expressions of Tullamore D.E.W.
- Whiskey Wise Master Class – An opportunity to discover the hidden depths of the Tullamore D.E.W. range with an extended whiskey tasting in the privacy and comfort of the D.E. Williams Branch House.
- Tutored Whiskey Tasting & Story Telling Session – An in-depth session on the Tullamore D.E.W. liquid and its rich history in Ireland.
The History
Set in the original bonded warehouse for Tullamore D.E.W., the Visitor Centre stands tall and proud on the banks of the Grand Canal. The location of this stunning 19th century building, which has retained much of its character and charm, was crucial in transporting the town’s most famous export to Dublin and beyond for distribution around the world. The midlands region was ideal for whiskey distilling, with an abundance of water, turf for fuel and excellent barley growing conditions.
The Experience
Today, thousands of visitors from both Ireland and around the world visit Tullamore to share in its heritage and discover the story of Ireland’s Original Triple Blend. Located in Ireland’s heartland, the Visitor Centre is just a 1 hour drive or train ride from both Dublin and Galway city, making it one of Ireland’s most accessible attractions.
Visitors to the Centre are taken on an immersive and sensory journey which brings the stories of Irish whiskey, the distilling process and Tullamore D.E.W. to life, while showcasing the legacy of Daniel E. Williams, who worked his way up from the lowest rungs of the distillery to become the owner; creating a whiskey so distinctive and character-filled, it could only be stamped with his initials: D.E.W.
Main Street Tullamore in the time of D.E. Williams.
Visitors can also enjoy dishes of imagination and flair, combining the finest local ingredients with a warm and atmospheric eating experience at ‘The Bond’ restaurant. Whiskey-inspired dishes include the ‘Caribbean Pulled Jerk Pork Tacos with banana salsa’ – infused with a reduction of Tullamore D.E.W. XO Rum cask finish and demerara sugar or the classic ‘Steak Sandwich’ – with tender strips of sirloin steak flambéed in Tullamore D.E.W. Old Bonded Warehouse Release, a rare, exclusively crafted batch of whiskey only available for purchase at the Visitor Centre shop.
Awards and Accolades
Rated the no. 1 attraction to visit in County Offaly on TripAdvisor, the Tullamore D.E.W. Visitor Centre welcomes over 50,000 guests annually from around the globe, predominantly from the USA, Germany and France. This season they expect to welcome lots of visitors from neighbouring counties across Ireland. The Visitor Centre and Offaly has lots to offer those who want to enjoy a day out with a difference or a weekend trip to a place that’s famed for its experiences, accommodation and entertainment.
Tullamore D.E.W. is the second largest Irish whiskey brand in the world, with global sales of more than 1.4 million (9L) cases worldwide. In 2014, William Grant and Sons completed construction of a new state-of-the-art distillery in Tullamore, marking the return of whiskey production to the town; 60 years after the original distillery closed its doors. The distillery is just a 5 minute drive from the Tullamore D.E.W. Visitors Centre.
Whiskey explorers can book tours online at: www.tullamoredew.com or by calling the Tullamore D.E.W. Visitor Centre on +353 57 9325015.
While you’re there, Offaly has lots more to see!
Birr Castle Demesne:
Learn about the extraordinary achievements of the Parsons family who have a global reputation for their ground-breaking inventions and feats in the fields of science, engineering, photography, astronomy and botany. For over 400 years, this remarkable family has resided at the romantic and inspirational setting of Birr Castle Demesne that is now home to the 7th Earl and Countess of Rosse.
In the early 1840’s, the Third Earl of Rosse designed and built the largest astronomical telescope in the world. With this telescope, he discovered the spiral nature of some of the galaxies, and from 1845-1914, anyone wishing to witness this phenomenon had to come to Birr. The Rosse Telescope or the Leviathann is still a main feature on the grounds of Birr Castle today.
Set on 120 acres of parklands and gardens, this castle demesne also boasts a rare collection of over 4000 trees and plants, wonderful wildlife, and peaceful walks along rivers, waterfalls and lake.
Slieve Bloom Mountains:
The Slieve Bloom mountains, along with the Massif Central in France, are one of the oldest mountain ranges in Europe; they were once also the highest at 3,700m. Weathering has reduced them to 527m, but whether you take on the long-distance Slieve Bloom Way or opt for one of the shorter looped trails, you’ll be rewarded by spectacular views stretching across the midlands of Ireland, and on a clear cloud free day you can see the four highest points of each of Ireland’s four provinces.
Bike or hike – these unspoiled and un-congested trails are truly one of Offaly’s Hidden Gems.
Clonmacnoise:
This sixth century monastic site, located on the banks of the River Shannon is home to three high crosses, a cathedral, seven churches and two round towers. This great monastery was founded in 548-9 by St. Ciarán Mac a tSaor (“son of the carpenter”), who studied under St. Finian at the famous Clonard Abbey in County Meath. The strategic location of the monastery at a crossroads between the major east-west land route through the bogs of central Ireland and the River Shannon, helped it become a major centre of religion, learning, craftsmanship and trade by the 9th century.
Cruising on the Shannon:
If you like the idea of setting your own course and choosing when and where to stop off and explore, then a cruising trip along the Shannon could be just the ticket. Start your riverside adventure in Banagher and cruise on one of the finest natural inland waterways in Europe, as the un-spoilt River Shannon meanders through beautiful countryside and past historic towns offering the best in Irish hospitality.
Lough Boora Parklands:
Transformed from its previous incarnation as a commercial bog where peat was harvested to heat homes around the country, today Lough Boora Discovery Park is home to countless species of birds and wildlife, fish-filled lakes and a permanent exhibition of huge outdoor sculptures. These sculptures give the park an other-worldly feel, created using the old industrial materials of the bog such as locomotives, rail-line and timber, all crafted into magnificent works of art.
Lough Boora Discovery Park offers a full range of activities for outdoor enthusiasts, botanists, nature lovers and culture fans including:
- Three off-road Cycle Routes ranging in distance from 6km to 15.8km
- Five off-road Walking Routes ranging in distance from 3.3km to 15,8km
- A dramatic Outdoor Sculpture Park displaying 24 large scale sculptures
- Four Angling Lakes suitable for all abilities.
- Fairy Avenue
Malahide Castle Whiskey Tastings
Stuart McNamara (@WhiskeyBlogger) is an international Whiskey Blogger who edits several International Whisk(e)y and Whiskey Tourism sites including IrishWhiskey.com and WhiskeyBlogger.com. He is Chair of the Irish Craft And Artisan Distilleries Association (ICADA) and is an elected member of the National Council of ISME, the Irish SME Association. He is also the creator and editor of International Irish Whiskey Day which is celebrated on 3/3 or 3rd March each year and had a global social media reach in 2021 of over 20 Million. He is a Director of Portmagee Whiskey and has also acted as both a brand and product development consultant to several other Irish Whiskey and other spirits producers.
