Essential Irish Whiskeys For Your At-Home Bar

Irish whiskey is not your father’s whiskey.

Back in the day, Irish whiskey was considered a less-respected and cheaper alternative to Scotch. However, over the past decade, sales of Irish whiskey have skyrocketed. According to Drinks Ireland, the Irish whiskey industry has experienced a 140% growth since 2010- making it the world’s fastest-growing spirits category.

Think you need to wait until St. Patrick’s to celebrate one of Ireland’s biggest exports? Think again. Here are essential Irish whiskeys to add to your home liquor cabinet now. Sláinte!

Green Spot

If you’re venturing into the world of Irish pot still whiskey, Green Spot is the place to start. The only style of whiskey produced exclusively in Ireland, single pot still uses a mix of malted and unmalted barley, while a single malt uses 100% malted barley. This gives the whiskey a more distinctive and richer flavor, as it picks up vanilla and toffee from bourbon and the nutty notes from the casks. Try a Green Spot neat or on the rocks as an after-dinner drink.


Redbreast 12-Year Old

Rich, fruity, and well-balanced - Redbreast 12-Year Old gives us everything we want in an Irish whiskey. Produced from a blend of pot still whiskeys aged in both bourbon and sherry casks, it has a stronger influence from the sherry due to toasted nut and dried fruit undertones. Redbreast 12 is the perfect combination of the light, fruity style of traditional Irish whiskey and the richer taste of a single malt Scotch.

Teeling Single Grain

The new kid on the block, Teeling is Dublin’s first new whiskey distillery in centuries. In its short history, Teeling Single Grain has become a bartender and whiskey lover favorite thanks to its rich flavor and low price point. To get the full effect of its creamy sweetness and fruity undertones, sip it on the rocks. If straight whiskey isn’t your style, Teeling is a natural choice for a whiskey cocktail.

Tyrconnell 15 Year Madeira Cask Finish Single Malt

For those special occasions, try Tyrconnell 15 Year Madeira Cask Finish Single Malt. Tyrconnell 15 is aged for 15 years in bourbon casks, then aged for three more months in Madeira wine casks from Portugal. The Madeira cask gives this single-malt whiskey its malty and fruity notes, followed by a bold, spicy, and oaky finish. This limited release may be a bit pricey - but it’s worth it. Drink Tyrconnell 15 neat to get the full experience of this whiskey.

Jameson

And finally, there’s the ever-popular and one of the best-known names in whiskey - Jameson. While it has expanded its offerings (i.e. beer-barrel finishes), classic Jameson remains everything you want in a whiskey - drinkable, reliable, and available almost everywhere. Jameson is frequently ordered as a shot, but it’s far more versatile. Pair it with a pint of Irish stout, use in a whiskey sour, or mix it with ginger beer - there’s not a wrong way to enjoy Jameson.

If you’re ready to delve into the world of Irish Whiskey, stop into Universal Fine Wine & Spirits today! At Universal Fine Wine & Spirits, we want to make sure you are going home with the perfect bottle, so ask away. We will be more than happy to help answer any of your questions. Come in and talk to an employee, give us a call at 727-937-8330, or visit our website.


Sources

https://www.liquor.com/slideshows/irish-whiskey-bottles/

https://www.tomkellys.com/bar#menu=bar-menu