Once again, St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner.
Once again, thoughts turn to Irish whiskey.
Last year I suggested reaching past the ever popular Jameson or Bushmills, and trying something new. I took my own advice, and have tried almost 20 new Irish whiskey expressions in the past year. Here are a few favorites:
Writer’s Tears – This fairly new release is my new “go to” Irish whiskey. A mix of pot still and single malt whiskeys, it is light, sweet, and very approachable, a perfect example of everything an Irish whiskey should be. And the name is sure to start a conversation, or at least get a laugh or two.
Slane Triple Cask – Aged in three different types of barrels, this one has more oak notes than you would typically find in a Irish whiskey, and is an excellent choice if you’re a fan of the flavor of wood.
Jameson Black Barrel – Similar to the classic Jameson, but with a higher percentage of pot still whiskey in the blend, lending it a little more body. This expression also relies on special barrel selection, including re-charred bourbon barrels. Nice hints of oak, and some interesting bourbon flavors, along with a pleasant bit of char.
Sexton Single Malt – Another selection that places a lot of emphasis on barrel notes, with this one favoring char over oak. Think of Slane, Jameson, and Sexton as a continuum of barrel notes from oak (Slane) to char (Sexton), with Black Barrel somewhere in the middle. All three are good choices if you’re trying to win over a Bourbon drinker.
Connemara Peated – I mentioned this one last year, but it’s worth repeating. If the previous three choices helped you convert your Bourbon drinking friends, this one is for that Scotch drinker in your circle. One of the few peated selections from the Emerald Isle, this one is on the mild side, not a big smoke monster. It compares favorably to a lightly peated highland malt.
Lambay Cognac Cask – Another fairly new offering, this one is finished in casks that previously held French Cognac, and picks up some nice sweet notes from the barrels’ former contents. Compare this to the also recently released Glenlivet 14 year, or the Bastille 1789 from France.
Do you have a favorite Irish Whiskey, or a new selection you’ve tried recently? Let me know in the comments. And if you enjoyed reading this, please consider following this blog.
Sláinte mhaith! (To your good health)
My current fav Teeling small batch rum barrel finish. No too expensive but perfectly tasty.
Thank you! One more to add to my list of things to try.
Tyroconnell 15 Madeira finish. Complex and amazing
Going to have to get that one. I brought the original Tyrconnell to a party last year. It was a big hit.