Question 1

Which Irish airport should we fly into for a whiskey trip?

Accepted Answer

Dublin for most itineraries: Teeling and Jameson Bow St. are in the city, Kilbeggan is an hour west, and the motorway runs straight to Midleton in two and a half hours. Fly into Shannon if the trip is built around Dingle and the west coast, and into Belfast if Bushmills is the priority, because the Causeway Coast is ninety minutes from that airport and four hours from Dublin. Open jaw, into Dublin and out of Shannon, costs little more and saves a full day of backtracking.

Question 2

What is United States preclearance, and does it matter?

Accepted Answer

Dublin and Shannon both clear American immigration and customs before you board, so you land as a domestic passenger and walk straight out. It matters for whiskey travellers in two ways: arrive at the airport three hours ahead, because the preclearance queue comes after security, and buy your bottles in town rather than airside, because a sealed duty free bag can be confiscated at a connecting security screening once you land.

Question 3

When is the best time of year to fly for a whiskey trip?

Accepted Answer

April to June and September to mid October. The distilleries run full schedules, the pubs are lively rather than frantic, and transatlantic fares sit well below the July peak. November to February is cheaper still, and the whiskey bars are at their best, but several smaller distilleries cut tour frequency and the daylight is gone by half past four.

Getting there, getting around, getting the bottles home

Flights and airports

Visas and the Northern Ireland question

Driving without drinking

Packing for the trip, and for the bottles

Continue planning

Getting there, getting around, getting the bottles home

Flights and airports

Which Irish airport should we fly into for a whiskey trip?

What is United States preclearance, and does it matter?

When is the best time of year to fly for a whiskey trip?

Visas and the Northern Ireland question

Do American citizens need a visa for Ireland?

Can we cross into Northern Ireland to visit Bushmills?

Driving without drinking

Should we drive ourselves between distilleries?

Automatic or manual rental car?

How far apart are the distilleries, really?

Is there a train or tour option instead of driving?

Packing for the trip, and for the bottles

What should we pack for an Irish whiskey trip?

What should we bring specifically for carrying bottles home?

What should we wear on a distillery tour?

Continue planning