Shake things up this summer with new Cork cocktail making experience
Whether you're partial to an Old Fashioned or a Whiskey Sour, learn how to make the cocktail of your dreams at Midleton Distillery Experience.
Home of seven iconic Irish whiskey brands — Jameson, Redbreast, Powers, Midleton Very Rare, The Spot Whiskeys, Method and Madness, and Knappogue Castle — visitors from all over the world have been blown away by the recent upgrade to the iconic visitor attraction in East Cork.
Complimenting the existing array of tours and tastings in Midleton, a brand-new immersive cocktail making experience is proving particularly popular. The 60-minute masterclass sees participants provided with everything required to concoct the perfect trio of cocktail masterpieces — all the ingredients, bar tools, knowledge (and Jameson of course!). Hosted in a custom-built bar space, the cocktail classes are nestled privately in the upper floors of the original distillery buildings.
“I think the reaction has been so positive because it's something truly different,” shares Experience Manager Kelly O’Mahony. “I can think of so many times spent with friends looking for something interesting to do, or something you haven’t done a million times already. People are crying out for new experiences that are fun, creative, and memorable, where you can roll up your sleeves and learn a new trick or two. This is the perfect mix.
"We’ve hosted a great blend of guests so far; from couples to families, friend groups to corporate clients, celebrating a broad variety of special occasions. Our overseas tourists are always seeking something fun to do on holidays, and our corporate clients visit for teambuilding events. The class hosts up to sixteen people and can be fully booked on a private and exclusive basis.
"We offer a late afternoon class each day at 4:30 PM, so it is perfect on a Friday, say, if you finish up in the office and want to get together with the team. If you fancy it, you could even head in to Midleton afterwards and explore some of the fantastic restaurants in the town.”
Whether you’re a whiskey connoisseur or someone with a curious or passing interest, the cocktail class hits a sweet spot. Using much-loved whiskeys from the Jameson range, alongside the freshest of local ingredients from East Cork, you’re expertly guided through the process of perfecting some of the world’s most popular cocktails.
“When people think about Irish whiskey cocktails, often there are two classic signature drinks that come to mind; the Whiskey Sour and the Old Fashioned,” Kelly explains. “Both are great cocktails, with very different flavour profiles and each with great stories to tell. The Old Fashioned is much more ‘spirit-forward’ than the Sour, for example, and the process of making each is a nice contrast — with one shaken, the other stirred.
“The third cocktail our guests prepare is our Jameson Punch, which always goes down a treat. We create seasonal variations throughout the year. Currently, a delicious Blackberry Whiskey Sour is on the menu, in line with the blackberry season.”
“We try to pick cocktails that are not only fun to make but afford the opportunity to impress others as well! For a family party in December, I tried my hand at preparing Whiskey Sours for everyone. They were blown away! And of course, they all get to enjoy Jameson then too, so it's a win-win.”
That win-win mindset can sometimes be forgotten about within the actual classes, however. Whether you're truly interested in learning about mixology or just there for a bit of fun, you'll soon find yourself totally swept up in the atmosphere of the class — with some good-natured competition bound to kick in!
“People are always curious before they start the class about what it’s going to be like and how hands-on it will be, so there's always a sense of anticipation when they first arrive into the room,” Kelly shares. “Because we typically host mixed groups, not everyone knows each other beforehand, but it is always amazing to watch how quickly the ice is broken! Our team is key here, doing full introductions at the start — they really want to get to know everybody, and ensure that everybody knows everybody else, so that a bit of craic ensues in the room.”
“By the end of the class everyone ends up laughing and joking, enjoying their finished cocktails together at the bar, and they leave with a smile on their face every time. We’ve even had groups departing together for dinner, having never met before the class. It is lovely to see people make friends from an experience like that.”
As well as going in with an open mind and getting to know the other people, there are plenty of other things you can do to get the most out of your cocktail making class, Kelly advises.
“Never underestimate the level of detail that goes into making a good cocktail! I certainly did — I remember the first time I had to shake my cocktail tin full of all my ingredients and, of course, a load of ice. I honestly thought my hands would freeze right through,” she laughs.
“What feels like two minutes could actually be only 10 seconds when you're working with those shakers because it's so cold, and then how long you do it and how good you are at shaking all impact the quality of the end result! When the cocktails are poured at the end, some people might have a big frothy head while others will have none because they didn't shake it enough. It's fascinating, what you think will be easy walking into it can trip you up, but some parts you’re apprehensive about might be easy peasy!”
Of course, those hosting the class manage to make it all look easy. The Mixologists working at Midleton Distillery Experience are among the best in their field, so learning from them puts you in very safe hands indeed.
“When we were creating this experience, we interviewed very specifically to find mixologists who not only had a high level of expertise but who could also communicate their knowledge well to teach our visitors how to make the best cocktails,” Kelly explains. “We now have three Mixologists who host this experience, with many years of combined experience between them; working all around the world, in high-end bars and hotels that specialise in cocktails. We’re very lucky to have this expertise here in Midleton.”
Learning from these world-class experts will certainly leave you with some impressive tricks up your sleeve, enough to keep you practising and refining your newfound skills in your own time too.
“As part of the experience, all the participants get a cocktail book to bring home. It’s a lovely keepsake that gives a little insight into the history of Midleton Distillery and of Jameson Irish Whiskey. It also guides you through the basics of making a whole list of cocktails, not just the ones you make in class but some additional ones too. It’s great, because if you really want to test out your mixology skills, you’ve got this little book to help you.”
You can also stock up on everything you’ll need to practice with before leaving the distillery; with a jaw-dropping selection of whiskeys from all seven of our award-winning brands available in the Whiskey Vault shop, as well as fold-out cocktail kits containing all the shakers, strainers and jiggers you could want.
The new retail spaces are just one of many extra pitstops you could enjoy at Midleton Distillery Experience while visiting. As Kelly points out, you could quite easily spend an entire day there and still find plenty to see and do.
“We’re very lucky here at Midleton Distillery Experience to have tours that run every ten minutes for anybody who wants to learn how we make our Irish whiskey or to see more of the old distillery. You can also visit our brand-new Malthouse Café, which has indoor and outdoor seating, so it’s a great spot to grab a bite to eat year-round.”
“Midleton Distillery Experience is so much more than a tourist attraction. We invite you to visit and browse, there’s no tickets or admission fees to our Café, retail, and incredible Kiln Bar. It really is worth coming in just to have a look around — you never know what might take your fancy!”
For the months of June and July, Midleton Distillery Experience is offering 20% off experiences* (including the cocktail making class). For on-line bookings only, using promo code . Subject to availability. 18 years old and over.
Visit the Midleton Distillery Experience website for more information and bookings.
