About Irish Whiskey

The Scots most likely learned about distilling from the Irish (though they are loath to admit it). The Irish in turn learned about it, according to the Irish at least, from missionary monks who arrived in Ireland in the seventh century. The actual details are a bit sketchy for the next 700 years or so, but it does seem reasonable to believe that monks in the various monasteries were distilling aqua vitae ("water of life"), primarily for making medical compounds. These first distillates were probably grape or fruit brandy rather than grain spirit. Barley-based whiskey (the word derives from uisce beatha the Gaelic interpretation of aqua vitae) first appears in the historical record in the mid-1500s when the Tudor kings began to consolidate English control in Ireland. Queen Elizabeth I was said to be fond of it and had casks shipped to London on a regular basis.

The imposition of an excise tax in 1661 had the same effect as it did in Scotland, with the immediate commencement of the production of poteen (the Irish version of moonshine). This did not, however, slow down the growth of the distilling industry, and by the end of the 18th century there were over 2,000 stills in operation around the country.

Under British rule Ireland was export oriented and, along with grains and assorted foodstuffs, Irish distillers produced large quantities of pot-distilled whiskey for export into the expanding British Empire. Irish whiskey outsold Scotch whisky in most markets because it was lighter in body. It is said that in the late 19th century over 400 brands of Irish whiskey were being exported and sold in the United States.

This happy state of affairs for Irish distillers lasted into the early 20th century when the market began to change. The Irish distillers, pot still users to a man, were slow to respond to the rise of blended Scotch whisky with its column-distilled, smooth grain whisky component. When National Prohibition in the United States closed off Irish whisky's largest export market, many of the smaller distilleries closed. The remaining distilleries then failed to adequately anticipate the coming of Repeal (unlike the Scotch distillers) and were caught short without adequate stocks when it came. The Great Depression, trade embargoes between the newly independent Irish Republic and the United Kingdom, and World War II caused further havoc among the distillers.

In 1966 the three remaining distilling companies in the Republic of Ireland—Powers, Jameson, and Cork Distilleries—merged into a single company, Irish Distillers Company (IDC). In 1972, Bushmills, the last distillery in Northern Ireland, joined IDC. In 1975 IDC opened a new mammoth distillery at Midleton, near Cork, and all of the other distilleries in the Republic were closed down with the production of their brands being transferred to Midleton. For a 14-year period the Midleton plant and Bushmills in Northern Ireland were the only distilleries in the country.This sad state of affairs ended in 1989 when a potato-peel ethanol plant in Dundalk was converted into a whiskey distillery. The new Cooley Distillery began to produce malt and grain whiskeys, with the first three-year-old bottlings being released in 1992.Irish whiskeys, both blended and malt, are usually triple distilled through both column and pot stills, although there are a few exclusively pot-distilled brands.

Irish Pure Pot Still Whiskey is generally labeled as such. Otherwise, Irish whiskeys are a mix of pot and column-distilled whiskeys. Irish Malt Whiskey is likewise so designated. Standard Irish Whiskey is a blend of malt and grain whiskies.

Top Picks for Irish Whiskey

Redbreast 27 Year Old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Batch 1
100 points
$585
The stylish, brooding Irish Single Pot Still Whiskey that will surely be unforgettable for the Whiskey connoisseur; a dapper extrovert that engulfs the senses.
Awards: 2021 Best Whiskey
Blue Spot 7 Year Old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
99 points
$90
Savory, almost meaty and then layered with red berries, citrus, and flaky pastries with tropical fruit confections; this one goes deep into the vault and delivers a king's fortune of flavor and gratification.
REDBREAST 27 Year Old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Batch No. 4
98 points
$599
Fresh and dried spiced mango with waves of coconut and a menagerie of accompanying fruits and spices; if this doesn't grab your attention then you aren't paying attention to Whiskies.
Midleton Dair Ghaelach Kylebeg Wood Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
98 points
$350
A powerful yet graceful and flavorful Irish Single Pot Still Whiskey that has a spicy, high-octane mouthfeel without overwhelming the palate.
Awards: 2022 Best Irish Single Pot Still Whiskey
REDBREAST 21 Year Old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
97 points
$230
This is something quite special, a special Whiskey to be sipped and appreciated with special friends; both contemplative to focus on by itself but subtle and enjoyable enough to take a back seat to your guests.
Midleton Very Rare Barry Crockett Legacy Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
97 points
$288
An amazingly complex and multifaceted Irish Whiskey that tantalizes the senses and evolves with every sip; layers of fruit and spice that is like simultaneously walking through an Irish apple orchard and a Turkish bazaar.
Redbreast 27 Year Old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Batch 2
97 points
$599
Inviting balance of sweet and spicy with some serious age, layers of contemplative flavors make this a true Whiskey drinker's dram.
REDBREAST 15 Year Old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
96 points
$115
A sensationally satisfying Sherry-accented Single Pot Still Whiskey to revel with and revere.
Red Spot 15 Year Old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
96 points
$150
A brooding and seductive, seriously delicious Single Pot Still Whiskey well suited for contemplative post prandial sipping.
Knappogue Castle 21 Year Old Exclusive Cask-Vatting Single Malt Irish Whiskey
96 points
$212
Bespoke and understated elegance here while deftly holding the 46% ABV and could be much bolder but instead maintains restraint and finesse; sip this and enjoy gracefully while others shout and destroy their palates with something cask strength.