Whiskey Tastings Kenmare Ireland

Park Hotel Kenmare has one of the largest whiskey collections in Ireland and a team of Whiskey Experts to talk you through the mystery of this ancient spirit.

The Red Book is a 14th Century manuscript commissioned by Richard de Ledrede, who served as the Bishop of Ossory between 1316 and 1360. The Bishop of Ossory’s See was St. Canice’s Cathedral in Kilkenny City. The Red Book consists of 79 pages of vellum and is written in Latin and Old French. It contains 60 hymns that Ledrede wanted his clergy to sing instead of using the vernacular of the time. It also contains a copy of The Magna Carta.

Significantly, The Red Book also contains an account on distillation. This is the very first written account of distillation in Ireland - as they say in Kilkenny “The First Drop”. Also significant is the first mention of Aqua Vitae; these Latin words translate into Uisce Beatha in Irish. When anglicized and mispronounced, Uisce Beatha becomes Whiskey. It is in Kilkenny that this story begins: indeed, the next mention of Aqua vitae will not be until The Annals of Clonmacnoise in 1408. In Scotland, it will not be until 1494 that Aqua Vitae is recorded.

Join our expert Whiskey Team, discover its history and Taste Whiskeys from around the world.

Silver whiskey tasting for One

Park Hotel Kenmare whiskey collection and whiskey tastings are world renounced. Join us to explore and discover the world of whiskey from Ireland, Scotland, America and Japan. This is a personal experience to help you commence or continue your whiskey journey.

Gold whiskey tasting for One

Join the bar team at Park Hotel Kenmare to explore and discover the world of whiskey from Ireland, Scotland, America and Japan. This is a personal experience to help you continue your whiskey journey. Gold whiskey tasting brings you a little further on your global journey with insights into gems such as the youngest whiskey in the Park Hotel Cabinet with potential.

The beginning of any new whiskey is the “New Make Spirit” distilled and then filled into casks.

So far, all the young whiskeys released are excellent, with many fetching up to €800.00 as collectors, scramble to hold history in the making in their hands. Discover which we feel will mature and age wonderfully.

Platinum whiskey tasting for a very special person

Explore and discover the world of whiskey from Ireland, Scotland, America and Japan. This is a truly personal experience to help you continue your whiskey journey. Platinum whiskey tasting brings you a little further on your global journey with insights into the oldest and rarest whiskey in the Park Hotel Kenmare cabinet. Allow our team to share the story of his favourite whiskey.

One of our most favourite and minded whiskeys in the cabinet is a bottle of Midleton 1973, 30 years old. This was released in 2003 as a limited expression, 800 bottles in all. Ou s is from cask 41421. Signed by Barry Crockett. Like all things by the rule of 3 it is very special because it is aged in American Oak. (The most common oak species used in whisky maturation is Quercus alba), in addition to the American oak it has spent some time in oloroso sherry butts and port pipes. This adds layers of complexity to the whiskey.

This whiskey is a link to the final days of the old Midleton whiskey distillery. Barry Crokett crafted it from some of the very last Pot Still Whiskeys distilled at Middleton. For whiskey people this is living the dream.