What Is The Smoothest Irish Whiskey

Bushmills Original From The Oldest Licensed Distillery In The World

Bushmills can proudly claim to be the oldest licensed distillery in the world and is one of Irelands best and most popular blends of single malt whiskies.

This whiskey has a lighter palette as it tastes similar to fresh berries with notes of vanilla. Further, it is relatively light and can make for the perfect starting point for any budding whiskey connoisseur. The brand is famous for being as affordable as it is dependable.

Greenore Single Grain Irish Whiskey

Here’s something different: a whiskey distilled entirely from unmalted grains and then aged eight years in former bourbon casks. Not surprisingly, the body is light and fresh, with a sprightly, fresh citrus aroma and soft, sweet flavors of vanilla, lemon zest, and green apple. This is the ideal introductory whiskey and one that will please even the vodka drinkers in the crowd.

Redbreast 15 Year Old

Another one of the more premium whiskeys on the list is the Redbreast 15 Year Old Single Pot Still whiskey. A delicious Irish whiskey that is created in a pot still, that has a lot of beautiful complex flavors for you to discover. I know this is starting to sound like a sales-pitch, but I think you will not be disappointed when you try this whiskey for the first, second and even 20th time.

This whiskey has been aged for 15 years, as the age label says. The whisky is triple distilled and bottled at 46% Alcohol By Volume .

Taste: There are many notes of honey, vanilla, fruits, cut hay, guava, green spices, pepper and other tropical fruit. You may also find hints of cucumber, green melon, kiwi and other green notes. And this is just on the nose. The freshness really shines with a lot of fresh fruity notes. Now for the palate, the whiskey has creamy, soft texture. There are many aromas of cooked fruits, fried banana, gooseberry, butterscotch and even nutmeg.

Now there are so many tasting notes you can be looking for in this whiskey that you could be overwhelmed. I want to say that you are not alone, and that the taste of the whiskey can be subjective as well! I could get cucumber, and you could get other tastes. This bottle of whiskey is very complex and can keep giving new experiences.

This fine whiskey can be found over here on Master of Malt.

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Midleton A Fancy Drink

Midleton is a premium brand and one of the most expensive Irish whiskies whose taste lives up to its distinguished name.

Midleton came from Midleton Distillery and was crafted in honour of the Master Distiller Emeritus Barry Crockett. It is widely regarded in whiskey circles as being one of the very best Irish whiskeys that you can taste.

How Is Irish Whiskey Different From Scotch

Scotland and Ireland two countries with long and proud histories, exemplified in many ways by Scotch and Irish whiskeys. But which one is better? How are they different, and how are they similar? We found out.

Location

Irish whiskey must be made in Ireland, and Scotch whiskey must be made in Scotland. So theres one similarity between the two whiskeys.

Grain

Both Irish whiskey and Scotch are made with water and barley. With Scotch, the barley is allowed to sprout before it is dried with peat moss smoke, giving the spirit a stronger aroma and taste. Irish whiskey is more neutral in flavor and aroma.

Distillation

Irish whiskey contains alcohol continually distilled from barley and other grains. Many Irish whiskeys are distilled three times , while Scotch is distilled only twice . Some say this process contributes to the stronger flavor and aroma of Scotch.

Aging

Irish whiskey must age for at least three years, while Scotch is aged for two. Both typically use a wooden cask for aging.

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Everything You Need To Know About Irish Whiskey

Green beer and shots of Baileys arent the only ways to raise a glass to Irish tradition. A better option? Stand out from the bar crowdand earn a bartenders approvalby ordering Irish whiskey with an experts eye. Irish whiskey is about its viscosity, smoothness, and subtle sweetnessI would say thats the holy trinity to gauge any Irish whiskey off, says Jack McGarry, managing partner of two of New York Citys best bars, The Dead Rabbit and BlackTail.

If that sounds delicious, but your only experience with whiskey is bad mixed drinks and ill-advised shots in college, heres everything you need to know about ordering Irish whiskey like a boss.

Smooth Whiskeys For Beginners

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Lets face it whiskey isnt for everyone. Sure, it may have some flavor in it, but for the most part, its a hard drink, and it doesnt go down as easily as many other liquors in the market. That’s exactly why we’re going to talk about smooth whiskeys for beginners.

Many people would prefer other hard drinks over whiskeys, such as tequila or even vodka, crazily enough.

And lets not forget the alcoholic beverage everyone loves beer. Theres not much to hate about beer as a whole, and Id bet you that your average person would, more likely than not, rather have a beer than a whiskey any day of the week.

Thats not to say that whiskey is inferior to beer, or any other alcoholic drinks for that matter. In fact, theres a lot to talk about when it comes to whiskey.

There are different variants of whiskey, based on the country of origin or based on the ingredient in the rye mash . They’re all good, and you’ll have to try a couple before you figure out which one suits your tastes best.

I used to be really into bourbon. Then it was rye. Now I’ve only got Scotch in my house.

If I had to choose one single whiskey to recommend for beginners, it would be Maker’s Mark bourbon. It’s easy to fine, relatively inexpensive, and drinking bourbon sounds cool. It’s a smooth whiskey with a little bit of sweetness to it , so a very cool and tasty whiskey for beginners.

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Bushmills Black Bush Irish Whiskey

A step up in price and two shades darker than the original Bushmills, their Black Bush is a deep and intensely flavored whiskey. That comes both from the heavily toasted grains used in its mash bill as well as a lengthy aging in charred bourbon barrels and oloroso sherry casks. The end result? A rich, fruity, and smooth whiskey with lingering flavors of caramel and charred oak. Its fantastic when used in place of bourbon or rye for classic cocktails.

How Strong Is Irish Whiskey

Irish Whiskey is the strongest Whiskey product ever. Its so powerful and if you are a Whiskey drinker you can try it out to get proof of my words. So how strong is Irish Whiskey? The strength of Irish Whiskey can be changed by its brand. As an example, Jameson Irish Whiskey contains 40% Alcohol by Volume . This is the minimum abv percentage in Whiskey abv from UK law. But when the Irish Whiskey puts three years into the barrel to complete its age, the Irish Whiskey will probably be near 70% ABV.

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What Is The Character Of An Irish Whiskey

Irish whiskeys are distilled three times, which is common for most of them. Because America has a massive surplus of used Bourbon barrels, many Irish distilleries buy them and use them to age their Irish whiskey. This gives most whiskeys vanilla, honey and spices as common flavors.

Next to these couple of characteristics, there are many different Irish whiskeys available that all have their own individual taste. Irish whiskey has regained popularity since the 1990s and has been among the fastest growing spirits in the entire world.

But which one should you choose? There are increasingly more choices, and they are not all equally good. This list will provide 10 Irish whiskeys that belong to the best of them, but remain affordable to us. There are no bottles in this list that currently cost over a 100 bucks. Lets dive straight in.

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Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy

Single pot still whiskey owes more to Barry Crockett than any other whiskey maker in history. As the master distiller at Midleton from 1981 to 2013, he was the only person still crafting the style in the entire country. And thanks to him, the distillery has maintained generous stocks to supply the Spot Range, Redbreast, Powers, and other brands. Funnily, flagship Midleton Very Rare is a blend that includes pot still along with grain whiskey, but the Irish oak-finished Midleton Very Rare Dair Ghaelach series and Barry Crockett Legacy are both 100 percent single pot still. A fitting tribute to its namesake, Barry Crockett Legacy is one of the finest examples of the style ever to be produced.

The Sexton Single Malt Irish Whiskey

This drink comprises 100% malted barley and is distilled thrice in stills made of copper. It is aged in sherry casks of ex-oloroso. Its maturation process gives it a creamy, tangy and nutty taste, which makes the drink very smooth.

You can taste flavours of cinnamon, honeycomb, and orange as soon as you gulp it down. These exotic flavours make it so tasty that it is good to go straight.

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What Is The Meaning Of Drinking Straight

Drinking straight has several meanings. The answer depends upon what you are drinking. If you are drinking straight whiskey, you are drinking it neat .

On the other hand, if you are taking straight vodka, you are drinking chilled vodka. So if you enjoy your whiskey or bourbon without adding anything, it means you are having a straight drink.

Writers Tears Copper Pot

If you are looking for a gift to someone else, I would recommend you look no further that Writers Tears. This incredibly smooth, accessible Irish whiskey is a great way to introduce someone to Irish whiskey or give a safe gift that the recepient will enjoy. This light, sweet whiskey is created using a mixture of single pot still and single malt, which results in tons of sweet honeyd, fruity notes.

This really is a quality whiskey which will be enjoyed by many people, even if those people have different tastes. At 40% you should not add too much water before drinking, but I recommend this whiskey and if you can, give it a try.

Taste: On the nose it really is a standard, good whiskey with honey, vanilla, woody and fruity notes for you to smell. It has a lot from sweet, smooth Speyside Scotch whiskies, which definitely is a good thing. The palate follows the nose, with honeyed aromas quickly developing. There are some sweet spices, mellow notes of vanilla, caramel and a hint of oak.

To buy this whiskey, follow this link to Master of Malt where you can order your bottle online.

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There Will Be Many New Brands Soon

There are three big names in Irish whiskey Jameson , Bushmills in Northern Ireland, and Tullamore D.E.W. Beyond these three, 20 of the 25 licensed distilleries currently operating in Ireland opened their doors after 2011. The other two distilleries started producing whiskey in 2003 and 2007.

Congratulations to IWA member and Head Distiller Lorna Hemy on the commencement of distilling at Roe & Co Distillery. This marks the 25th Irish whiskey distillery to enter operations, with a further 24 in planning or development! #growth#Irishwhiskey

Irish Whiskey Association

Because many of the Irish whiskey distilleries are so young, finding independently produced, aged Irish whiskey is really difficult. Many distilleries are still aging their first barrels and havent even made it to market yet, so they are either sourcing aged whiskey to bottle and sell or making gin or vodka in the meantime.

In addition to the 25 licensed distilleries currently operating in Ireland, a further 24 distilleries plan to begin operation in the next few years. Irish whiskey is making a major comeback, and were likely to see plenty of new Irish whiskey brands hit liquor store shelves soon.

Find An Exciting New Bottle For Your Bar

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It’s hard to find a bottle of Irish whiskey that’s truly disappointing. Most are genuinely good, pleasantly smooth to sip, and fun to mix into your favorite Irish whiskey cocktails. Since there are only a few distilleries in Ireland, the offerings are not as numerous as youll find with other whiskey styles. That takes nothing away from the craftsmanship or allure of these smoothly blended whiskeys. There are a number of notable Irish whiskeys you’ll definitely want to seek out, including single malts, small-batch whiskeys, and whiskeys aged in special barrels.

“Got mint in your garden ? Make a whiskey smash by muddling three lemon wedges in a shaker,” says Humberto Marques, Owner/Entrepreneur, and Lead Mixologist at Curfew Bar in Denmark.

From a high-end splurge or two to affordable everyday options for mixed drinks, these are the best Irish whiskey bottles worth adding to your bar.

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What Is The Best Whiskey At Costco

Below are tasting notes on the core range of Costcos Kirkland Signature Scotch whiskies.

• Kirkland Signature Blended Scotch Whisky.
• Kirkland Signature, 12 YO Blended Scotch Whisky.
• Kirkland Signature, 20 YO, Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky.
• Kirkland Signature, 22 YO, Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey

BEST OVERALL

Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey is a triple-distilled whiskey that has been patiently aged in a mix of ex-sherry and bourbon casks. This process gives the whiskey its distinctive smoothness, which has lead to its popularity across the globe. After Jameson, Tullamore Dew is the second most popular Irish whiskey in the world.

Sip this spirit neat and youll taste appealing notes of citrus and spice which are a result of the malt and pot-still whiskey used in the blend. While delightful straight or on the rocks, for something a little fresher yet equally delicious, give a Tully & Tonic a try. Throw a splash of whiskey in with some cubed ice, a cut of orange and fill the cup with tonic water.

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The Best Irish Whiskey

Bushmills Black Bush is a blended whiskey that carries no age statement. Here, a high proportion eighty-five percent of malt whiskey that has been matured in former Oloroso Sherry casks for between eight and eleven years is combined with a sweet, grain whiskey. The resultant whiskey is rich, fruity and intense, yet at the same time very smooth. It has a silky texture with a nutty character, and the sherry influence is very evident. On the palate, there are also hints of cinnamon and honey. It is extremely tasty great value for the money.

Single Malt Is More Expensive Than A Blend

Although rules are meant to be broken, single malt, single pot still and single grain whiskeys all tend to be more expensive than blends. Thats because blends are far less intensive to produce. However, you can find expensive blends that incorporate older whiskeys into the mix.

In general, the older the whiskey is, the more expensive it will generally be. Whiskey is a spirit that tends to get better with age, but there are limits to that concept and older whiskey doesnt necessarily mean better whiskey.

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The Tyroconnell 15 Year Old Madeira Cask Finish

This single malt, 15 Year Old whiskey is one thats truly unique and special. Aged in traditional ex-bourbon barrels and finished in Portugal Madeira Casks gives it an added depth of flavour. The caramel-colored brew is produced in traditional pot stills and double distilled. Because its finished in fortified wine barrels, it gives it a complex and unique flavor notes.

On the palate, you get a sweetness from the Madeira casks which is followed by a release of vanilla notes and stone fruit with a splash of spice at the end.