The green warehouse of Curious Wines is bright and unmissable and Number 36 brightens up that…read morecorner of the Kinsale Road Commercial Centre. It is also big which means you have loads of room in the aisles and they have plenty of room to display their impressive range of wines. It is the new base of brothers Mike and Matt Kane who have moved form Bandon after 18 months or so there. Space and location were the main attractions in making the move for Curious Wines, whose website has won Best in Ireland (2009) and who feature in the Bridgestone Best in Ireland 2010. "We are now settled in and happy with the location," Mike told me on a recent visit. "We've used the web to let people know of the move and word of mouth, perhaps the best recommendation, is now having its effect." "It is so convenient for so many people, just one minute off the Kinsale Road roundabout. Quite a few made the trip out to Bandon but it wasn't a regular trip and that seems to be happening here." "The proximity of Smyths Toys also means a huge footfall in the centre and indeed quite a few tired parents drop in to buy a consolatory bottle after hours spent on toys. I know the feeling, as I'm a parent myself."

Great experience at Midleton. The property is beautiful and in a lovely town…read more Our tour guide Cassy was incredibly knowledgeable and informative. She expertly answered the myriad of questions she was presented with. We opted for the higher priced premium tasting, which included a tasting of the distillery specific Jameson, Redbreast 15, and Midleton Very Rare. That too was a good experience overall, with a different host guiding us through the tasting, but it was definitely rushed. It was clear that the employee was under the gun to move us along. Each whiskey was wonderful, but it felt odd downing a taste of Midleton like a shot. The tour concluded with an included drink in the bar. Most of us opted for a Jameson and Ginger, made with Fever Tree ginger ale, given the unusually warm weather Ireland was experiencing. We also bought a "Spot" flight to sample three of those brand (Red Spot was amazing). Lastly, the wife and I perused the gift shop and the glorious Midleton vault of rare years and editions. Another employee, Michael, was informative and generous with his time as he talked about the whiskey's history and the significance of the various releases. He had no problem answering our questions regarding bottles valued at tens of thousands of Euros, even though we were clearly not in the market for one. He was able to approach the whiskey from both the perspective of a collector and an enthusiastic consumer. Our time in the vault was almost like a second tour and we spent so much time in it that our adult children began to think we had gone missing. We finally left, purchasing a bottle of the Dair Ghaelach release, matured in casks made from the wood of a native Irish tree (which we learned is very rare). While its cost was dwarfed by many of the rare bottles present, it was definitely more than we are used to spending on a bottle. We intend to keep it as a collector's piece, on par with "artwork." However, Michael would probably encourage us to enjoy it on the many special occasions that life brings us : )

Toured the Midleton Distillery today (5-21-26) and had Myles as our tour guide. Myles was very…read morepersonable and had vast knowledge of the distillery as well as the processes of making whiskey. The grounds were vast and we were able to see various phases of whiskey making. At the end of the tour we had a whiskey tasting of three varieties followed by a cocktail at their bar. This tour was great and there was so much more to see than The Teeling Whiskey Tour in Dublin. I recommend The Midleton Distillery Tour to travelers.

BRADLEY'S Called into Bradley's, North Main Street, to…read morebrowse among their 700 wines. Wouldn't you know it - they didn't have the Four Sisters Shiraz that I was on the lookout for. At least that was my excuse for calling. They had some bargains, one Australian Shiraz I had bought elsewhere before Christmas was marked down by three euro. The Penfold's Rawson Retreat range was also down by that amount and I treated herself (my excuse) to a bottle of Semillon Chardonnay. They also have huge ranges of spirits and beers but I didn't have time to check them all or the arms to carry them. Settled for a few beers on this occasion and am now looking forward to sampling Pilsner Urquell (€2.99), Rick Stein's Chalky's Bark Open (€2.99) and, from Oz, Hahn Premium (€1.89). My father always maintained that Bradley's had the best bottled Irish beer in town but they have now spread their wings and are well worth a visit. Service, by the way, was relaxed and friendly.

Very handily situated off-licence in the centre of town. Go there when you've finished shopping for…read moreSaturday night and stock up for Saturday night. Good range of beers, and a nice selection of wines.

Pretty good tasting beers. The bar itself is definitely quite eclectic and cool. Got pretty busy…read morefairly early on but we still enjoyed a flight.

My daughter found this place, so all three of us came for a taste of their beer and pizza not only…read moredo they have a pub like inside seating but they also have a covered outdoor patio, which is delightful with flowers and lots of city. The pizza was absolutely some of the best I've ever had. I would highly recommend it if I lived in Ireland I would call this place my home anyway fun place great beer, great spirits and it's at a reasonable price definitely worth a stop by.

Excellent service great beef tenders. Had a wonderful conversation with one of the beer backs. And…read morewas very knowledgeable with the local beers they serve. Honestly felt like home away from home here in Cork!

Stopped into Rising Sons Brewery for a flight of their craft beer. The inside aesthetic was a mix…read moreof a brewery and sports bar. They had great music playing! They currently had (6) of their beers on tap and flights offer (3) beers to taste. We got the Handsum (indian pale ale), Wheat Dreams (german wheat), and Mí Daza (irish stout). The bartender was super friendly and gave us a good background on the brewery, their beers, and why there was a giant hippo hung in the brewing area. They have minimal merchandise but the beers were really good!

This is a great little grocery store. We Found everything we needed for a week on a boat... Save…read moreperhaps boxed wine, but they do have a decent selection of wines, beers and liquor... Including Mount Gay Rum to keep the sailing crowd happy.

We had a great time during the Jameson experience at cork. The tour itself was well executed and…read morevery interesting. They also provided lots of samples which was appreciated. We learned a lot and particularly enjoyed learning about their method and madness line. Our tour guide was great. Do note that you may need to stick around after the tour a bit before driving especially if you didn't have much in your stomach! We would definitely come back sometime.

I learned so much about the Jameson brand and the whiskey-making process during the Midleton…read moreDistillery Experience. The hour-and-fifteen-minute guided tour takes you behind the scenes of the 200-year-old facility, with stops at the grain store, mill house, and maturation warehouses. Along the way, you'll see the massive iron water wheel that once powered the mill before steam engines took over, as well as the largest pot still in the world, both impressive highlights. The tour wraps up with a tasting of three whiskeys. Ours included Jameson Original, Redbreast, and Green Spot. It's a great way to experience the range of flavors and styles Jameson has to offer. You also get a drink voucher to use at the on-site bar, which is conveniently attached to the gift shop. I'd recommend this tour not just to Jameson fans and whiskey enthusiasts, but also to history lovers and anyone interested in Irish craftsmanship. It's a well-paced, engaging experience that combines tradition, storytelling, and flavor in a beautifully preserved setting.