11th June 2026 — Wynn’s Hotel, Dublin 1 and Online (YouTube)
Dear Members,
The Duty Free retail outlets in Dublin and Cork Airports are operated by Aer Rianta International (ARI), forming part of a global network spanning 24 locations across 13 countries. In 2010, ARI introduced The Irish Whiskey Experience, a collection featuring up to 80 exclusive Irish whiskey expressions available only through Dublin and Cork Airports. ARI employs nearly 4,000 staff worldwide, who are supported by specialist agency teams with deep expertise across premium retail categories.
Michael Higgins (Waterford Whiskey Society) and Brían Ó Donnchadha (Alcohol Consultancy Experts) both work for A.C.E. in Dublin Airport, and they will guide attendees through a carefully selected lineup from the Irish Whiskey Collection.
Featured Whiskeys:
Special Spotlight Samples:Hinch 23 Year Old Single Malt Ximenez Spinola PX Sherry Finish. Exclusively available to Waterford Whiskey Society members, this exceptional release will be generously shared by Michael with attendees.
In addition, members will enjoy a rare sample of Ximénez Spínola PX Sherry drawn from the very cask used to finish the Hinch expression, offering a unique opportunity to experience both the whiskey and its finishing influence side by side.
Booking opens on Monday the 18th of May at 7.00 pm. There are spaces available for offline and online tastings. Please make sure to choose the right ticket type. Join the waiting list to be notified as we might be able to get more spots for the event. It is necessary to register and complete payment via Stripe (within 15 minutes) to secure your booking.
Event Booking Terms & Conditions: https://www.irishwhiskeysociety.com/IWS-In-Person-Events
June 12 will see an old friend traverse our country from the farm distillery at Echlinville on the Ards peninsula in Down and return to the Dingle peninsula. As we all know, Echlinville have revived the Dunvilles brand and are producing some amazing whiskey on the opposite side of the country. Indeed, Dunvilles has won the vast majority of awards in the Irish Whiskey Awards over the past 2 years, in addition to all of the awards that they have won elsewhere. Their whiskey has attained legendary status in a very short period of time and this tasting is always a favourite here.
Echlinville distillery became Northern Ireland's first licenced distillery in over 125 years distilling its first spirit in 2013 and Seamus Og Birt (previously bar manager at the Portstewert Hotel and a former Mixologist of the Year) will return to us and bring along some excellent whiskeys to sample together with some cask samples and perhaps some new make spirit. Echlinville distillery is a truly unique operation as they grow and malt their own barley in the fields surrounding the distillery and they have also revived the age old tradition of distillery floor malting. These are actual 'field to fork' production methods in the truest sense of the expression and the new distillery itself is a sight to behold. We will be tasting a mixture of their own new spirit as well as the excellent spirit branded under the Dunvilles name.
Of course, Echlinville were very kind to collaborate with us on our tenth anniversary bottling at the start of the year and we are very grateful to them for doing that. This tasting is always a highlight of our year and given that we're celebrating our anniversary, this one should be a belter.
The ethos of 'We will not compromise in our desire to produce the finest whiskey conceivable. We will give it authenticity and provenance and it will tell the story of the land from which it originates, and of those who brought it to life,' will be borne out in the evenings presentation.
NB No cash accepted at door on evening
Book on line at www.irishwhiskeysociety.com under 'Events'
Whiskeys Tasted
1.
25th of June (Thursday), Platin Road, Drogheda, Co. Meath
The Itinerary:
6:00 PM | Departure: We will depart from Dublin City Centre (exact pickup point to be confirmed).
7:00 PM | Arrival & Welcome: We’ll kick off the evening at Boann with a custom welcome cocktail and a grazing table to line the stomachs.
The Main Event | Distillery & Warehouse Tour: * An in-depth tour of the distillery floor.
A tasting of their exceptional new make spirit.
A trip into the warehouse for multiple exclusive cask pulls straight from the wood.
The Grand Finale: We will finish the night with a sweet bite paired perfectly with a very special whiskey.
9:30 PM – 10:00 PM | Return Journey: We will depart the distillery and head back down to Dublin.
This promises to be an incredible night of great whiskey, technical insight, and excellent company. Because we will be doing direct cask pulls in the warehouse, spaces for this trip are strictly limited.
Booking opens on Wednesday 27th of May at 7.00pm. This will be a popular event, so please set a reminder to book on to secure your space. Join the waiting list to be notified as we might be able to get more spots for the event. It is necessary to register and complete payment via Stripe (within 15 minutes) to secure your booking.
