DUBLIN 2 GUIDED TOUR FIELD GUIDE
A private, daylong whiskey trail through the Boyne Valley — Slane Castle to Boann Distillery
A fully escorted, private 8.5‑hour day trip from Dublin that pairs guided distillery tours and tutored tastings with the lowland scenery of the Boyne Valley.
A private, daylong whiskey trail through the Boyne Valley — Slane Castle to Boann Distillery.
This private, fully escorted day tour slips out of central Dublin and into the Boyne Valley, one of Ireland’s oldest cultural landscapes just an hour north of the city. Over the course of the day you visit two working distilleries—Slane Castle Distillery and the family‑run Boann Distillery—learning the craft behind award‑winning whiskeys while moving through a patchwork of estates, megalithic sites and farmland that defines this part of County Meath and Louth.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Slane Castle Distillery — whiskey inside the castle walls
Set within a 1,500‑acre estate, the Conyngham family’s Slane Castle hosts a modern distillery beside historic stables. The on‑site tour moves through the working distillery and renovated former stables, and the tasting includes an Irish Coffee and a deconstructed session that explores blending and the flavors behind Slane Irish Whiskey.
Boann Distillery — a family‑run pre‑opening experience
Boann is a family company led by Patrick and Marie Cooney and their family; on this tour a Cooney family member conducts a pre‑opening walkaround and a tutored tasting of The Whistler expressions, whiskeys that have already accumulated awards despite the distillery’s youth.
Boyne Valley — ancient sites and cinematic backdrops
The route threads through the Boyne Valley, an ancient region notable for large megalithic sites and pastoral estates; the valley also saw location filming for major films, lending a cinematic sweep to the countryside you cross on the way between distilleries.
What the day feels like
What the day feels like
Pickup from a Dublin city hotel in the morning sets the tone: you leave the city for a roughly one‑hour drive into County Meath, moving through broad farmland to the Slane estate for an immersive distillery tour and tasting. After an informal lunch stop at a nearby pub, the afternoon brings a special pre‑opening visit to Boann Distillery and another guided tasting. Executive transport for your private group returns you to Dublin by late afternoon.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this trip suits — and who should look elsewhere.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
This is a full‑day, private experience that operates Monday–Friday year‑round; the listed duration is about 8 hours 30 minutes with hotel pickup in the morning and return by late afternoon.
No special equipment is required; the package includes executive transport and an accompanying Whiskey Specialist Host for the day.
Hotel pickup from Dublin city hotels is included; sample pricing starts at €310 per person for a group of eight, with per‑person pricing decreasing as group size increases. Guests pay for their own lunch at the pub.
This is a private reservation with a 48‑hour cancellation policy; applicable taxes are included and a transaction fee is added at checkout.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
What time is pickup?
Hotel pickup is at 9:30 AM from Dublin city hotels.
How long is the tour?
The tour runs approximately 8 hours 30 minutes, with return to your Dublin hotel in the late afternoon (around 6pm).
What is the minimum and maximum group size?
This private experience requires a minimum of 8 guests and accepts up to 15 guests per group.
Is there an age restriction?
Yes — participants must be over 18 years of age.
Are meals included?
The operator will book a table at a nearby pub for lunch, but guests pay for their own lunch at the pub.
What’s included in the tour price?
The package includes private full‑day tour transport, an accompanying Whiskey Specialist Host, guided tours and tastings at Slane Castle Distillery and Boann Distillery, and all taxes; a transaction fee is added at checkout.
When does the tour operate?
The tour operates Monday–Friday throughout the year.