A BUYER’S GUIDE TO IRISH WHISKEY

Whiskey is purpose-built for Christmas; the clinking of tumblers tapped in a toast brings joy to cold, dark winter nights. And most of all, this year, after…well, everything, it’s the perfect accompaniment to cosy gatherings and great company. And contrary to popular belief, whiskey is a drink that can be enjoyed by all thanks to the many blends available.

We’ve enlisted the expertise of Ger Garland, whiskey ambassador at Irish Distillers, to help make shopping for whiskey as enjoyable as drinking it.

BUY IRISH

The variety and quality of drinks produced in Ireland are renowned on a global level. From the affordable to the rare, there is an Irish whiskey for every taste and preference. “All whiskey and whiskys have origins in Ireland that date back to over a thousand years ago,” explains Garland. “It was believed that Irish monks brought the technique of distilling back to Ireland from their travels in Southern Europe. We also gave whiskey its name. Whiskey comes from the Irish word for water uisce. Our ancestors called it the uisce beatha which translates to ‘water of life’.”

However, purchasing a bottle of Irish whiskey isn’t as simple as searching for the word ‘Irish’ on the label. “In order to be called Irish whiskey, the distilled spirit must be: made from cereal, aged in wooden barrels such as oak for a minimum of three years, and bottled at no less than 40 per cent Alcohol By Volume (ABV),” says Garland. “Also, it may seem obvious, but to be called an Irish whiskey, it must be distilled and matured on the island of Ireland.”

KNOW YOUR BLENDS

Whiskey comes in all types of tastes and blends making it a great gifting option as you can tailor each bottle to its recipient. So to help narrow down the selection, Garland highlights the top four categories that are sure to suit a variety of palettes.

SINGLE POT STILL IRISH WHISKEY:

“When looking at Irish whiskey bottle labels, you might come across the term ‘Single Pot Still’ – that’s usually a good indication of a premium whiskey. Single Pot Still whiskey is the quintessential and traditional style of whiskey that is at the heart of the world’s biggest-selling Irish whiskey brands. Essentially, it’s made with a mash of barley and malted barley (and can contain up to 5 per cent other grains such as oats or rye), giving it a wonderfully creamy mouthfeel, pepper spice and orchard fruit flavour.”

SINGLE MALT IRISH WHISKEY:

“Single malt is solely made from malted barley and is produced all over the world. Single malt leans more towards green orchard fruits, biscuity grain character and has a lighter mouthfeel than Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey.”

GRAIN WHISKEY:

“Grain whiskey is defined by the type of still used to make it, a continuous column stills. Irish grain whiskey is usually made from maize and other cereals such as barley and is characterised by its lightly floral, sweet and fragrant taste.”

BLENDED WHISKEY:

“Blended whiskey is the blend of two or more styles of whiskeys such as single pot still, single malt and grain whiskey. All whiskeys with maybe the exception of single casks are blended to some extent and when it comes to putting together a batch of the same style of whiskey, experts prefer to use another term ‘marrying’. Redbreast for example has been aged in ex-bourbon barrels and some in oloroso sherry seasoned casks which are married together to create that brand.”

TRUST A CLASSIC

“Redbreast is a great gift and is also the go-to premium whiskey for the whiskey lover in your life,” says Garland. “It’s the largest-selling single pot still Irish whiskey in the world and the most awarded Irish whiskey ever.” What’s more, it makes for the perfect Christmas gift thanks to its seasonal notes. “Redbreast is matured in Spanish oak barrels, which gives it a distinctive Christmas cake character of raisin, sultanas, cinnamon and black pepper spices.” And if you really want to make it special, “why not personalise your bottle of Redbreast at the Midleton Craft Collection Whiskey Store in Brown Thomas to make that gift personal and extra special.”

A WHISKEY FOR EVERYONE:

Whether they are a die-hard whiskey fan and prefer to sip it neat or they're new to the world of whiskey and prefer to enjoy it mixed into a cocktail, whiskey comes in a variety of blends and flavours meaning there's a bottle out there to suit pretty much everyone. But before you go browsing, Garland believes there is one very important question you should ask yourself: "Do you or the person you are buying for prefer whiskeys that are light and floral or creamy and full-bodied?" Once you've taken time to consider this, shopping for whiskey will be a breeze. And to help make the experience even more simple, Garland has broken down his must-have bottles for the festive period...

SHOP GER GARLAND'S TOP WHISKEYS:

Jameson Black Barrel 40%

"If you want something which is rich and sweet then Jameson Black Barrel is perfect."

Redbreast 12 year Old 40%

"If you want something with a strong sherry influence and with a touch of spice then Redbreast is perfect."

Green Spot 40%

"If you would like a single pot still which is fresh and light then Green Spot is a wonderfully approachable whiskey."

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