Our first stop on the Ireland/Scotland adventure was Dublin. We stayed at the Fitzwilliam Hotel near St Stephen's Green. This small boutique 5 Star hotel was in a fabulous location, had an very good breakfast included, and fantastic service. The bellman and concierge was top notch ad always there when we needed them. It also had a nice bar to have that "final, final" drink before bed.

We toured the Guinness Storehouse which was OK, but I would not say it is a must-see attraction. On the otherhand, the Jameson Distillery Bow Street was a real surprise. We didn't even think we were going to do a tour, but when we realized we had 2 free tickets due to a bottle if Irish Whiskey that I was registering, the 4 of decided to go through it, and we were so glad we did. The guide was passionate and knowledgeable and the tour was very interactive and used many audio/visual tools to teach. I would recommend doing this one.  After that, we went to Trinity College, which was stunning. I wanted to hit the bookstore from some SWAG, but they closed a closed at 5 and we got there at 5:10. Make note of that if you are hoping to get a sweatshirt or something. 

While bouncing around from pub to pub, I realized that gin is a big thing in Ireland. I too, enjoy gin, so I decided to give some a try. MY favorite in Ireland was "Bertha's Revenge Irish Milk Gin". They distilled the whey that is discarded when making cheese. The mix that with some local botanicals, and the next thing you know, you have a wonderful gin. Too bad I can't get it in Pittsburgh!!

We did the "hop-on/hop-off" bus tour and that was a nice way to learn more about the city and also get the lay of the land. I know it is touristy, but hey, we were tourists. 

While we flew into Dublin airport, we left vial rail to our next stop. Killarney!

This was our first Pub in Ireland. We couldn't have picked a better place to drink through our jet-lag. Properly poured pints and a great gathering of local musicians, each taking their turn to sing a traditional song. 

I first had this drink at Bar Ste-Angèle in Quebec City. I was tired of beer and asked the bartender what he would recommend for a gin drink. He suggested a Vesper. I had never heard of it and he said it was the original James Bond Martini. It is made with 3 oz Gin, 1 oz Vodka, and .5 oz Lillet. Garnish with a wide strip of lemon zest.  Add ice and stir (or shake like Bond) then strain into a glass. It will get the bull running, but did not taste boozy at all. Just use quality booze!

This bar was suggested to us by a bartender at another establishment when we said we wanted something local and low key. She nailed it. This place is OLD and seems to be part basement, part house. While we weren't there for Jazz night, it is know to attract great talent and a good crowd. Maybe next trip.