What Should You Know Before Enjoying The Best Irish Whiskey?

By Author: Castle Freke
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With the nights gradually getting longer, the cold weather on its way, and a global pandemic still taking a toll on the daily lives, everyone needs something to cheer up on cosy nights. Sipping a glass of the best Irish whiskey can be the ultimate choice as you can drink it alone, or enjoy it with friends and family. Drinking this elixir can be a very personal experience as everyone’s palate is different.

The island nation of Ireland and whiskey go back a long way, during the migration of monks into Ireland and Scotland in the first millennium AD. It is this migration that led to the inception and wide adoption of what is known as Irish and Scotch whiskeys nowadays. Today, Irish whiskey is one of the fastest-growing whiskey industries in the world. But, with a plethora of choices out there, it is wise to get an in-depth knowledge of this popular spirit to ensure you grab a fine bottle of Irish whiskey.

Here’s a detailed insight.

Ireland – The Home Of Whiskey

Over the years, there has been much debate about whether it was the Scottish or Irish who introduced what is now known as whiskey ...
... into the world. However, according to Dublin’s Irish Whiskey Museum, there are written records of Irish whiskey that go back to at least 1405.

Also, Ireland claims to have the oldest legal whiskey distillery in the world. It was James I of England in 1608 who granted the first commercial license to distil whiskey. This was granted in the town of Bushmills to local landowner Sir Thomas Phillips.

Irish Whiskey: The Basics

• It utilizes barley as a dominant flavouring grain, like Scotch and other malt whiskeys, but what’s more unique about Irish whiskey is that the barely isn’t always malted.

• The Irish do not traditionally use peat, so their whiskeys generally do not share Scotch’s smokiness. However, there are some peated Irish whiskies nowadays.

• Irish whiskey is usually distilled three times, while Scotch is distilled only twice. But not always!

• Irish whiskey aging laws are fundamentally the same as Scotch. It must be aged for a minimum of three years and any kind of oak whiskey barrel can be used.

The 4 Types Of Irish Whiskey

1. Single Malt
Malt whiskey is made by using 100% malted barley is distilled in a pot still, and aged for at least three years in an oak barrel. Single malt Irish whiskey comes from one distillery only.
2. Single Grain
Single grain whiskeys comprise cereals or whole grains other than malted barley – like wheat or maize. It should be distilled at a single distillery.
3. Pot Still
These are made from at least 30% malted and a minimum of 30% unmalted barley, with the addition of up to 5% of other cereals. It is distilled in pot stills and comes from one distillery.
4. Blended Irish
Blended Irish whiskeys are the mixture of grain whiskey and single malt or pot still, or both. In some rare cases, an Irish blend will have no grain and be a combination of single malt and pot still.

Irish Whiskey Regulations: What Makes It So Unique?

Guided by the Irish Whiskey Act, the Irish Whiskey Association, Drinks Ireland provides a few strict regulations. These include:

• Location
It should be produced and matured in a distillery that’s located within the island of Ireland, consisting of the Republic of Ireland as well as Northern Ireland.

• Barrel Aging
The best Irish whiskey is one that’s barrel-aged in a wooden cask, like an oak barrel. The barrel can have a maximum capacity of 700 litres and the spirit must be aged for a minimum of three years.

• Ingredients
The alcoholic beverage should be made from cereals and water. The type of whiskey made is determined by the grain used. Cereals used in the making include wheat, barley, rye, and corn. Depending on the strength of alcohol, water can comprise 60% or less of the total whiskey content in a bottle.

• Alcohol Strength
The spirit should not exceed an alcohol concentration of 94.8% ABV. Also, it must have the flavour and aroma of the grains used.

• Distillation Technique
Usually, all Irish whiskey is distilled three times and is therefore very smooth. However, whiskeys that are produced in Ireland can be double-distilled too.

Conclusion:
Have a sip of best Irish whiskey – you can savour it neat, or with one or two ice cubes, or a splash of water. You will definitely find it incredibly smooth and easy to sip. And as it is been triple distilled, you will have a better chance of waking up the next day without a hangover. Time to grab a fine bottle of Irish whiskey and enjoy its unique taste!

Author’s Bio:
The author of this article is a whiskey connoisseur who believes there’s an ideal bottle of Irish whiskey for every drinker out there. He is passionate about exploring alcoholic beverages and spends his leisure savouring whiskey. Check out his other write-ups to know more about alcoholic drinks in details.