St. Patrick’s Day parade is returning to Dublin Ireland. “After two long years, the ‘craic’ is truly back in Ireland. There is a buzz in towns and cities again, laughter in the streets, and music in the air.” “The St. Patrick’s Festival will kick off the season in style— a week-long celebration of music, dance, and outdoor shows culminating in the stunning St. Patrick’s Day parade through the historic streets of Dublin on March 17th.”
Finally, a bit more of normalcy is happening, after a 2-year absence due to the worldwide pandemic, the Parade is back on. I cannot wait to watch the celebration on the streets, but I will be in my home instead of participating this year. Time to start planning for next year…
I see the commercials on the television for Guinness and people joining in a singalong with no cares in the world. I cannot help but go back to memory lane regarding my last trip to Dublin to celebrate birthdays and St. Patrick’s Day on March 2019.
Man, that seems like a lifetime ago, I went to meet up with a groups of friends to visit distilleries north and south of Dublin before the big event. Bushmill’s Distillery, 3 hours north of Dublin and the next day Jameson Distillery 3 hours south of Dublin.
Bushmill’s Distillery
Bushmills Distillery is the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery, and it is located in the village of Bushmills, County Antrim. The local area has a long tradition with distillation.
According to the company website: “Bushmills is named for the mills that made the barley and the River Bush, which remains the water source to cut our whiskey to proof today. First to do it. Second to none. Triple distilled. Bushmills continues to distill malted barley and is the only Irish distillery time still using malted barley in all its whiskeys.”
I did purchase a bottle of the Blackbush, but it never made it home to the US…
How I was introduced to Bushmills
My first trip to Ireland was in September 2018.
September 2018, I flew from Hong Kong to Dublin on a direct 8 hour flight. I had signed up for a 6 day bus tour ( to take me all over Ireland (this will be another post). We started in Dublin and ended in Dublin.
Anyway towards the last days of the trip, everyone started to catch a cold, we were somewhere near Dingle Harbor and stopped at a bar to have some drinks to warm our souls. My newest and dear friend Kim ordered a glass of Bushmills Black to keep away the cold and germs so I decided to join her. I made sure to add this distillery on my next visit.
Irish Hot Toddy
Ingredients:
1fluid ounce Irish whiskey, 2 teaspoons honey, 1⁄4 slice lemon, 7⁄8 clove, 2 cups of boiled water
Boil Water. Put a teaspoon into your glass and top up with boiling water to warm glass (the spoon helps prevent breaking). Empty glass and then add 1 oz of whiskey. Add honey. Fill glass with boiling water and stir. Cut Lemon into quarter slices and stick 4/5 cloves into lemon slice. Add to drink and enjoy.
Jameson Distillery Midleton, Co.Cork
“The Midleton distilleries complex is situated in Midleton, County Cork, Ireland. It is owned by Irish Distillers, a subsidiary of Pernod Ricard. Located alongside is the Old Midleton Distillery, which was established in the early 17th century and now operates as a visitor center known as the Jameson Experience.” Wikipedia
“Midleton is Ireland’s largest distillery and produces many well-known Whiskey brands: Jameson, Midleton, Powers, Redbreast, Writers Tears, The Irishman, Green Spot, Yellow Spot – the list is long…”
The campus was beautiful and I just love the red doors and museum like setting. I recommend going on the tour and then participate in the whisky tasting. A great way to learn about history and enjoy a nice drink on the rocks of course.
Where are you celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, 2022?
I would love to go back to Dublin for the St. Patrick’s Day parade. I hope that it’s just as craic as I remember it to be. There would be more hearty stews, lots of Guinness, and lots of whisky to share and drink!!!
Which city do you recommend to watch the St. Patrick’s Day parade? What are some of your best recommendation on what to do for St. Patrick Day? Share them with us below!