Pearse Lyons Distillery: History, Owner and Visitor Guide
Updated: 17 hours ago
Pearse Lyons Distillery is an Irish whiskey distillery at 121 to 122 James's Street in the Liberties district of Dublin 8. It is housed in the restored St. James's Church and opened its doors in 2017. It is run under the Lyons family businesses, with the company registered as Alltech Beverage Division Ireland.
In this guide
Summarise this guide with AI
Pearse Lyons at a glance
Distillery fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Producer / distillery | Pearse Lyons |
Location | Dublin, Ireland |
Ownership | Alltech family business |
History / origin | Pearse Lyons was born in Dublin, raised in Dundalk and came from five generations of Irish coopers on his mother's side. He graduated with a Master's degree in brewing and distilling from the… |
Whisky characteristics | Irish whiskey visitor distillery in a restored Dublin church |
Visiting | Consult current official visitor information; not every distillery is open to tours. |
Join the Pearse Lyons whisky community poll
Which whiskies have you tried? What should Whisky Clan review next? Open the highlighted poll below, answer four quick questions and share your preferences with the community.
TAKE THE PEARSE LYONS COMMUNITY POLL · 4 QUICK QUESTIONS
Answer four quick questions to see real reader percentages. No account or email is required.
History
Pearse Lyons was born in Dublin, raised in Dundalk and came from five generations of Irish coopers on his mother's side. He graduated with a Master's degree in brewing and distilling from the University of Birmingham in 1968, the first Irishman to do so. He began his whiskey career at Irish Distillers, on the design team for the new Midleton Distillery in Cork.
In 1980 he and his wife Deirdre founded Alltech. In 2012 the couple discovered the dilapidated St. James's Church in the Liberties. Restoration began in 2013 and took more than four years. Pearse Lyons died in March 2018. His son Mark Lyons now leads the family businesses.
The whiskey
The Pearse 5 Year Old Single Malt was the first whiskey produced by a new distillery in Ireland in more than 25 years. In 2019 the distillery began making single pot still whiskey. The distillery also makes Ha'Penny Spirits and MiL Irish Pot Still Gin.
Visiting
The distillery is a five minute walk from the Guinness Storehouse. It offers a distillery tour and tasting, a private VIP tour, a gin school, a cocktail experience and a whiskey blending experience. Book directly on the official website.
From the official site
The distillery's own site says it is housed in the restored 18th-century Church of St James in Dublin's Liberties. It says distillation started in 2012 at the company's brewery operations while the church was being restored, and that the distillery opened in 2017, named after founder Dr Pearse Lyons. It describes five generations of coopers in the family. Note that this differs from sources that date first distillation to the 2017 opening.
The site features the award-winning Pearse Irish Whiskey, including a 12 Year Old, and a Camino Collection of single casks inspired by the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage.
Experiences and getting there
Bookable experiences listed are a Distillery Tour and Tasting, a Gin School Experience and an Art of Irish Whiskey Blending Experience. The address is 121 to 122 James's Street, Dublin 8, D08 ET27, about five minutes on foot from the Guinness Storehouse. Dublin Bus routes 13, G1, G2, S2 and 123 stop on James's Street, and the nearest Luas red line stop is St James's. Tickets are sold through the site's booking page.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Pearse Lyons Distillery?
In the restored St. James's Church on James's Street, Dublin 8.
Who founded it?
Pearse Lyons and his wife Deirdre.
When did it open?
2017.
Sources
Further sources checked on 20 October 2026: pearselyonsdistillery.com home page.
Gaps for Filip: strengths and prices for the Pearse range, tour times and ticket prices, and the current ownership statement (Alltech) were not on the pages that loaded.
What makes Pearse Lyons distinctive?
Irish whiskey visitor distillery in a restored Dublin church
Pearse Lyons whisky bottles and expression comparison
Bottle / expression | Age | ABV | Cask maturation / notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Pearse Lyons Original Irish Whiskey | NAS / edition varies | Check label | Irish whiskey visitor distillery in a restored Dublin church |
Pearse Lyons Distiller's Choice | NAS / edition varies | Check label | Irish whiskey visitor distillery in a restored Dublin church |
Named expressions include historic or limited releases and do not guarantee current availability, strength or specifications. Check the producer's labels.
Explore related distillery guides
Frequently asked questions about Pearse Lyons
Where is Pearse Lyons located?
Dublin, Ireland.
Who owns or operates Pearse Lyons?
Alltech family business.
What is distinctive about Pearse Lyons?
Irish whiskey visitor distillery in a restored Dublin church
What whisky is associated with Pearse Lyons?
Pearse Lyons Original Irish Whiskey, Pearse Lyons Distiller's Choice. Current availability must be checked.
Can you tour Pearse Lyons?
Please check the producer's current visitor information; not all locations welcome visitors.
Sources and editorial checks
Existing history and sources are retained above. Ownership, operating status, bottlings and tours may change.
Help us improve this distillery guide
Know something we should add or correct about Pearse Lyons Distillery? Share verified facts, bottle releases, awards or useful sources using the form below. Newsletter subscription is optional.
If the embedded form does not display, Open the contribution form in a new tab.
About the author
 | Filip Janczak Storyteller, drinker and explorer of all things whisky. Read more about the person behind Whisky Clan and explore additional reviews and distillery guides. |
Comments