Words by Colin Hampden-White
Not only did Ireland beat the English at the weekend, but my Celtic cousins have one of their most important national days this week. St Patrick’s Day is not only important in Ireland, but also celebrated across the globe, and not only by the Irish. It gives us all a great excuse (not that we really need one), to find our favourite bottles of Irish whiskey, pop those corks, twist those caps and pour some of the delicious whiskey and celebrate with them.
Irish whiskey is now certainly out of the doldrums. It wasn’t very long ago that there were only two distilleries in Ireland, Bushmills and Midleton, until in 1987 when Cooley come along, and now the storey is entirely different. There are now over 35 distilleries up and running with more in the pipeline. When in the past, I wouldn’t have had to look long at my bottle shelf to find that favourite bottle of Irish whiskey, this St Patrick’s Day, it’s going to take a lot longer. And there’s likely to be more than one or two bottles sampled!
I’ve put together my most enjoyable bottles. Some are old favourites, some are very new, all I know is that they are all delicious, and would make St Patrick proud.
Redbreast 12
I have no idea how many times I’ve written about this whiskey. It is an all-time great and having just spoken to Billy Leighton, their master blender, it’s not going anywhere soon. With a perfect balance of ex Bourbon and ex Sherry cask matured whiskey, this is my ultimate pot still Irish whiskey.
ABV: 40%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £43.50 // US $68.99
Midleton very rare 2021
I have tried many of the Very Rare series from Midleton and haven’t had a weak vintage release yet. First started in 1984, as the years roll on the whiskey placed in the bottle gets older and older and this 21 year old release has whiskies well over 30 years old inside. I tried this last year and was blown away. A real treat.
ABV: 40%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £338.99 // US $349.99
Bushmills 10 year old
Another classic on the Irish whiskey scene. Bushmills 10 is a fruit forward, vanilla hugging, spicey dram of loveliness. Easy to drink and can be paired with so many different foods, this is a whiskey I shall always have on my shelf. If you want a typical Irish triple distilled whiskey, then this is one for you.
ABV: 40%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £31.80 // US $85.99
Waterford The Cuvée
Waterford are known for having terroir driven whiskies. Using old grain varieties distilled from single farms giving unique flavours from each farm. However, they also created a blend of single malt whisky. I know that is a bit of an oxymoron, but they took the whisky distilled from different farms and blended them together. Of course, each whisky in the blend was distilled at Waterford, and therefore still a single malt. The result is a beautifully balanced Irish whisky at a powerful 50% abv which is now a firm favourite of mine.
ABV: 50%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £69.95
Jameson
The all time best selling Irish whiskey in the world. And for a very good reason. It is simply brilliant. Smooth and fruity with a price tag that won’t break the bank. It is as happy in a glass with ice, mixed with coke or in a cocktail as well as simply by itself enjoyed by a warming fire. This is not just a safe bet if you can’t think of anything else this St. Patrick’s day. It’s a sure bet.
ABV: 40%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £21.95 // US $32.99
Roe & Co
I have to admit to being bias about Roe and Coe. It’s distilled by one of my best friends, which gives me all the more reason to love it. Lora Hemy has done a magnificent job creating one of Ireland’s newest whiskies, and this isn’t going to be a flash in the pan. With innovation at the fore, Roe & Coe is going to be an exciting dram to have now and on future St Patrick days.
ABV: 45%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £29.83 // US $32.99
Kilbeggan
One of the oldest sites of known distillation in Ireland, this reborn distillery is lovely and honied and malty. However unusually for an Irish whiskey, it has a little smoke in the background, which is well balanced and gives depth. Something a little different, but one I like very much and I’m sure you will too especially if you don’t like it too smoky.
ABV: 40%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £21.64 // US $36.99
Slane Special Edition
In homage to the music festival at Slane Castle, Slane Whiskey has created this special edition. The festival was started in 1981 with the first headline band being Thin Lizzie, an Irish band known for their song “Whiskey in the jar”. This whiskey has been created with increased use of virgin oak and a mix of both ex bourbon and ex sherry casks. With a higher-than-normal abv of 45%, this turns the flavour volume up to 11!
ABV: 45%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £35.95
Muff Liquor Company Irish Potato Vodka
I know this isn’t a whiskey, but I do know there is the odd person out there who doesn’t enjoy whiskey but would nevertheless want to enjoy a spirit on St Patrick’s day and this vodka is a cracker. Flavoursome by itself and brilliant in a cocktail, and no self respecting whiskey drinker would shy away from having a crack and chinking a glass with you on Thursday and exclaiming, “Slainte”!
ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £35.95
I hope that whets your appetites for Thursday, which for this year will definitely be the new Friday for me, and I hope to be raising a glass to you all this St Patrick’s Day.
Did you know the new The Three Drinkers in Ireland series will be live on Amazon Prime from 17th March? You can find the trailer and more information here.