Irish Whiskey is considered to be one of the best whiskey styles in the world. There are various Irish Whiskeys that you can choose from.
However, with many different types of them available in the market today, it might be hard to choose one for yourself.
Therefore, here’s all you need to know about Irish Whiskeys and which ones are the best option for you and your family!
What is Irish Whiskey?
Irish whiskey has a particular taste profile that is light and sweet with noticeable cereal grain overtones. The oakiness and caramel flavours of whiskey are further enhanced by the maturing process.
It’s usually triple-distilled from unmalted barley and mixed with grain whiskey, however single malts are also available.
Single malt whiskeys are more expensive than blended whiskeys. Irish whiskeys are normally bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof) or somewhat higher, with some reaching 120 proof.
Many modern Irish whiskeys contradict these conventions, using peat, other grains, and experimenting with various types of oak barrels.
Types of Irish Whiskeys
Here are the types of Irish Whiskeys that you can choose from:
Single malt whiskey
Single malt whiskeys are brewed from malted barley and only malted barley in pot stills at a single distillery.
The whiskey’s flavour is ultimately determined by the type of barrels it is matured in. Single-malt whiskeys can be peppery or peaty, or more delicate, with flavours of florals, dried fruit, and bread.
Single grain whiskey
Single grain whiskeys are created in a single distillery, although they are made from a variety of cereals, including malted barley, unmalted barley, corn, or wheat, contrary to their name. The phrase “single grain” refers to the whiskey’s actual ingredient combination.
Single pot still whiskey
Single pot still whiskeys are brewed in a pot still at a single distillery and are created from a combination of malted and unmalted barley as well as other cereal grains
When compared to other types of Irish whiskeys, pot still whiskey has the strongest flavour, with a lot of spice and an oily texture.
Blended Irish Whiskey
Blended Irish whiskeys are manufactured by combining at least two Irish whiskeys, whether single pot still, single grain, or single malt, as the name indicates. Blended whiskeys have a lighter, more palatable taste profile. Blended Irish whiskeys include Bushmills, Jameson, and Tullamore D.E W.
How is Irish Whiskey made?
Although some Irish whiskeys contain malted barley, most are made from unmalted barley. The malt is dried in closed kilns, where it is only exposed to hot air and not smoke.
Additional enzymes can be added to the fermentation process to help prepare the starches for conversion to alcohol. The whiskey is then distilled three times in copper pot stills—some grain whiskeys, for example, employ continuous column stills.
What’s the difference between Irish Whiskey and Bourbon?
The main difference between these two types of alcohol is that Irish Whiskey is made in Ireland whereas Bourbon is made in the United States of America.
Besides that, bourbon must include at least 51% maize while 100% malted barley is used to make Irish single malt whiskey.
A blend of malted and unmalted barley is used to make Irish pot still whiskey. And traditional Irish copper pot whiskey is a mix of single malt and single pot whiskeys.
Our picks for the best types of Irish Whiskeys
Here’s a list of the best Irish Whiskeys types that we believe would be a great addition to your whiskey collection:
Bushmills Black Bush Irish Whiskey
The original bottling of this classic Irish whiskey, with its lighter palette of fresh berries and subtle vanilla notes, makes it an excellent starting point for those learning about Irish whiskey.
Bushmills Black Bush is a blended Irish Whiskey that differs from typical Scottish mixes. One of the main differences is the malt. It is matured in a blend of oloroso sherry and bourbon barrels for up to seven years.
The second, and most significant, the distinction is that it is made up of 80% malt. When compared to most Scottish blends, which include roughly 20% malt, it’s simple to see why it tastes so different, and so much better than most comparable Scottish blends.
Teeling Single Grain Irish Whiskey
Teeling, the first whiskey distillery to be established in Dublin in 125 years, debuted in 2015 with this bottling as its flagship.
The Teeling Single Grain Irish Whiskey is extremely smooth and rounded, due to some time spent in ex-rum barrels after initial maturing in ex-bourbon barrels. It’s perfect for individuals who like a sweeter spirit over spice.
On the nose, it has notes of baking spices and caramelised sugar, with vanilla and raisins on the palate.
This Irish whiskey, which sells for roughly RM400, is a wonderful value that delivers far more than its price tag. For a fantastic after-dinner treat, try it in an Irish Coffee or plain with some dark chocolate.
Jameson The Original Irish Whiskey
Jameson Whiskey is a mix of grain and pot still whiskey. It is thrice distilled, like all Irish whiskey, to achieve the well-known Irish smoothness. This whiskey is matured in wood for four years.
Jameson is the world’s best-selling Irish whiskey and the world’s third-best-selling whiskey. For many American whiskey consumers, Jameson is synonymous with Irish whiskey.
Jameson has a delicate floral scent with hints of spicy wood and sweet notes on the nose. With overtones of sweet sherry and remarkable smoothness, this whiskey has the perfect combination of spicy, nutty, and vanilla flavours.
Bailey’s Irish Cream
This whiskey is a liqueur produced in Ireland using Irish whiskey, cream, and chocolate. Baileys Irish Cream has a sweet, creamy flavour with hints of vanilla and chocolate, as well as the fruitiness of Irish whiskey.
It has a generous alcohol content of 17 percent ABV (alcohol by volume). In comparison, spirits like whiskey, rum, vodka, and gin have a 40% ABV.
This bottle of Irish cream liqueur is ideal for individuals who have a sweet tooth. It has a tongue-coating aftertaste because of its incredibly delicious tastes of vanilla bean, cocoa powder, and whiskey.
Irish Cream is delicious on its own, in coffee, or in cocktails. It’s in a number of wonderful cocktails, the majority of which are after-dinner beverages.
Glendalough 17 Year Old
This single malt whiskey from Glendalough, Ireland, was matured for 15 years in American oak ex-bourbon barrels before being transferred to Japanese Mizunara wood casks for the remainder of its maturation.
This expression, which is 17 years old, has a flavour profile of rich honey, tart fruit, sandalwood, and toasted spices.
There are just 6,000 bottles available, each of which has been personally numbered. This whiskey has a rich, sweet vanilla aroma with notes of marmalade, overripe banana, and toasted oak spice.
It’s powerful, but it’s also well-balanced. It has a taste of honeycomb, creamy vanilla, malt, resinous sandalwood, and cedarwood spices mixed with aloeswood incense.
Hyde Cask Strength
The Hyde Cask Strength is the most recent limited edition. It’s a single grain in its purest form, with unrivalled flavour and textural intensity. Non-chill filtered and bottled at 59 percent ABV, the original cask strength.
It has cinnamon and clove aromas on the scent, as well as succulent sweet caramel flavours. Buttery vanilla and toasted oak flavour emerge from robust single grain spices with a hint of crushed black pepper. It is long and delicious, with a smooth oak and barley blend.
Tullamore Dew 10 Year Single Malt
Tullamore Dew is one of the best alternatives for just plain old blended Irish Whiskey, and one of the favourites to have around the home for mixing and even sipping now and again. It has a thicker body than many mixes, and it has a pleasant malt flavour.
Honey, red apples, dried fruit, banana chips, toffee, and a hint of metallic and malty aromas greet the nose. It’s more fascinating and dynamic than most other chill-filtered Irish blends at 40%.
Darker undertones appear in the scent, tongue, and finish, providing a good contrast to the honied orchard fruit that generally dominates the blended Irish category, making it rather unique.
What’s the best way to drink Irish Whiskey?
Irish whiskey may be served in a variety of ways due to its smoothness and drinkability. Many people drink it straight or on the rocks, and it goes well with food, particularly traditional Irish dishes.
It’s also a favourite option among shooters and shoots. It’s also adaptable to practically every cocktail style, from expensive martinis to basic soda highballs—and, of course, it’s fantastic with coffee.
The options are unlimited when you have a decent bottle of Irish whiskey at your bar.
Conclusion
Many of these bottles are readily available at Whisky.my, it’s totally up to you to choose the best Irish Whiskey that works best for your palette. For example, if you love sweet things, Bailey’s Irish Whiskey can be the one for you. At the end of the day, toast to a wonderful year ahead!
