Irish Whiskey Association Launches New Tourism Trail Irish Whiskey Way
The Irish Whiskey Association (IWA) has recently announced the launch of its new island-wide tourism project, Irish Whiskey Way. This online tourism trail aims to showcase Ireland's distilleries and their deep cultural heritage to global travelers. The website was launched by Irish Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke, at the Kilbeggan Distillery Experience, allowing visitors to freely plan their personalized itineraries.
The website features experiences from many of Ireland's top distilleries and includes a food and drink pairing guide designed by local chefs, as well as whiskey cocktail recipes, all committed to providing visitors with a comprehensive cultural experience. Minister Peter Burke presided over the launch ceremony this week in County Westmeath and stated that Irish Whiskey Way is a unique initiative, celebrating not only Ireland's most iconic export but also highlighting the rich culture, history, and spirit of hospitality unique to Ireland and its regions.
Minister Burke emphasized that this journey will reveal the exquisite craftsmanship behind Irish whiskey while allowing visitors to gain a deeper understanding of the vibrant communities, culinary experiences, and compelling stories that define Ireland.
The launch event also highlighted recent favorable policy changes for the tourism industry, including Dublin Airport's relaxation of liquid item restrictions. Since September, the airport has relaxed the carry-on liquid item limit from 100ml to two liters. Michael Clancy, founder of Lough Ree Distillery, stated that this change has directly boosted product sales, as travelers are now more willing to bring Irish whiskey products on board without being troubled by the previous strict liquid carry-on restrictions.
Iwan Ó Catháin, Director of the IWA, pointed out that Irish Whiskey Way is a collaborative effort, celebrating not only Ireland's rich distilling history but also a joint venture by whiskey distilleries across the island to create a unique food and drink tourism trail for international and local travelers. He added that this trail will help consolidate and expand the tourism appeal of Irish whiskey, opening up an increasingly important revenue stream for producers. According to IWA statistics, over 1.3 million people visited Irish whiskey distilleries in 2023, demonstrating significant growth in whiskey tourism in Ireland.
2025-11-28
Source: https://thewhiskeywash.com/whiskey-news/irish-whiskey-association-launches-new-tourism-trail-irish-whiskey-way/