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Ballykeefe Distillery
Ballykeefe Distillery
5
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About
Ballykeefe is situated in the heartland of Ireland, adjacent to its medieval capital, Kilkenny city. It is steeped in a historic heritage and tradition, holding the unique distinction of being the birthplace of Irish Whiskey. It is from our area that the first written account of distilling in Ireland comes in 1324. It was written in the Red Book of Ossory. The word “whiskey” is an Anglicisation of the Gaelic phrase, uisce beatha, meaning “water of life”. At Ballykeefe we are now bringing a truly special “water of life” from centuries past to a new generation for their pleasure and good health. The tour; You will see up close every step in the process and also enjoy and have explained the many different aromas and smells at each stage of the brewing and distilling process. Many secrets will be revealed by our award winning Master Distiller . How he makes the “cut” to create the ''Spirit of Kilkenny''
Duration: < 1 hour
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5.0
222 reviews
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8
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Mekie
Delaware103 contributions
Jun 2023 • Friends
What a treasure. We were in Kilkenny and discovered this tour. I have been to many distilleries in Ireland, but this one is a keeper. We learned more about the process and have the highest admiration for the people. The products are marvelous and not the usual takes home. Don't miss calling and experiencing your own tour of this wonderful place. THANKS!!
Written 30 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
J M
4 contributions
Oct 2024 • Family
Morgan was an incredible host. They were closed and opened for a private tour. He went above and beyond for an exemplary experience. Their locally made spirits are great and we purchased multiple bottles! Would definitely make this a priority visit!
Written 15 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CalgalNevada
Nevada25 contributions
Sept 2018 • Couples
We went to the distillery while visiting Kilkenny this week. After reading the tour description we expected it to be a more historic distillery and actually include a whiskey tasting. The distillery is actually very new, and has yet to bottle any whiskey. It's all done in one room, there is no actual bottling plant. They do distill gin and vodka and we were offered tastes of those. The whiskey won't be released for a few more years. We agreed that the description is misleading. Who knows if the whiskey will be good, the distiller is a novice, but they do a great job of marketing the tour. On a positive note, the people are very nice.
Written 14 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Janet M
Bellingham, WA11 contributions
Nov 2018 • Couples
We visited Ireland in November, when many of the smaller distilleries (as well as other tourist sites) are closed. I sent a message to Ballykeefe prior to our visit to determine whether they would be open when we were in their area. They responded promptly, saying they were not open, but would be willing to give us a tour anyway. Although they provided directions, we were a little challenged trying to find the place. It's a bit away from town (we were warned of this) in a very rural area and I started wondering if we were wasting one of our last precious days in Ireland. Let me tell you, it was well worth it! We were greeted by the owners, Morgan and Ann, who could not have been more hospitable. After chatting briefly, they poured us gin cocktails and began telling us their story, then Morgan gave us a fantastic tour of his small, but very impressive operation. Lots of time and attention have gone into making this what I'm sure will be a top-notch whiskey distillery. They have not begun bottling the brown stuff yet but, if the gin, sloe gin, and spiced poitin were any indication, their whiskey will be one to seek out. Besides this being a great tour and tasting, we all appreciated being treated as welcome guests and, by the time we left, we felt like we'd made new friends and a lifetime memory. Best distillery tour I've experienced, and I've been on more than a few. Highly recommend!
Written 7 January 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fragdocheinfach
Frankfurt, Germany1 contribution
Aug 2018 • Couples
As a brewer&malster and a bachelors in beverage technology my girlfriend and I wanted to experience, what all other visitors were writing in their reviews. But honestly I was suprised how rare our guides knowledge about the poduction of Whiskey was. We came a little after 4, so we were joining a group that already startet. The boss welcomed us to still take part of the tour. So we did.
There were 4 women, so with the to of us, there was a group of 6 women. Inside the production our guide startet in front of the malt tank and one of the other woman asked "What exactly is malt" and the lady said "I actually don´t know. I work here for only a few weeks." Excuse me please, but malt is like the most important incredient to start with, when producing Whiskey. I felt ashamed and so I tried to explain it to that young lady - even if english is a foreign language to me.
And I have to mention, that it is not really nice to experience, that both of us had to pay 25€. I mention this, because my girlfriend said a few times, that she does not want to have samples, because she is driving. And in the beginning we asked to boss if there is any discount for drivers. He said, there should not be a problem, we will talk about it to the guide again. And so we did. But the guide, the lady who didn´t know any about malt, wanted us to pay twice 25€, even if my girl did not drink alcohol - and they did not offer her to have any other drink (like a pure tonic water oder pure water e.g.) We paid for it, because we did not want to argue.
We want to let everyone know:
- If you are a driver you better should stay outside, because 25€ as a driver is definitely not worth it.
- If you really want to know about EVERY step of sprit production you should not got there. The guide does not know enough to be called guide.
Also we want to let everyone know:
- The products I was able to try were really good! There is nothing to complain about. There is only one thing to say: Congrats on your good work! I cannot wait for summer 2020, when the first batch of Whiskey is ready to be filled and to be sold. The Gin and Poitin werde really nice, and I am trying to get them online. So far it is hard to find, because they are not allowed to sell the products at the destillery at the moment. Hopefully for all upcoming guests, this will get changed soon.
There were 4 women, so with the to of us, there was a group of 6 women. Inside the production our guide startet in front of the malt tank and one of the other woman asked "What exactly is malt" and the lady said "I actually don´t know. I work here for only a few weeks." Excuse me please, but malt is like the most important incredient to start with, when producing Whiskey. I felt ashamed and so I tried to explain it to that young lady - even if english is a foreign language to me.
And I have to mention, that it is not really nice to experience, that both of us had to pay 25€. I mention this, because my girlfriend said a few times, that she does not want to have samples, because she is driving. And in the beginning we asked to boss if there is any discount for drivers. He said, there should not be a problem, we will talk about it to the guide again. And so we did. But the guide, the lady who didn´t know any about malt, wanted us to pay twice 25€, even if my girl did not drink alcohol - and they did not offer her to have any other drink (like a pure tonic water oder pure water e.g.) We paid for it, because we did not want to argue.
We want to let everyone know:
- If you are a driver you better should stay outside, because 25€ as a driver is definitely not worth it.
- If you really want to know about EVERY step of sprit production you should not got there. The guide does not know enough to be called guide.
Also we want to let everyone know:
- The products I was able to try were really good! There is nothing to complain about. There is only one thing to say: Congrats on your good work! I cannot wait for summer 2020, when the first batch of Whiskey is ready to be filled and to be sold. The Gin and Poitin werde really nice, and I am trying to get them online. So far it is hard to find, because they are not allowed to sell the products at the destillery at the moment. Hopefully for all upcoming guests, this will get changed soon.
Written 24 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tony H
Columbia, SC33 contributions
Jul 2018 • Couples
Plus an integrated supply chain meaning they grow many of their ingredients. Basically the are a wholesome farming family trying to do something new : distillery with an artisan view instead of mass production. Great tour and flavors!
Written 20 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BluegrassKY53
Lexington, KY68 contributions
Jun 2018 • Couples
One of the highlights of our trip to Ireland. We loved our tour of the distillery and listening to the story (and science) behind it. Spent the better part of two hours with an impressive group of people dedicated to the art of distillery.
Written 1 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PatrickUhlmannCH
Buchs Aargau, Switzerland12 contributions
Sept 2019
During the tour our guide explained the whole process and showed all important steps. It was especially interesting to see how this business can be done by a farmer, with a zero-waste policy. We also liked the tasting. Only downside is that it is hard to reach. We had to get a taxi.
Written 4 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JoAnne V
3 contributions
Jun 2019
Ballykeefe Distillery should not be missed. The people, the tour, and tasting the spirits were top notch.
Sorry we will miss out on tasting their whiskey to be introduced next year.
Sorry we will miss out on tasting their whiskey to be introduced next year.
Written 8 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Martin
3 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
We dropped in about 30 Minutes prior to a tour without booking for just look. We were still welcomed very friendly immediately and been offered to start a tour just for us. This "off the regular clock" tour started with a bit of background about the distillery and a tasting of the vodka and poitin and how those are made by Sarah (the daughter). We then went of to meet Morgan, the owner of the Ballykeefe Distillery. As he was just busy filling casks we got a chance to try ourselves at that. We were shown all the equipment for Whiskey an Gin making, while being explained the single steps in between. Questions were very much welcome and profoundly answered. The tour finished with a nice Gin and tonic in the tasting room (actually we were given a taste of all Gin varations Morgan creates and even managed to sweet talk him into having a taste of his 18 month old Whiskey). Bad news for Whiskey lovers: first batch won't come out till August 2020, but after that sample we'd very much like to be put on the waiting list for it! The whole experience was a very personal one, we left quite quite happy we decided to drop in and with many great (as the turned out to be) tips for Kilkenny.
Written 1 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Looking at visiting next April would you be able to accomadate 30-35cars for parking and would be aprox 60 people to do the tour and how long do you think would we spend there.
Written 23 July 2018
Hi Liz, many thanks for your recent message and enquiry. We would be absolutely delighted to look after you and your group next year in Ballykeefe Distillery. I would love the opportunity to speak with you further about your requirements, you can contact me on 087 700 4538 at any stage. Alternatively if you message me here with your number, I will give you a call. I look forward to hearing from you and thank you again for your enquiry, kind regards, Clodagh
Written 31 July 2018
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