Pearse Lyons Distillery
Pearse Lyons Distillery is one of Dublin's most dramatically located whiskey experiences, housed in a meticulously restored 12th-century church — the former Church of St. James at 121–122 James's Street, Dublin 8 — in the historic Liberties district. Founded in 2017 by the late Dr. Pearse Lyons, founder of the global animal nutrition and life sciences company Alltech, the distillery combines centuries of ecclesiastical history with living whiskey production. Distillation takes place inside the restored nave, where copper pot stills sit where pews once stood. The Gin School, opened in 2022, adds an interactive craft dimension to the visitor offer.
Tours
Available
On-site Shop
Open
Online Shop
Available
History
Dr. Pearse Lyons — a County Louth-born biochemist who built the Kentucky-based Alltech enterprise into a global life sciences and fermentation company — acquired the derelict Church of St. James in Dublin's Liberties and undertook a full restoration to create a working distillery. The church dates to the 12th century and stands in one of Dublin's most historically rich neighbourhoods, a short walk from Guinness's St. James's Gate brewery and the emerging Dublin whiskey trail.
The distillery opened in 2017, producing Pearse Irish Whiskey and Ha'Penny Gin from the restored church premises. Pearse Lyons himself passed away in 2018, but the distillery continues to operate under the family's stewardship, carrying forward his vision of world-class Irish whiskey from a landmark setting. In 2022 the Gin School opened, allowing visitors to craft their own bespoke bottle of Irish gin, adding a significant new experiential dimension to the offer.
Production
Distillation takes place on site inside the restored Church of St. James, using copper pot stills. The production of Pearse Irish Whiskey draws on Alltech's deep fermentation expertise — the company's knowledge of yeast, fermentation science, and distillation underpins the whiskey character. Ha'Penny Gin is also distilled on the premises. The setting — a Gothic revival church with original stonework, stained glass, and a dramatic nave — provides an atmospheric backdrop to the working distillery.
Tasting Character
Pearse Irish Whiskey is produced as an Irish whiskey range designed to reflect both craft quality and the Alltech fermentation heritage. The portfolio spans accessible blended and single grain expressions through to more complex aged and pot still whiskeys. Ha'Penny Gin is produced on site using Irish botanicals for a fresh, approachable profile. The Blending Experience and Food Pairing Experience allow visitors to explore flavour construction in depth, offering more engagement than a standard tasting.
What They Produce
Notable Bottlings
- Pearse Irish Whiskey 5 Year Old — Core blended expression; smooth and accessible
- Pearse Irish Whiskey Original — Entry-level blended Irish whiskey
- Pearse Irish Whiskey Founder's Choice — Premium aged expression
- Pearse Irish Whiskey Cooper's Select — Small-batch single grain; oak and vanilla-forward
- Ha'Penny Dublin Dry Gin — Irish craft gin; distilled on site
- Ha'Penny Rhubarb Gin — Flavoured gin expression
- Bespoke Gin School Creation — Visitor-crafted gin; unique to each session
Visiting
Tours offer a guided exploration of the whiskey-making process within the stunning church setting, followed by a tasting. The Gin School (open from 2022) allows visitors to craft their own bespoke gin bottle under expert guidance — a popular and memorable experience. Blending Experience and Food Pairing Experience also offered for deeper flavour exploration. Located at 121–122 James's Street, Dublin 8, in the heart of the Liberties distillery district. Online shop available; physical shop on site.