If you are a fan of gin and craft beers, the new fashionable way to enjoy a tipple – Waterford does not disappoint with plenty of places to go to enjoy a drink. Waterford is home to three notable businesses that are working on distilling high-quality Irish whiskey, craft gins and craft beers.
Waterford Distillery
Waterford Distillery is a state of the art facility not yet open to the public, originally built by Diageo in 2004 and bought by Renegade Spirits in 2014. It was converted to distilling in 2015 using the finest raw ingredients with a team of passionate distillers with the aim of making the ‘best whiskey ever’.
Blackwater Distillery, based in Cappoquin Co.Waterford is the first craft gin distillery which makes small batch gin the old-fashioned way. Blackwater Distillery is also working on opening a working distillery in Ballyduff Upper in Co Waterford with visitor access. Ballyduff is a small village on the banks of the Blackwater river, which of recent times has been hit by closures of its restaurant, hardware shop & grocery shop. The distillery hopes to bring visitors back to this little village and hopefully re-ignite the place. They already make some well-known brands such as; Blackwater no 5 Gin, Juniper Cask Gin, Wexford Strawberry Gin, Boyles Gin & Barry’s Tea Gin.
Metalman brewing company was created in 2011 when Grainne & Tim had decided that they had enough of the limited selection of local beer available and decided to do something about it. The first of the brews came from Gypsy Brewery in Tipperary under a contract while the Waterford base was kitted out. Production moved to Tycor brewery in Waterford in 2012. In early 2015 cans of Metalman beer hit the market. The name of the brewery was inspired by a navigational aid on the Waterford coast. The Metalman figure was erected in 1823 after a military ship was wrecked off the Tramore coast. The Metalman stands on one of the three pillars overlooking the bay. The idea of him was to guide seafarers.
In Waterford city itself, there are a number of trendy places to go and enjoy an Irish whiskey, craft beer or craft gin such as; Revolution Craft Beer & Whiskey Bar, The Reg and The Metalman Bar.
Revolution Craft Beer & Whiskey Bar
Revolution bar is located on John St in Waterford. It has 3 function rooms, a rooftop bar, a ‘mojo lounge’ and Basement bar. The Revolution Craft Beer & Whiskey bar prides itself on its quirky décor, retro music, chilled atmosphere and a huge choice of drinks served by craft professionals. The bar boasts 103 bottled craft beers, 10 craft beers on tap, 166 whiskeys, 19 ‘Midletons’ and & 36 Gins. You definitely won’t have any problems here finding something you like!
The Reg
The Reg is located on the Mall in Waterford city. It boasts 5 bars and has a roof-top terrace that looks so inviting in the sunshine. The ground floor terrace looks over Reginald’s Tower. It is an old-style craft bar and has music from Sunday to Thursday nights. It has over 80 locally sourced whiskeys, 20 gins, 30 craft beers and a nice selection of wines. The Reg is also known for its fashionable cocktails.
Metalman Bar
Metalman bar opened in December 2017 and is located at 15 The Quay Waterford. It serves Metalman beer but it also serves other beers from independent brewery’s, gins, whiskeys & other drinks too so it is fair to say that it satisfies all tastes. The bar has a different beer of the day every day on special offer. Opening hours are from Monday to Thursday 5 pm-11.30 pm, Fridays 5 pm – 12.30 am, Saturdays 2 pm-12.30 am and Sundays 2 -11 pm. The bar also has organised events such as teaming up with another local business named Mezze who have pop-ups in different places showcasing their Middle Eastern food.
Waterford city, Ireland’s oldest city, combines old and new to provide the perfect place for holidaymakers. Viking Hotel Waterford is a fantastic base to explore all Waterford has to offer. Not only is it a stones’ throw away from the new Waterford Greenway but it is a short distance from the centre of the city. Now, with the new secure bike storage facility for guests, there is even more value for money. Book direct today for the best deal or contact our friendly reservations team.
