An excellent way to kick off the weekend.

Over the past weeks, we've developed some great new hobbies that we love doing and that have really helped us get through our time in lockdown. Plus we've been having video chats with friends to make sure we get that social interaction in. But we're increasingly finding that it's the little events that we're missing the most. Parties, sure, but we're doing fine without them. It's more the trips to your favourite coffee shop or those more elegant dinners out or a good old drinks-tasting evening, specifically whiskey tastings, that we're pining after. Ireland's pretty famous for its whiskey and, for those of us who appreciate a great-tasting whiskey, it's such a fun night to be able to sip various different high-quality whiskeys and discuss them with other whiskey-appreciating people. Well, the Irish Whiskey Museum is here to make us feel better because they have set up whiskey tasting evening, aptly named The Whiskey Lock-In, that can be joined and enjoyed right from your own house. The whiskey tastings will be happening every Friday evening, starting this Friday, May 29, from 8-9pm and you can sign up right here. There are only 20 places going for the first tasting, so get your name in there quickly. The ticket includes four carefully curated miniature whiskies, which will be delivered right to your door, plus an Irish Whiskey Museum dram glass. There will be a half-hour talk over zoom from some whiskey experts about Irish whiskey and the way whiskey has weaved its way through Irish history. This will be followed by a half-hour tasting session where you will sample those delicious whiskies. The four whiskies will be switched up regularly and they're kicking it off with a great selection. This Friday, you can expect Powers Gold Pot Still, Irishman Single Malt, Connemara Aged Smokey, and Knappogue 12 Pot Still. Some excellent Irish whiskeys to savour there. To learn more about the tastings or to sign up for any of the other weeks, you can visit the Irish Whiskey Museum website. Nicola McDonnell, the Irish Whiskey Museum's General Manager, explained how the idea came about:

"Like so many businesses in this pandemic, tourism has been heavily hit and will take some time to recover. But there is still an appetite for fun things to do while we are in lockdown. What better way to spend a Friday evening at home than with a group of whiskey lovers who share your passion of all things Irish Whiskey? We'll even deliver the whiskey to your doorstep."

The Whiskey Lock-In experience is currently limited to people living in the Dublin area but they are planning to launch nationwide soon so any whiskey-lovers living outside Dublin, stay tuned! This sounds like the perfect way to spend a Friday night, we think.