To The Emerald Isle:
To The Land of Saints and Scholars:
To Hibernia:
I just have to say: “Go raibh maith agat”. Actually, I’ll just write it. It’s a lot easier.
Thank you, Ireland, thank you.
You have given the world such amazing gifts such as: Rory Gallagher, flavoured chips, the ejector seat, St. Patrick’s Day, colour photography, the submarine, and, of course, liquid courage.
Granted, St Patrick is the oldest of these inventions, being around in 5th century Roman Britain. However, in this list, liquid courage has been around for quite a while, too. In fact, when King Henry II decided to “arrive in Ireland” in 1170, the monks gave the “welcoming committee” sips of liquid courage.
This, looking through the foggy eyeglasses of history, is the first mention of aqua vitae, which would later become known as (Irish) whiskey.
[Press fast forward to ‘right now’] Sure, Scotland is known for its whisky regions. But… but… Ireland is the only country in the world to make Pot Still Whiskey, and that came about at a time [press rewind to go back a bit in 18th century] when whiskey was being distilled with 100% malted barley.
[Spoiler alert: Many people were really enjoying making and drinking whisky. Well, anything worth enjoying is worth taxing, right?]
The distillers, after having a few choice Irish words came up with an idea: reduce the tax burden by reducing the amount of malted barley used. That’s when they created pot still whiskey: a blend of (at least) 30% malted barley and (at least) 30% UNmalted barley.
Pot still at Jameson
[Fast forward back to ‘right now’, again] So, thank you, Ireland, for everything in the above-mentioned list and to the creation of pot still whiskey.
You know where this is going. You know what’s coming up next.
Uh, better pull down that metal seat bar down real tight to your lap because we’re about to do a reading Tilt-A-Whirl:
5 TYPES OF IRISH WHISKEY
1. Method And Madness
Cork, Ireland / 46% ABV
Single Grain.
Single grain whiskies are often used in blends but once in a while, get released as its own expression. Can be a single grain like corn, or a blend of other grains. This Method And Madness single grain is aged in first-fill bourbon casks and then goes in for finishing touches in virgin Spanish oak casks.
3. Bushmills 16 Year Old Three Wood
County Antrim, Northern Ireland / 40% ABV
Single malt.
Yes, this Bushmills is another single malt; however, this one is triple distilled. Not being one to split O’Hairs, but there’s a perception that all Irish whiskies are triple distilled. While many are, there is no legal requirement for Irish whiskey to be so.
This 16-year old lives in oloroso, bourbon and port casks before moving out.
4. Lambay Small Batch
Lambay Range, Ireland / 40% ABV
Blended whiskey.
Irish blended whiskies can be made up of grain, and/or single malt and/or pot still whiskies. This Lambay expression features malted and grain whiskies, grows up in bourbon barrels then goes into cognac casks for finishing school.
[Note: look for the cute puffin on the label]
5. Powers John’s Lane 12 Year Old
County Cork, Ireland / 46% ABV
Single pot still.
Okay, I couldn’t do a list without including at least one single pot still to try. So, while Bushmills and Jameson may be familiar to us here, Powers is one of the top whiskey names in Ireland.
This one is named after the distillery’s one time address in Dublin.
And so…
The above are just suggestions to add to your current list of whiskies to try. If you already have a bucket list, go through yours first. Or, get a bigger bucket and throw these suggestions in there, too.
After all, the more you love whisk(e)y, the more whisk(e)y you love.
Cheers.
– Renaud Timson
Renaud Timson resides in Ottawa, Canada and likes to refer to himself as a “whisky enjoyist”. He is a certified Whisky Ambassador, accredited by the Scottish Whisky Association and his wallet has membership cards to The Scotch Malt Whisky Society of Canada, Ontario Whisky Quarterly and The Ottawa Whisky Guild.
On the non-whisky side, he’s a dad of six adult kids: three with two legs and three with four legs. He has some whiskies that are older than his kids.
He can be reached at renaudtimson@gmail.com.
