It’s that time again. No, sadly, it isn’t spring yet. It’s the time of year when you start to think about what you’re going to drink on arguably the number one drinking holiday of the year: St. Patrick’s Day. While you’re likely going to drink a few green beers and maybe a pint of Guinness stout or two, the star of the four-leaf clover-themed holiday is Irish whiskey. But, if you’re primarily a bourbon drinker, which Irish whiskeys should you purchase?
Why would bourbon drinkers enjoy Irish whiskey?
Before we get into the right Irish whiskeys for bourbon drinkers, it’s important to give you a little background on Irish whiskey itself. As you might have guessed, an Irish whiskey is a whiskey (only the US, Mexico, and Ireland use the ‘e’ in whiskey) produced in Ireland. It’s a great choice for bourbon drinkers as it’s known for its mellow, easy-drinking nature, thanks to being distilled with malted barley as well as secondary grains like corn, wheat, and rye.
Similar to Scotch whisky, there are different types of Irish whiskey. They are single malt, single pot still (made with a mash of malted and unmalted barley), single grain (made in a continuous column still), and blended Irish whiskey (made with a mix of grain whiskey with malt or pot still whiskey).
All Irish whiskey must be matured for at least three years in a wooden cask. These woods include ex-bourbon American white oak, ex-sherry European oak, and even former stout beer, port wine, and other barrels.
Irish whiskeys for bourbon fans
Now that you’ve learned a little background on what Irish whiskey is and why it’s a great choice for bourbon drinkers, it’s time to find some to add to your home bar cart for St. Patrick’s Day and beyond. Below, you’ll find some of our favorites. Keep scrolling to see them all.
Knappogue Castle 12 Year Old Irish Whiskey
If you’ve never tried any expression from Knappogue Castle, now is the time to grab a bottle. Specifically, its 12-year-old expression. This single malt Irish whiskey is made from a 100% malted barley mash bill. It is triple distilled in copper pot stills before being matured for a minimum of 12 years in ex-bourbon American oak casks. The result is a complex, balanced sipping whiskey that opens with aromas of orchard fruits, charred oak, toasted vanilla beans, clover honey, and dried fruits. The palate is centered on notes of caramelized sugar, raisins, cinnamon candy, honey, vanilla, cracked black pepper, and oak. The finish is lingering and warm, ending with a mix of wood, spice, and dried fruits.
$49.99
Jameson Black Barrel Irish Whiskey
There’s no bigger name in the Irish whiskey world than Jameson. While the original Jameson Irish Whiskey has its perks, bourbon drinkers will love Jameson Black Barrel Irish Whiskey. This triple-distilled whiskey is a blend of grain and single pot still whiskeys. It was matured in a combination of ex-sherry and ex-bourbon barrels. This creates a sublime sippable whiskey that begins with a nose of chocolate, dried apricots, sticky toffee pudding, vanilla, and oak. The palate is a mix of candied nuts, vanilla beans, cinnamon candy, dried fruit, and charred oak. The finish is warm and woody, ending with a mix of wintry spices.
$28.99
Yellow Spot Irish Whiskey
This single pot still Irish whiskey is a blend of malted and unmalted barley. It’s triple-distilled and then matured for at least 12 years in a combination of ex-bourbon barrels, sherry casks, and Spanish Malaga wine barrels. The result is a sweet, memorable whiskey that starts with scents of orchard fruits, cracked black pepper, wine esters, clover honey, vanilla, and oak. Sipping it reveals notes of chocolate, caramelized sugar, oak, crisp apple, barley, vanilla, and gentle spices. The finish is a warming mix of spices and fruity sweetness.
$94.99
Tullamore D.E.W. 14 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey
This single malt Irish whiskey is made from a 100% malted barley mash. It’s triple-distilled before being matured for a minimum of 14 years in ex-bourbon barrels before being finished with 6 or more months in a combination of sherry, port, and Madeira casks. The result is a multi-layered, 82.6-proof whiskey that begins with a nose of orchard fruits, citrus peels, toasted vanilla beans, brown sugar, and charred oak. The palate is a symphony of flavors, including dried cherries, caramelized sugar, vanilla, cinnamon candy, honey, and wintry spices. The finish is long, lingers, and ends with a mix of oak and baking spices.
$75.99
Redbreast 12 Year Old Irish Whiskey
Redbreast is a big name in the world of Irish whiskey for good reason. You can’t go wrong with anything from its portfolio. But if you’re a bourbon fan, you’ll love Redbreast 12 Year Old Irish Whiskey. This single pot still whiskey is made from a mash bill featuring malted and unmalted barley. It’s triple-distilled and matured for a minimum of 12 years in a mix of oloroso sherry cask and ex-bourbon barrels. Nosing it reveals aromas of sweet sherry, dried cherries, oak, and vanilla. The palate is centered on notes of candied nuts, cherries, cinnamon candy, orange peels, and caramelized sugar. The finish is long, warm, and ends with a mix of sweetness and spice.
$64.99
