Galway Whiskey Trail
Special to Road Trips for Foodies
By Tourism Ireland
Taste a tipple or two on the Galway Whiskey Trail.
Delve into the wonderful world of whiskey while exploring the streets of historic Galway city on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way.
Ireland’s whiskey is renowned worldwide and every corner of the island boasts a tipple you should taste. If your visit to Ireland takes you to the west coast, don’t miss the Galway Whiskey Trail which offers the perfect opportunity to discover the city’s vibrant whiskey scene and sip some samples from distinguished Irish distilleries.
The self-guided whiskey tour brings you to 12 locations that have played a significant role in Galway’s whiskey heritage and showcases the city’s finest whiskey bars and outlets.
Each stop along the trail has its own unique charm and story to tell, and whiskey lovers will be captivated by the diverse flavours and warm hospitality they encounter.
In the city’s bustling Latin Quarter, you will be warmly welcomed in Sonny Molloy’s to savour a wide selection of premium whiskeys while immersing yourself in the rich history of the iconic Persse Distillery. Molloy’s is also home to Chapters 1, 2, 3 and 4 from Midleton’s Silent Distillery Collection – the rarest Irish whiskey ever produced.
At Freeneys, you can explore an impressive selection of local and international whiskeys in a compact space that until relatively recently also doubled as a general merchant store.
Or pop into The King’s Head, located in an 800-year-old building that retains its medieval windows and fireplace, and sample rare whiskeys from around the world. The pub is also one of Galway’s top music venues.
Other stops along the trail include Garavan’s – a cherished whiskey establishment that has been delighting patrons for generations, award-winning Blake’s Corner Bar which offers a ‘Four Corners of Ireland’ whiskey tasting board, and atmospheric O’Connell’s where Ed Sheeran filmed the video for his hit song Galway Girl.
And for an international experience visit An Púcán, which has the most extensive selection of whiskey in the city stretching to over 200 Irish, Scotch, American, Japanese and other whiskeys from around the globe.
To mark the launch of the Galway Whiskey Trail, a bespoke whiskey from Galway Hooker was bottled and is available to taste at all of the trail outlets.
Of course, whiskey tasting is not the only great thing to be enjoyed in Galway. The city is famed for its bohemian spirit and love of the arts and in September hosts the world-famous Galway International Oyster and Seafood Festival.
And beyond the city lies a county of immeasurable scenic beauty with a coastline overlooking the Atlantic that is a little piece of heaven on earth.
(Photos courtesy of Tourism Ireland)
