The Spirit of Ireland in a Bottle

There are several differences between Scotch and Irish whiskey; their countries of origin are just the start. Scotch whisky is distilled just twice, while Irish whiskies are triple distilled, which makes Ireland’s whiskeys beautifully smooth. What’s more, Irish whisky is made from both malted and unmalted barley, and it can be aged in barrels made from different types of wood. In contrast, Scotch can only be matured in barrels made of oak. Again, this influences the taste of Irish whiskeys, making them wonderfully unique.

The key difference between Irish whiskey and American whisky is that the former is made using barley, while the latter is typically made from corn or rye. Both types of whiskey can be quite similar in taste, with notes of vanilla and oak, but Irish whiskeys are smoother, while American whiskey has a touch more spice.

Irish whiskey has to be made on the island of Ireland. This includes Northern Ireland too; for example, the world-famous Bushmills distillery is located in County Antrim, NI. Jameson was produced in Dublin for more than 200 years, but has been based at the Midleton Distillery in County Cork since 1975. Its former Bow Street site in Dublin is a popular tourist attraction.

Irish whiskey is made a little differently to other types of whisky. The Irish whisky production process involves the same malting, mashing, fermentation, distillation, maturing, and bottling stages of all whiskies, but with some unique variations. 

During the malting stage, the barley isn’t toasted, which makes for a smoother whisky. At the distillation stage, the pot still method is used, and the fermented grain is distilled three times - many other whiskeys are only distilled twice. Finally, Irish whiskies must be matured in wooden casks in Ireland for at least 3 years - otherwise, they’re not deemed fit to be labelled ‘Irish whiskey’.

Irish whiskeys tend to have light, fruity notes, and you can often taste a little of the grain itself due to the unique way Ireland’s whiskies are made. Expect notes of vanilla, apples, nutmeg, caramel and that gorgeous oakiness that’s synonymous with a well-made whisky.

The best way to drink Irish whiskey is neat, at room temperature. But not everyone can handle the burn, so you might want to serve it on the rocks (over ice) or with a little water to make the taste more palatable. Some prefer a whiskey and coke, or even an Irish whisky and lemonade.

Pour around 60ml of Irish whiskey into a tumbler, or into a tulip-shaped glass to better appreciate its unique flavour. Enjoy.

It’s best to store bottles of Irish whiskey upright, rather than on its side. Keep your whisky in a cool, dry place, out of direct sunlight. Exposure to sunlight can affect the rich colour - and potentially even the taste - of Irish whisky, so keep yours in a cupboard or cellar.

Irish whiskey can go off, but only once it’s been opened. Unopened bottles can last for decades if they’re stored properly, but once opened, they’ll need drinking within six months in most cases, although you may be able to stretch this to two years for some Irish whiskies. Opened your bottle before checking this advice? Sounds like it’s time to invite your drinking buddies over…