Irish Whiskey
For an industry that, until recently, had only three operational distilleries, Irish whiskey offers a richly varied array of styles and production methods. Double distillation, triple distillation – and a unique style of pot still whiskey that owes its genesis to a tax dodge.
Consistency found
Whether or not the Irish brought distillation to the British Isles – and they probably did – there’s no doubt that Ireland ruled the whisky world in the 19th century. Their secret was the use of huge pot stills, with John Jameson one of the pioneers, which gave their whiskeys unmatched consistency.
Paradise lost
But it didn’t last. The Scots fought back, buying and closing distilleries, war and independence followed, and political measures brought the industry to its knees, leaving just one company standing: Irish Distillers Ltd; and two distilleries: New Midleton in Cork and Bushmills in the far north.
Paradise regained?
Since those dark days, brighter skies have returned, thanks to the global success of Jamesons, a new owner for Bushmills and Tullamore Dew (which now has its own distillery), and the emergence of new players.
That started in 1988 with the birth of Cooley to break the IDL monopoly – the company has since been sold to American-owned Beam, which was itself acquired by Japan’s Suntory in early 2014 – and the renaissance has continued with more producers entering the industry and plans for several new distilleries in the pipeline. Irish whiskey is back.
Did you know?
- some historians claim that 19th-century Irish (and many American) distillers added the ‘e’ to ‘whisky’ to distinguish themselves from the sub-standard Scotch that was flooding the market at the time
- Jameson was produced at the Bow Street distillery in Dublin from 1780 until 1975, when it relocated to the New Midleton Distillery in Cork
- the name ‘Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey’ is a bit of misnomer: whiskeys such as Redbreast gain their unique character from the use of some unmalted barley, not the type of still
Typical Character and Style of Irish Whiskey
- Apple
- Hay
- Vanilla
- Nutmeg
Filter
Price Range
Bottling Status
Type
Producer/Brand
Country
Age
Vintage
Cask Type
Bottler
Series
Strength
Size
Single Cask
Limited Edition
Flavour Profile
Colouring
Certification
Bushmills Black Bush 80:20 PX Sherry Cask
$46.72
Roe & Co Blended Irish Whiskey
$33.96
($48.51 per litre)
Redbreast 21 Year Old
$251.91
($359.88 per litre)
Powers John's Lane 12 Year OldSingle Pot Still
$61.60
($88 per litre)
Two Stacks Double Barrel Single Malt Dram in a CanSingle Can
$6.11
($6.11 per 10cl)
Midleton Very Rare Vintage ReleaseBot.2021
$356.08
($508.69 per litre)
Teeling Single Malt Whiskey
$53.09
($75.85 per litre)
Offer
Method and Madness Hickory & Maple Wood Duo2 Bottles
$207.27
($148.05 per litre)
Dingle Whiskey Batch 6
$78.60
($112.29 per litre)
Teeling Whiskey Ginger Beer Cask2022 Release
$45.65
($65.22 per litre)
Powers Three Swallow
$39.81
($56.87 per litre)
Connacht Single Malt WhiskeyBatch 1
$58.41
($83.44 per litre)
Teeling Blackpitts Peated Single Malt
$53.09
($75.85 per litre)
Bushmills 16 Year Old Single MaltPort Finish
$95.61
($136.59 per litre)
Two Stacks Blended Whiskey Dram in a CanSingle Can
$5.26
($5.26 per 10cl)
Teeling Pot Still Virgin Portuguese OakWonders of Wood Second Ed
$81.05
($115.78 per litre)
Redbreast 27 Year OldBatch 4
$509.14
($727.34 per litre)
Midleton Very Rare Vintage ReleaseBot.2022
$317.81
($454.02 per litre)
Slane Irish Whiskey
$26.52
($37.89 per litre)
Teeling Small Batch Whiskey
$37.15
($53.07 per litre)
The Legendary Red Silkie Irish Whiskey
$48.31
($69.01 per litre)
Powers Irish Rye
$35.02
($50.03 per litre)
Jameson United Limited EditionYellow Label
$25.46
($36.37 per litre)
Teeling Pineapple Rum Cask2022 Release
$45.65
($65.22 per litre)