Old Bushmills Distillery, in the village of Bushmills on the Causeway Coast, has been producing Irish whiskey since a licence to distil in the area was granted in 1608 - the basis for its claim as the world’s oldest licensed distillery. A visit here pairs naturally with the Giant’s Causeway, a short drive away.
Visiting Information
Opening hours: the distillery’s own site (bushmills.eu) currently lists Giftshop & 1608 Bar hours of Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 11am-5pm - a genuinely different set of hours from the tour schedule previously published here (9:30am-4:45pm Mon-Sat, 12-4:45pm Sun). It’s not clear whether these are two different things (gift shop hours vs. tour/distillery visiting hours) or whether the schedule has simply changed - the official site notes the on-site café has stopped operating, which suggests things have shifted recently. Confirm current tour times directly on the distillery’s booking page before travelling rather than relying on either figure.
Tour pricing: not independently confirmed against a primary source this pass - the official booking flow requires interacting with a live booking widget rather than a page that can be read directly. The three-tier structure below (previously sourced from search aggregation, not the distillery’s own site) is presented as indicative rather than current:
- 1-hour tour with tasting - from around £20 per adult
- 1.5-hour tour including a guided tasting of three whiskies
- 2.5-hour premium tour including a guided sampling of six whiskies - up to around £60 per adult
Confirmed age restrictions (direct from the distillery’s own site): children under 8 aren’t permitted on the guided tour, and under-18s aren’t permitted to accompany parents into the Premium Tasting. Groups of 12+ can book in advance (subject to availability and a deposit) via distillery.tours@bushmills.com.
Booking isn’t always required, but it’s recommended if you want to guarantee a place, particularly in peak season.
The Tour Experience
Heritage and History - Guides walk visitors through the distillery’s centuries of whiskey-making history, including its origins and the local stories behind it.
The Whiskey-Making Process - The tour covers each stage of production: malting the barley, crushing the grain, fermentation, and distillation, with each step explained in detail.
Distillery Facilities - The tour takes in the historic cobbled courtyard, the working stills, traditional copper pot stills, and the blending rooms, along with an overview of the range of whiskeys produced on site.
Getting There
Bushmills is about 60 miles (97km) north of Belfast, just off the A2, roughly 3 miles from the Giant’s Causeway. The distillery is the prominent landmark in the village centre and is well signposted from Main Street.
By car: follow signs for Bushmills from the A2; parking is available nearby.
By public transport: regular bus services run from Belfast to Coleraine with connections to Bushmills. Alternatively, take the train from Belfast to Coleraine and transfer to a bus or taxi for the final leg.
By tour: several guided tour operators include Old Bushmills Distillery as a stop, often combined with the Giant’s Causeway, departing from Belfast or other tourist hubs.
Check current local transport timetables before travelling, as services can change.
