Whiskey & Poitín: Irish Distilling History

Explore Irish whiskey’s rich history with tastings, stories, and traditions at our distillery. Discover unique flavors and heritage poitín.

Duration: 1 hour
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Galway - Experience a taste of local Irish spirits at Galway’s first operational distillery in over a century with this concise tasting tour. Explore the distillery’s rich history, then enjoy samples of poitín and gin. As you savor these spirits, your guide will explain the production techniques and historical background of each product.
What's Included
  • Poitín Tasting
  • Whiskey Tasting
Additional Information

Step into Galway city’s only operational distillery for a unique journey into Ireland’s oldest spirits. Discover the shared origins of whiskey and poitín, once the same drink, distinguished only by the purchase of a license, and delve into centuries of distilling tradition brought to life through our family’s 170-year-old illicit legacy.
Uncover the…

Location
The Oslo Bar
Upper Salthill Road
Enter the Oslo Bar, go to the back, take the stairs up to your left and we are there!
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(12 Ratings)
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Eamon57
Jan 3, 2026
Top class tasting/tour - I went on this tasting/tour yesterday with my Son and Son in Law. The tour was hosted by Aoife and she was excellent...knowledgeable, informative and witty. The tastings were generous and the product(s) were top class. I can say with confidence that the value for money for this tasting/tour is unequivocally the best you'll find anywhere in the whiskey making world. In summary, I would highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Maursandkevin2022
Nov 26, 2025
Knowledgable and historic - Really great visit . Michael was our guide and was brilliant Gave a detailed history of whiskey and poitin We were able to sample two whiskeys and a poitin
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Markno8730id
Nov 17, 2025
Great experience - learned much about poitin - I had a wonderful time learning about Poitin and Irish whiskey. I definitely recommend, especially if you’re interested in poitin.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gregwatson08
Nov 6, 2025
A lovely little distillery in a charming area of Galway - We were in Galway for a bit longer than we probably should have been and were very happy to have stumbled upon our tasting experience at Micil. Our guide was engaging and the story of the distillery and Poitin was unique - this was our 4th distillery tour in Ireland and the first one that really went into that history. The whiskey was also quite tasty- we also got a bonus tasting of gin at the end and, as a gin LOVER, it was some of the best gin I've ever had - ended up buying two bottles to bring home.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
M5397ndchrism
Nov 2, 2025
Came for the whiskey, stayed for the gin! - My wife and I are new to the world of whiskey and after touring some of the larger distilleries in Dublin, we where happy to learn that there was a working distillery in Galway that we could visit while staying there. The Oslo bar, which you walk through to get to the distillery, was under construction during our visit, but signs clearly pointed us the way to the distillery in the back. Our tour guide, Michael, was warm and engaging. What we appreciated about the Micil experience over those of the larger distilleries, was the simplicity. There were nine of us in the group (as opposed to 20 in some of the other distilleries) and the tasting room had a family room/small pub vibe. While not as flashy as some of the other whiskey tour options, we got a real sense of the story behind Micil along with some added "hands on" elements like passing around a stave from an aging barrel to see the absorption of the whiskey into the wood. After wrapping up the whiskey and poitn tastings (our fist time coming across poitin), we were treated to Micil's Irish Gin. This was an unanticipated surprise and I was blown away by the flavour profile. This is by far the best gin I've ever had. While we didn't purchase a bottle at the distillery, we made sure to get a bottle at the duty free store at the airport before going home.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
981marzias
Oct 17, 2025
• Discovering the True Spirit of Ireland: My First Whiskey Tasting - Whiskey Tasting Experience Review This was my very first whiskey tasting experience, and I absolutely loved it. I decided to join the tour because my boyfriend, who lives in Italy, suggested I try poitín — a traditional Irish spirit that’s only produced here in Ireland. I’m not an expert when it comes to whiskey, but I really appreciated the whole experience: the rich aromas, the smooth taste, and especially the lingering flavor that stayed on my palate afterward. It was fascinating to learn more about the history and production process, and it gave me a deeper appreciation for Irish craftsmanship. Overall, it was a wonderful introduction to the world of whiskey — and poitín in particular — and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone curious to try something truly Irish.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Odyssey44441615053
Oct 9, 2025
Excellent tasting. - Highly recommend. Michael was very informative and made the tasting fun. Gave us the background of whiskey in Ireland.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Robertfl4315wl
Oct 3, 2025
Good times and good whiskey - We had an amazing experience at the distillery. The guide was very knowledgeable and gave us a lot of information about the Micil products. We would highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
U3853ocemilyl
Sep 14, 2025
Whiskey tour - Michael was our tour guide. He was excellent. Definitely a must do experience. This is my second time. A hidden gem in galway
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Marymm8911mi
Sep 11, 2025
A unique and memorable Irish experience. - We had a terrific time- one of our most memorable experiences on our trip! Our son was looking for a rare whiskey that he couldn’t find in the US, and Micil’s offered him plenty of choices. Our guide was friendly, knowledgeable and entertaining. We learned a lot about the history of whiskey and poteen, and enjoyed our tastings.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $29
up to 10 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).