SHARP Drinks: The Best Irish Whiskey To Sip and Savour Today
Yes, it’s almost Saint Patrick’s Day again (where did the last year go?), but just because it’s timely doesn’t mean this is the only excuse to talk about Irish whiskey. Yes, that’s an ey like the yankees, rather than whisky as spoken by Canadian, Japanese, and Scottish producers. Contrary to what green-clad parade and party-goesrs may try to convince you this coming Friday, Irish whiskey is not some flash-in-the-pan novelty that’s meant to be consumed once a year. Often overshadowed by their Scottish counterparts, Irish whiskeys are arguably just as diverse.
The first recorded production of Irish whiskey dates back to 1405, which is about 90 years before the first Scottish whisky, for those keeping count. Ireland’s tumultuous history had its part in tamping down the growth of the industry, yet as of six or seven years ago, Irish whiskey took hold as the fastest growing spirit on the planet. As with many spirits, the more entry-level offering is what springs to mind first (Jameson, et al), but the premium Irish whiskey category is filled with smooth and sippable options that can be enjoyed neat or on ice. It would be a lengthy list to try and cover off every possible available option, so for the sake of brevity, we’ve narrowed it down to some of our team’s personal favourites.
Tullamore Dew XO Rum Finish Irish Whiskey
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Granted, we’re starting things off with a rather unorthodox Irish whiskey, but with good reason. Tullamore Dew’s standard whiskey is a good one to begin with, however the added character due to the Carribean rum casks make this offering stand out from the pack. Notes of vanilla and butterscotch are prevalent, to the point of blurring the lines between the two spirits in the best possible way. ($47)
Bushmills 10-Year Single Malt Irish Whiskey
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Bushmills is the oldest Irish whiskey producer there is, and their years of history are reflected in the quality and diversity of their offerings. It’s worth noting, they’re one of only a handful of producers from Ireland that survived the struggles that came with American prohibition. This 10-year-old single malt is triple distilled from 100 per cent malted barley, and matured for 10-plus years in former sherry and bourbon-seasoned casks. Expect honey, vanilla, and chocolate aromas here. ($47)
Redbreast 15 Year Old Irish Whiskey
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It’s understandable that some will always prefer a more classic approach — this is where Redbreast comes in. The company’s roots date back to the late 1850s, but to be fair, it was a tumultuous journey as the company shifted hands multiple times. What really matters is its current ownership, which rebooted the brand in 1991 and launched their first 15-year single pot still whiskey in 2005. It was an award winner in its opening year, and remains a fan favourite now, delivering complex notes of citrus and spice. ($125)
Clonakilty Single Batch Double Oak Irish Whiskey
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Now that we have the “standards” out of the way, it’s time for something rather new. Clonakilty has been in the business for all of seven years so far, and while they’re not necessarily dethroning the most legendary Irish whiskies of all time, they’re certainly providing a delectable alternative to your usual standard selects. While the brand call this offering double oak on account of using wood from both Europe and America, they actually use three different barrel types during the maturation process, specifically ex-Bourbon casks, new charred American oak casks, and ex-red wine casks from Bordeaux. ($78)
Glendalough Whiskey 7 Year Old Single Malt Mizunara
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Most recently we’ve heard whispers about Glendalough’s new Gin releases, but their single malts are still where it’s at until we’re able to sip their new clear spirit. If we have to pick one, this seven year Mizunara cask finished whiskey is the way to go — the vibrance of its floral-meets-cinnamon-meets-subtle smoke profile ticks all the right boxes, as far as we’re concerned ($130)
Teeling Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
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Another interesting history lesson in the Irish whiskey scene: when relaunched in 2015, Teeling was the first whiskey distillery to operate within the city limits of Dublin in roughly 125 years. It’s also one that is still run by members of the original founding family. The brothers Jack and Stephen Teeling are the leaders behind the reboot, having gotten into the whiskey world through their father John, who founded the Cooley distillery in 1987. Using a very typical Irish mash in its production (50 per cent malted barley and 50 per cent unmalted barley), the end result is a smooth and richly charactered whiskey, with notes of fresh baked bread, brown sugar, and hints of grape and honey. ($105)
Jameson Black Barrel Irish Whiskey
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You all knew that Jameson would wind up in the mix here somewhere — the “household name” of Irish whiskies is a bit pedestrian in standard guise, but their premium efforts remain worthy of recommendation. In the case of the Black Barrel, you’re looking at one of the richer, heavier offerings in this list. Strong notes of sherry, nutmeg, oak, and dry fruit lead the charge, while still avoiding any of the peaty smokiness found in whiskies from other regions. Though a step up from the standard, Black Barrel is still on the affordable end of the spectrum. ($48)
Writers’ Tears Japanese Cask Finish
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Originally launched as a limited travel retail edition for the Rugby World Cup, this special edition from Writers’ Tears has since made it into international distribution for a limited time. Unlike the brand’s standard editions, this release is finished in Japanese Mizunara casks (like the Glendalough mentioned above), which bring forth a punch of exotic wood notes — sandalwood, oak, and cedar — before giving way to more typical toffee, coconut, and spice notes. ($140)
Dunville’s PX 10YO Single Malt Irish Whiskey
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Another peculiar edition to the list is this 10 year old “PX” aged Irish whiskey fro Dunville’s. For those wondering, PX stands for Pedro Ximinez — the grape used for most sherry and dessert wines from Spain. This leads to a smoother malt profile, notes of green apple, and a substantial sherry influence that thankfully doesn’t overpower the spirit. Can be a good stand-in substitute for bourbon when mixing Old Fashioneds, but we’d still stick to a neat pour, given the option. ($171)
Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey
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Rare releases and special processes aside, sometimes a good “standard” whiskey is all your bar really needs. Enter Proper No. Twelve, Conor McGreggor’s Irish whiskey outfit named after his home neighbourhood in Dublin. With the help of former Bushmills distillery manager David Elder, the outfit has been off to a solid start. It’s got a bit more punch than Tullamore, but rests more understated than Jameson. ($35)
