GUINNESS AND JAMESON

Reporting live from Dublin, the capital of The Republic of Ireland.  Landing on the Emerald Isle, I was struck by the difference in temperatures between Aiken, South Carolina and Dublin. I also noticed the lush green landscape of the entire island. More importantly, I was immediately impressed by the politeness and the good manners of the Irish.  When ordering in a restaurant, you would often hear, “No bother” or “Of course you can” if there was a request for something not listed on the menu. With seven people with various palates, that happened often. 

During our visit, I set out on a mission to discover what makes Guinness, a worldwide success in the beer category, and Jameson Irish Whiskey, just as popular.

GUINESS

First up was a self-directed tour of the Guinness operation at Saint James’s Gate.  It began with an introduction to the Guinness factory, with the original lease document in a glass enclosed crypt in the floor.  The Guinness family was very confident and committed to their production of beer, so much so that they signed a 9,000 year lease on the property.  

I walked the floors of the exhibit, reading through the process of making their product.  You could take as much time, or as little time as your schedule permitted.  The tour is very popular, and as such, is very crowded.  At times you were six or seven people deep while trying to read or see the short videos on the screen.  Upon completion, you could avail yourself of a pint, on the top floor, with a panoramic view of Dublin. The Guinness poured here is smoother — coming right from the still — than any other I’ve tasted in the States.

JAMESON

Time now to talk about Jameson Irish Whiskey and our tour at the Midleton distillery. This tour started with a short video of the entire process of fermentation, and then we walked through the actual property. We visited room after room, learning about the grains, yeast, and water used in the distillation and creation of the whiskey.  Most importantly, we visited the tasting room.

MY FAVORITE

The biggest difference between the Jameson tour and the Guinness tour was the sheer number of people. We took the tour of Jameson with a small group, which permitted us to ask questions and have a more personalized experience. I thoroughly enjoyed the Jameson tour, more so than the Guinness experience.  

So if you find yourself in Aiken, and travel down Whiskey Road to my home, and ask to have a Jameson. “Of course you can.”