Itinerary WY-1: Irish Whiskey Experience from GBP 269 per person for 3nts
A short break on the north coast of Ireland, including a tour and tutored tasting at famous Bushmills, Ireland’s oldest working distillery. You will stay in an award-winning hotel in the village, within convenient walking distance, and have plenty of time to explore more of the local area, perhaps play some golf, visit some castles and explore some beaches.
The distillery
The home of Bushmills and Black Bush whiskies, this is the only distillery in Ireland to make triple-distilled malt whiskey. This is at the heart of all Bushmills whiskeys and creates a unique combination of smoothness and richness. In 2008 the distillery celebrated the 400th anniversary of the original licence to distil whiskey granted to the area in 1608.
After the guided tour you will enjoy a tutored tasting with an expert member of staff, which will introduce you to the craft of making Irish Whiskey and to unravel some of their trade secrets, from the special water from St. Columb’s Rill and the finest malted barley to the art of triple distillation in copper stills and finally to aging in oak casks. You will then be invited to nose and taste three Bushmills Whiskeys and to compare them with an American Bourbon and a Scotch Whisky. Complete the visit with a dram of the exclusive Bushmills Distillery Reserve 12 Year Old Single Malt Whiskey.
Your Hotel
Centuries of history exude from the old timber beams and rough plaster walls of this landmark inn. At its heart is the gaslit sixteenth century snug, with soot-stained walls and ceilings and a pulley suspended above the fireplace. You could spend hours here over a Guinness or a dram, dreaming up romantic notions of encounters goneby. The snug is encased by a mere two-hundred year old inn, with an even more modern, yet sympathetically designed, outer shell. Guest rooms are spacious and atmospheric, with individual character and attention to detail to keep design in-keeping with the building's charm. This place is a genuine meeting point for travellers and locals alike, buzzing with conviviality and conversation throughout a jigsaw puzzle of interconnecting public rooms and cosy corners. The outdoor courtyard and terrace come into their own in the summer months, while open peat fires provide the perfect ambience in other seasons. Service is attentive and friendly, many staff being young, local and very proud of the area. The menu offered throughout the restaurant and conservatory fuses local produce with a touch of creativity to make this one of the most renowned dining destinations in the North of Ireland.
What else to see and do
The famous sights of the Northern Coast, including the geological phenomenon of the Giants' Causeway, and the much-photographed clifftop ruins of haunting Dunluce Castle, are just a short drive away. For the more adventurous, test your nerve and head for heights by venturing across the suspended rope bridge at Carrick-a-Rede.
Prices & Dates
This holiday can be arranged all year round.
The price is £269 per person for February, March & November, £285 per person for April, May, June, September & October, £295 per person for July & August. This is for 3 nights on a bed & breakfast basis, which includes a guided tour and tutored tasting at the Bushmills Distillery
Travel to Ireland
Return travel by ferry can be included in this holiday, for an additional £80 per person for March to June and September to November, or £120 per person for July & August, to cover return travel from southwest Scotland for car and passengers. We can also offer this holiday on a flydrive basis.
There are also numerous direct flight connections to Belfast from many airports in Britain including London, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds, Manchester, Luton, Southampton and Edinburgh.
All our holidays include a map of Ireland with recommended routes from your specified starting point, suggestions on places to see and visit depending on your personal interests and our expertise to help you get the most from your holiday.
All itineraries and room types are presented subject to availability at specific hotels.
The McKinlay Kidd Guarantee
All our holiday prices include a service charge of £8 per person per night towards the costs we incur in researching, planning and designing your holiday.
We guarantee to refund this service charge if you believe that arranging your holiday through McKinlay Kidd has not met your expectations for value. All we ask is that you write to us within 7 days of your return and explain your reason for claiming the refund. This will ensure that we can improve the experience for all our future guests.
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