How to Visit Roe & Co Distillery: Tours, Tickets, and Cocktail Workshops

Located in the heart of Dublin’s Liberties neighborhood, just a stone’s throw from the Guinness Storehouse, the Roe & Co Distillery offers a distinctly modern take on Irish whiskey. While other distilleries lean heavily into centuries-old cobblestones and dusty barrels, Roe & Co focuses on the contemporary cocktail scene, interactive flavor workshops, and urban industrial design.

Housed in the former Guinness Power Station, this working distillery is a tribute to George Roe, a 19th-century whiskey baron whose original distillery once spanned 17 acres across Thomas Street. Today, visiting Roe & Co is less about listening to long lectures on fermentation and more about rolling up your sleeves to mix your own drinks.

Here is everything you need to know to navigate the ticket options, understand the history, and get the most out of your visit.

Historical Context: The Rise, Fall, and Revival

To understand Roe & Co, you have to look back to the 19th century. George Roe & Co was once the largest exporter of whiskey in Ireland, operating the massive Thomas Street Distillery. At its peak, it rivaled Jameson and Powers. However, a combination of Prohibition in the US, trade wars with Britain, and the rise of blended Scotch led to the distillery’s closure in 1926.

For decades, the only remnants of the Roe empire were the iconic St. Patrick’s Tower (a windmill) and an old pear tree that still flowers on the Guinness grounds today.

In 2017, Diageo (the parent company of Guinness) revived the Roe & Co brand, launching a new premium blended Irish whiskey. By 2019, they opened this €25 million urban distillery inside the decommissioned Guinness Power Station, bringing whiskey production back to the exact neighborhood where George Roe built his empire.

5 Architectural & Cultural Highlights

The building itself is as much of a draw as the whiskey. The architects preserved the industrial skeleton of the 1940s power station while injecting vibrant, modern design elements.

1. The Guinness Power Station Facade

Before you even walk in, take a moment to look at the brickwork. Built in 1948, the building supplied electricity to the Guinness brewery for decades. The tall, narrow windows and imposing brick facade are classic examples of mid-century industrial architecture, now contrasted with the bright teal branding of Roe & Co.

2. The Copper Pot Stills

Unlike some “distillery experiences” in Dublin that are purely museums, Roe & Co is a fully operational distillery. From the elevated glass walkways, you can look down onto the production floor to see the three massive copper pot stills. The space is bright, clinical, and highly functional, giving you a real-world look at modern distillation.

3. Room 106 (The Blending Room)

This is where the Flavours Experience takes place. Designed like a high-end apothecary or a panoramic science lab, the room is lined with flavor profiles—sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami. It is highly interactive, allowing visitors to experiment with different mixers and garnishes at their own individual workstations.

4. The Power House Bar

Located on the ground floor, the Power House Bar is the centerpiece of the visitor experience. The bar itself is built around the original structural columns of the power station. It features a rotating menu of seasonal cocktails designed by some of Ireland’s top mixologists.

5. The St. Patrick’s Tower & Pear Tree (Exterior)

While technically located just across the street on the Guinness campus, you can easily spot St. Patrick’s Tower from the distillery. Built in 1757, it is one of the oldest surviving smock windmills in Europe and the most visible relic of the original George Roe distillery. At its base sits the famous pear tree, which inspired the pear motif found on every bottle of Roe & Co.

Ticket Options: Workshops vs. Premium Tours

Roe & Co does not offer a standard “walk-and-look” museum ticket. Every entry option is a guided, interactive experience. Because capacity is strictly limited in the blending rooms, you should book your entry tickets in advance.

The Independent Option: The Power House Bar

If you do not have time for a 45-minute workshop, you can simply visit the Power House Bar. You do not need a tour ticket to drink here, though booking a table directly through their website is highly recommended on weekends. It is an excellent spot for a pre-dinner cocktail before heading into The Liberties.

What to Expect: The Flavours Experience Timeline

If you book the standard Flavours Experience, here is how your time will break down.

Advice for Different Types of Travelers

For the Time-Poor

If you only have a few days in Dublin, Roe & Co is highly efficient. The Flavours Experience takes exactly 45 minutes. You can easily pair it with a visit to the Guinness Storehouse across the street. In fact, there is a Guinness Storehouse & Roe & Co Combo Tour available that manages the logistics for both.

For Whiskey Purists

If you prefer sipping neat whiskey and geeking out over cask types, the standard Flavours Experience might feel too cocktail-heavy for you. You should either upgrade to the Beyond the Blend tour, or consider visiting the nearby Teeling Distillery, which focuses heavily on the traditional maturation and tasting process.

For Groups and Couples

The Roe & Co Distillery is arguably the most social and energetic distillery experience in Dublin. The cocktail workshop is highly interactive, making it a great icebreaker for couples or a fun afternoon activity for a group of friends before heading out on a pub crawl.

Logistics: Getting There & Getting Around

Roe & Co is located at 92 James’s Street, Dublin 8. It is situated in the Liberties, a historic working-class neighborhood that is rapidly becoming Dublin’s distilling hub.

• By Luas (Tram): Take the Red Line to the James’s stop. From there, it is a flat, 5-minute walk down James’s Street.
• By Bus: Routes 13, 40, and 123 all depart from the city center (near O’Connell Street or Dame Street) and drop you right outside the distillery on James’s Street.
• Walking: If you are already exploring Christ Church Cathedral or Dublinia, it is about a 15 to 20-minute walk straight up Thomas Street.

Keep Planning: If you are organizing your transport around the city, read our complete Dublin Public Transport Guide.

Local Tips for Avoiding Crowds

1. Go on a Thursday: Thursdays offer the perfect balance. The distillery is fully operational, the bar has a lively atmosphere, but you avoid the massive stag and hen party crowds that descend on Friday afternoons and Saturdays.
2. Book the First Slot: If you want a quieter, more intimate cocktail workshop, book the first available slot of the day (usually around 11:00 AM or 12:00 PM depending on the season).
3. Eat Before You Go: The Power House Bar serves excellent cocktails, but their food options are usually limited to light bar snacks or a rotating food truck in the courtyard. Do not arrive expecting a full restaurant meal. Grab food nearby on Thomas Street beforehand.

Where to Stay Near Roe & Co

Staying in Dublin 8 (The Liberties) puts you within walking distance of Roe & Co, Guinness, Teeling, and Kilmainham Gaol. It is a vibrant, slightly gritty, but rapidly gentrifying area with excellent cafes and traditional pubs.

Frequently Asked Questions