Whiskey in a jar-o!

Greetings, Ladies and Gentlemen!
I recently had the pleasure of setting my foot, for the first time, on the Green Isle of Ireland. If you're dyslexic, you might have hard time telling Ireland and Iceland apart, but trust me, having visited both this year, Iceland is icier, and The Emerald Isle is greener and warmer! Ireland was indeed so warm and sunny, that our motto for the week became "By Golly, we have not drunk a drop, and the Sun has shone upon us each and every day!!"

Upon arriving in Dublin, I rented a horse-less carriage, along with a very helpfull guide called Mildred (she said she was a G.P.S., but that must be a peculiar Irish honorary title I am not aware of, and of course a gentleman never asks further).

My main object, of course, was to visit the 3 distilleries still operating in Eire, and buy me some liquid souveniers!

First day I drove to Central Ireland to visit the Townes of Killbeggan and Tullamore. Although the disttilleries there were no longer operational, they did feature museums about Whiskey History.
The most important items learnt:
1) In Ireland they do not use smokey or peaty fuel to dry the wheats
2) Irish whiskey is distilled 3 times, as opposed to twice in Scotland and once in the newer
Colonies (so called Bourbon whisky)
3) Irish whiskey is spelled with an 'e'

Old copper pot still, and barrel makers making
their barrels, in Killbeggan

The Grand Canal, a man-made canal from
Dublin to Ballinasloe, runs through Tullamore

Day 2, back in Dublin, I enjoyed a refreshing
B52 as per The Society's rules & regulations

Day 3 took us down to Middleton, home to
Jameson's whiskey, in Grande Olde distillery

At the end of the tour, I volunteered for a
Tasting Jury, sampling 3 Irish, 1 Scotch and
1 Bourbon, and I was awarded this handsome
diploma for my bravery & service.

Day 4: After a night in the very pleasant and
pretty town of Cork, we headed up to the Cliffs
of Moher (of The Princess Bride fame!) and
onward to Galway, also a very nice town.
(Lady Anna seen here showing her lack of vertigo.)

On Day 5 the road took us further North, and accross some kind of an invisible border, into the Ulster Territory. In (London)Derry one could still see some tension between the protestants & catholics. We attended a lively musical show in a local public house. Later I walked around in the Bogside, site of a rather sad, Bloody Sunday a few decades ago. The murals of Derry are quite world-renown and touching.

The northern-most point of the trip, on Day 6
we reached the Giant's Causeway, a curious
hexagonal stone formation, where we
apparently run into Elwood Blues!

And close by, the oldest whiskey distillery in
the world! It shall celebrate 4 1/2 Centuries
next year. Carry on, Sirs, carry on!

After Bushmill's, we headed down to Belfast. It was a nice enough city, but nothing special to write to the Society about.


That's it for this Travel Report. We'll be waiting for other contributions shortly. Untill then, keep on exploring & experimenting; for God and Country!

Yours truly etc
Paddlewick, Esq.