Visiting the Jameson Distillery

In this B1–B2 ESL lesson on Irish whiskey and beverage traditions, students learn about one of Ireland’s most famous distilleries: Jameson. The lesson encourages learners to think about other iconic drinks from around the world and the stories, traditions, and techniques that make them unique. Students also expand their vocabulary related to distilleries, tasting, production processes, and sensory descriptions, while practising how to talk about flavours, ingredients, and the overall experience of visiting a beverage destination. You can find more lessons related to Ireland here. Other lessons you might like are: “How to describe wine” and “Oktoberfest“.

Activities overview

Speaking – Lead-in Discussion:
Students begin by discussing whether they enjoy guided tours when travelling, what famous drinks come from their countries, and whether they have ever visited a factory, brewery, or distillery. This activity activates background knowledge and introduces the topic of beverage tourism.

Vocabulary – Distillery and Tasting Terms:
Learners match key vocabulary such as distillery, maturation, connoisseur, distillation, barrel/cask, flavour notes, and tasting with their definitions. They then complete sentences using these words in context to reinforce meaning and usage.

Listening – Video: Jameson Distillery Dublin Tour:
Students watch a video called “Jameson Distillery Dublin tour“. They identify the main stages of the tour, listen for specific information about Irish whiskey production, and answer comprehension questions about ingredients, distillation, maturation, and tasting.

Vocabulary – Expressions from the Video:
Learners analyse useful expressions such as soak up the atmosphere, pamper someone, immerse someone in something, keepsake, and stand the test of time. They match the expressions with their meanings and practise using them in short contextual sentences.

Speaking – Personalised Discussion:
Students answer discussion questions related to travel experiences, hobbies they immerse themselves in, meaningful keepsakes, traditions that have stood the test of time, and ways to pamper family members.

Reading – Identifying Different Beverage Tours:
Students read short excerpts from different tour guides and identify what type of tour is being described (wine, coffee, tequila/mezcal, or beer). They underline key clues and discuss the ingredients and processes involved.

Speaking – Tour Guide Role-Play:
Learners imagine they are tour guides at a famous beverage destination. Using a structured template, they research or invent a location and present a short two-minute tour describing the history, ingredients, production process, sensory experience, and tasting notes.

For more speaking practice, you can use the printable speaking cards,