Tours and Tickets to Experience Old Bushmills Distillery

Ireland’s Old Bushmills Distillery is supposedly the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery, with its origin dating back to the early 1600s, when King James I got the license to make whiskey in the area. The distillery has been producing whiskey ever since, despite obstacles like an 1850s barley tax and 1885 distillery fire.

Old Bushmills Distillery offers a few different tour packages. The 1-hour distillery tour showcases the distillery’s processes, while a 1.5-hour option adds on a guided tasting of three different whiskies. The 2.5-hour premium tour includes a guided sampling of six whiskies. It’s also possible to book a tour of the area that includes a stop at Old Bushmills.

No, you don’t necessarily need to book your tour of Old Bushmills Distillery in advance, but it’s definitely a good idea to do so if you want to guarantee your spot. You can easily book a tour online, with options ranging from just a distillery tour to a distillery tour with a whisky tasting.

Old Bushmills Distillery in Ireland is open Monday through Saturday from 10am until 5pm, and Sunday from 11am to 5pm, giving you lots of time to visit during your vacation. If you’re looking to avoid crowds, try showing up at opening hours on a weekday and avoid a weekend or late afternoon visit.

Yes, you can sample whiskey during your tour at Old Bushmills Distillery if you’ve booked a tour that includes a tasting, such as the Distillery Tour & Three Malt Tasting or the Premium Tour & Tasting. You can also taste whisky at the distillery’s 1608 Bar, whether or not you book a tour.

It costs £15 and up for a basic distillery tour. A distillery tour with a 3-malt tasting starts at £40, and a premium tour with a tasting of six whiskies starts at £60. The cost of drinking at the 1608 Bar and making purchases at the Bushmills gift shop vary depending on what you decide to buy.