You can go the obvious route this St. Patrick’s Day (and every other day) and drink well-known Irish whiskeys from brands like Jameson, Tullamore D.E.W., Redbreast, and Bushmills. Or you can blaze your own whiskey trail and try one of the countless, noteworthy, lesser-known Irish whiskeys on the market.
In my years of writing about alcohol, I’ve had the privilege of trying Irish whiskeys from the biggest names to the smallest upstarts. While I enjoy a nice glass of Teeling or Midleton, I’ve found that I enjoy lesser-known, smaller brands just as much.
Why drink lesser-known Irish whiskey?
It’s easy to stroll into your local liquor store, buy a bottle of Jameson, and head home to crack it open and sip it or mix it. But are you really building your Irish whiskey palate if you’re sipping the same whiskey day after day? There are countless lesser-known, underrated Irish whiskeys just waiting to be discovered.
From single pot to single grain, to single malt, and blended whiskey, there’s something for everyone if you just take a moment to look past the over-the-top, name-brand end caps. Who knows, you just might find your new go-to Irish whiskey.
The best lesser-known Irish whiskeys
Now that you learned a little about the appeal of broadening your Irish whiskey horizons to include some lesser-known brands, it’s time to find some bottles to add to your home bar cart. Below, you see some of our favorite Irish whiskeys from brands you might not have ever heard of or simply haven’t had a chance to try. Keep scrolling to see them all.
How I choose my lesser-known Irish whiskeys
First and foremost, when I’m selecting a lesser-known Irish whiskey for my home bar, it likely won’t be a household name. Sure, I enjoy Jameson, Bushmills, and other big brands, but there’s something special about smaller, less popular, underrated brands. I look for independent brands, award-winners that aren’t well-known, and brands experimenting with unique aging and ingredients. But, overall, it’s all about flavor.
Dingle Single Malt Irish Whiskey
If you’re a single malt whiskey drinker, you should absolutely add a bottle of Dingle Single Malt Irish Whiskey to your home bar. Made with a mash bill of 100% Irish-grown malted barley, it’s triple-distilled in copper pot stills before being matured in a combination of first-fill ex-bourbon barrels, oloroso sherry casks, and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks. The result is a balanced, easy-drinking single malt that begins with a nose of toasted vanilla beans, dried cherries, candy apples, sweet sherry, and oak. The palate is centered on notes of chocolate fudge, sticky toffee pudding, cinnamon candy, figs, vanilla, and gentle spices. The finish is long, warm, and ends with a mix of caramel sweetness and pleasant baking spices. Sip it neat on a cool winter or spring night.
$72.99
The Tyrconnell Single Malt Irish Whiskey
This single malt Irish whiskey is made with local water, a proprietary yeast, and 100% Irish-grown malted barley. It’s double-distilled in copper pot stills before being matured in ex-bourbon barrels. The result is a sublimely complex whiskey that begins with aromas of candied nuts, orchard fruits, toasted vanilla beans, and butterscotch. Sipping it reveals notes of caramel apples, candied nuts, orange peels, toffee, and baking spices. The finish is long, lingering, dry, and ends with sweet malts, vanilla, and oak. It’s a great choice for your home bar cart: it’s a great sipping whiskey and also works as an alternative to other whiskeys in your favorite cocktails.
$39.99
Waterford The Cuvee Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Even though it begins with 100% Irish-grown malted barley, Waterford The Cuvee Single Malt Irish Whiskey isn’t your average single malt. The barley used comes from a handful of single-estate farms. It’s also matured in a combination of ex-bourbon barrels, virgin American oak, and barrels that once contained a fortified wine called Vin Doux Naturel. This results in a non-chill-filtered, 100-proof whisky that opens with aromas of caramel apples, candied orange peels, cracked black pepper, vanilla beans, and oaky wood. The palate is a symphony of flavors, including orchard fruits, chocolate fudge, ripe berries, cinnamon, caramelized sugar, citrus zest, and candied nuts. The finish is long, lingering, and warm, ending with a mix of oak and spices. Drink it neat or on the rocks in front of a warming fire.
$95
Boann Single Pot Still Madeira Cask Irish Whiskey
If you’re going for something a little different this winter and spring, grab a bottle of Boann Single Pot Still Madeira Cask Irish Whiskey. It all begins with a mash bill of 40% malted barley, 55% unmalted barley, 3.75% oats, and 1.25% rye. It’s triple-distilled, matured in ex-bourbon barrels, and finished in Madeira wine casks. This results in a 94-proof, non-chill-filtered whiskey that starts with a nose of candy apples, ripe pears, tropical fruits, clover honey, vanilla beans, and charred oak. One sip and you’ll be met with flavors like toasted vanilla beans, candied nuts, dried fruits, orchard fruits, caramelized sugar, baking spices, and oak. The finish is long, warm, and dry, ending with a mix of citrus peels, toffee, and wintry spices. Drink it neat or with a splash or two of water to open up the aromas and flavors.
$59.99
