A St. Patrick's Day Ode to Irish Whiskey

The Old Midleton Distillery outside of Cork, Ireland. Flickr Copyright Wim Stam

While others use the occasion of St. Patrick’s Day to immerse themselves in seas of green beer, I will be contemplating which of my favorite Irish whiskies to indulge in. Inspired by the enormous revival of the Scottish whisky industry (the general rule is that Scottish or Canadian products are spelled without the “e”; those that are not Scottish, with it), the Irish have been aggressively expanding the offerings from their distilleries with impressive results. The signature difference is that Irish whiskey is distilled three times rather than the two in Scotland, the claim being that it makes for a smoother, “cleaner” product.

Redbreast 12-Year-Old—This is one of only two pure pot-still whiskies produced in Ireland (pot-still whiskey is made in a copper pot still with malted and unmalted barley). That’s a bit technical. What is critical to know is that this is a superb bottling with a slightly fruity sweetness that resolves into a finish with a hint of spice. It is elegant, smooth and always a pleasure to drink.

Knappogue Castle—This is one of the finest single malts from Ireland (and, as in Scotland, “single malt” means that it is made of malted-barley whiskey from a single distillery). Several iterations of Knappogue have been on the market, the best being the no-longer-available 1992 and 1951 (the stuff of legend). But despair not, as the 1994 is a refined whiskey with an appealing hint of spiciness. Some have noted a slight bitterness on the finish, but I find that I get a pleasant oakiness.

Bushmills 10-Year-Old—This lovely single malt (made in Northern Ireland) has gotten better and better over the years, to the point where it is my default single-malt Irish choice (it also has the benefit of being widely available). This lush whiskey has initial engaging hints of fruitiness tinged with cocoa. The finish is of delightfully smooth toffee.

Greenore 6-Year-Old—This is yet another type of Irish whiskey, the single grain, meaning that it is made from the grain-based spirits of a single distillery (these can include barley). Again, rather technical. The Greenore 6 is a young iteration for a whiskey, but is a viable product that may well bring to mind a bourbon with its initial sweet character. There is also ample caramel flavor with a bit of apple and pear. As a result, I most like this as an aperitif, especially on a chill, damp night.

Jameson—If you are not familiar with Irish whiskey, you might at least have heard of Jameson, perhaps the best-known of all. This is the classic blended Irish whiskey, and I consider it the best. Wonderfully complex, it tastes of barley, a hint of cocoa and a dash of honey. More, it is smooth, comforting and definitely worth savoring by a cheery fire after a good meal. The Old Midleton Distillery (pictured above) just outside of Cork offers an excellent tour.

-A.H.