Boyne Valley: Private Whiskey Tour med Slane Castle Distillery

Our group of six just returned from a 5-day trip to Ireland with Mint Julep Experiences, and it was truly beyond wonderful from start to finish. Every single detail — from arrival to departure — was handled flawlessly. It was a completely worry-free, first-class experience. I would give this 10 stars!! Our host and guide, Gary Byrne, was exceptional. His knowledge, warmth, and storytelling brought Ireland’s history and culture to life in a way that made the entire journey unforgettable. You can tell he genuinely loves what he does, and it shows in every moment of the trip. We explored off-the-beaten-path distilleries, toured historic castles, and enjoyed incredible lunches at traditional Irish pubs that felt authentic and welcoming. Every dinner was fantastic — delicious food, perfect pints, and live Irish music that made each evening special. We also visited Belfast and other parts of Northern Ireland, where the knowledge shared about the Troubles — and the opportunity to spend meaningful time with residents who lived through that period — was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The personal stories and historical insight added such depth and perspective to our journey. One of our favorite adventures was hiking up to the Upper Lake, with Gary narrating the history of the trail and surrounding sites the entire way. The surprise toast at the summit was such a thoughtful and memorable touch! We also loved our VIP experience at the Guinness Storehouse — a must-do while in Ireland. The absolute highlight of the trip was our overnight stay at the iconic Slane Castle. From the private tour of the house to exclusive tastings at the Slane Distillery, everything felt intimate and special. The staff at Slane were friendly, engaging, and welcoming. Spending time with the owner, hearing stories about the castle’s history and the legendary musicians who’ve played on the front lawn — like U2, The Rolling Stones, and Bruce Springsteen — was an experience we’ll never forget. Our entire group cannot recommend Mint Julep Experiences — and especially Gary Byrne — highly enough. If you’re looking for a first-class, seamless, unforgettable Ireland adventure, this is it. We’ll absolutely be back! Thank you, Gary and Mint Julep, for the trip of a lifetime! 🇮🇪✨

Absolutely spectacular. Gary and Paul are top notch. We have done alcohol making tours in Ireland, all over the US, Scotland and Colombia. Gary’s tour was unmatched by a long shot. His knowledge of distilling, the landscape, Irish food, folklore, and Irish history is an experience that you should make a point of doing while in Ireland. Wish I could give him 10 stars.

Great team with a phenomenal knowledge of Ireland’s hidden gems. They made a bespoke trip for us and knew every secret spot along the way. Cheers again fellas!

Had a terrific time. Went to Guinness, Jamison’s, Gravediggers, and Cobblestone's the first day and the second to Belfast and Slane Castle. Second day was impromptu but worked with us and put up with our group. Could not have a better experience of Ireland. Highly recommend!!!

Gary was incredible. Not only knowledgeable, which he was, but extremely personable. Having been in tours in 13 different countries with a wealth of different companies, Gary and the Ireland Whiskey Tours was the best of the best. Truly a world class operation that is a MUST if visiting Ireland. A real privilege that made the whole trip to Ireland much more enjoyable. Highly recommended.

What an amazing tour we had with Gary! He is a class act through and through. Gary is knowledgeable, entertaining, and a pleasure to be with for 6 days! He planned a most memorable tour for me, my co-workers and friends. I am a tour guide in Kentucky, so I went in with high expectations. He easily met and exceeded those expectations! Mint Julep Experiences, Ireland should be on everyone's bucket list. Well done Gary!!

Second time to Ireland, first time guided. Highly recommend guided! Gary was awesome. First rate transportation, first rate accommodations and expert guidance. From Slane Distillery, Galway, Cliffs of Moher, Kilkenny (love me some Smithwicks), Kildare (Irish Nat Stud is a must), Naas, and Dublin. Unbelievable scenery and great value. Thank you Gary!

Our six day tour was amazing! Gary met and exceeded all of our expectations. We did not meet a stranger and the people went out of there way to make us feel welcome. I recommend this trip to anyone interested in getting the feel and vibe of what Ireland has to offer.

We took my parents to Ireland this year and it was, of course, amazing. I did something different this trip and booked a surprise tour for my whisky-loving husband & my Dad. I called & visited a bit with Gary who was adamant that my Mom and I would also enjoy the experience and encouraged us to go along, as well. So, I booked it for the four of us and I am so happy that I took the chance and did! Gary is an amazing human and knows his country and her land & history inside and out. He didn’t just take us to a distillery (at a private castle!). He took us on an adventure; a beautiful day full of emerald scenery, stone castles & priories, and immersive storytelling of the history, ancient past, & current lives of the Irish. If you have zero desire to know anything about whiskey (a traditional & cherished Irish export), Gary will happily take a family on an adventure, sans spirits (other than those of his ancestors…& most likely yours). 🇮🇪 ☘️ 🥃 Sláinte!

A huge thank you to Gary from Ireland Whiskey Tours for curating such an amazing and unique experience through the Boyne Valley and Slane Distillery. Of course, Whiskey is a big theme for this tour, but with the various stops in Boyne Valley and the wealth of knowledge about the history of the area Gary has it becomes so much more. Gary was very accommodating with picking us up, and dropping us off, from our hotel outside of Dublin. He was also able to assist with ensuring dietary restrictions were considered for the lunch spot and distillery tour. We were lucky enough to experience the Boyne Valley on a day with a clear blue sky. Our first stop at Monasterboice to view the high crosses was a great opening to the tour. It helped set the scene of the Boyne Valley, with its rural ambiance, and rolling green fields. You are able to freely tour the cemetery and feel at peace with the land. With the clear skies the stop to Slane Hill was another opportunity to take in the magnificent vistas Ireland has to offer. The ability to freely roam around and enjoy the scenery and the ruins was fantastic. We had some additional time and had the opportunity to visit one additional historic site, Mellifont Abbey. It was a great reward for being picked up early. There were only a few other people there and it felt like another private visit. After a delightful lunch, we were able to make our way to Castle Slane. The gates opened specifically for us and we had a great photo opportunity of the castle and concert grounds. From there we made our way to the converted stable to tour the Distillery. This was an amazing personal tour that provided a deep understanding of Whiskey and the Slane brand. We have toured various wineries, breweries and one other distillery before, but none compares to the detail and full access available at Slane Distillery. Being able to walk through the process and ingredients of distilling whiskey to sitting down and tasting not just the finished product, and distillery exclusives, but also tasting the whiskey in its various pre-blended flavors was truly a wonderful experience. My appreciation, and enjoyment, of whiskey has increased exponentially. I am looking forward to sharing Slane Whiskey with friends back home and talking about the truly wonderful day I had discovering the whiskey and the Boyne Valley. I would enthusiastically recommend this tour to anyone looking for a unique private experience while visiting Ireland. My only regret was we didn't book more tours with Ireland Whiskey Tours.