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There are a lot of great ways to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. From downing corned beef and shepherd's pie to wearing green, you really can't go wrong. But you really can go RIGHT with ONE thing: drinking Irish whiskey. You might be wondering, what the heck makes a whiskey Irish? Well, a whiskey must spend a minimum of three years maturing in Ireland to be considered an Irish whiskey. And we think the Irish know what they are doing, as the first known record of Irish whiskey comes from the early 1400s. And of the more than 30 distilleries making the good stuff, they are made in four different ways—blended, single grain, single malt, and single pot still.
Blended: a combination of a few different whiskeys, typically a combo of barrel-aged malt and grain whiskeys.
Single malt: the whiskey inside the bottle comes from a single distillery.
Single grain: the whiskey is distilled from a grain or multiple grains from one distillery.
Single pot still: the whiskey comes from one distillery and is made in a pot still with mashed malt and unmalted barley.
I'm sure you've also noticed the "whiskey vs whisky" spelling difference. To set the record straight, it's generally spelled whiskey with an 'e' in the U.S. and Ireland, and whisky, no 'e', in Scotland, Japan, and Canada. You can read more about what makes Irish whiskey different from other varieties.
So now that you have a little whiskey knowledge, here are the best Irish whiskeys to buy.
You knew it was coming, so why not kick off the list with this fan-fave? This brand has been around since 1780—and for good reason. People love it for its high quality and reasonable price point. It's got notes of honey and malted barely, which makes it totally easy to sip and a crowd favorite. If this isn't at your St. Patrick's Day party, WYD?
Teeling ages its whiskey in Californian Cabernet Sauvignon casks. This whiskey is smooth and almost fruity, making it perfect for year-round drinking.
This is one that belongs on your bar cart, or perhaps hidden somewhere special in your desk. Bushmills has a 400-year history of making delicious, high-quality Irish whiskey and this is one of its finest creations. It takes 21 years for this bottle to make its way to your door, so what better way to celebrate Irish history than with a piece of it?
Not only is the name super fun to say, but the bottle itself is all Irish. It's made in a single pot still and finished in a new Irish oak cask. This gives a bit of spice and complexity with notes of honey.
This whiskey is truly unique. First off, it's the only Irish peated single malt whiskey widely available today. It's also a lighter color than you might be used to seeing, and it's a bit sweet. But once you take a swig, you'll also get a delicious smokey taste. Like we said—unique! But all this adds up to an absolutely delicious whiskey.
If you are looking for something with notes of sweet toffee, citrus, and honey, with a touch of vanilla and caramel, you have found your bottle. This 10-year-old whiskey finishes with a butterscotch and nutty tongue.
If you have Green Spot on your table, you'll likely find a few fans in your midst. This particular spirit is a fan-favorite, beloved for its universal appeal, but elevated taste. If you're a fan of flavors like vanilla, cinnamon, and cranberry, this is the whiskey for you.
This whiskey comes from Ireland's oldest licensed distillery, so some true experts had a hand in it. The mash of malted barley, raw barley, and oats are double distilled (once in the oldest working pot still in the world), giving a soft and mellow flavor with a fruity palate and a creamy mouthfeel thanks to the oats.
This whiskey is for those who have a very discerning palate. It's often described as "complex" and boasts notes of toasted wood and fruit. Its flavors will stay with you for a long time, so it's probably best served as an after-dinner drink versus something to take shots of while out celebrating St. Patrick's Day. But do you!
Yellow Spot won three different awards in 2020, including two gold medals in competitions. It's made in a single pot still and aged for 12 years.
Let me paint you a picture. You take a sip of whiskey, and before the drink hits your tongue, you get aromas of dried apricots, peaches, and tropical fruits. Then you taste vanilla, granola, almonds, and honey. You're drinking The Irishman.
This single grain Irish whiskey is perfect for St. Patrick's Day, or any day. It's got warm spices and a fantastic sweetness from aging in American oak bourbon barrels for eight years. Cheers!
This bottle has a much more contemporary look to it. But it does not disappoint in flavor. This blend has grain, pot still, double malt, and peated malt whiskeys which give aromas of caramel and banana and flavors of rich fruit.
If you're planning a wild St. Patrick's Day party, this should be your go-to spirit. It has a bite that will put a bit of hair on your chest, but is drinkable enough to enjoy casually with friends. If you're into a bit of spice, this one's for you. Just be sure to share!
This one is also Not Your Typical Whiskey. It was a medal winner at the International Spirits Challenge in London and one of the highest-rated Irish Whiskeys in Jim Murray’s “Whiskey Bible.” The name is apt given Ireland's famous writers like James Joyce and Oscar Wilde, but as many have joked, this whiskey is a bit less bitter than actual writers' tears.
If you want a sure-fire win, this whiskey is your best bet. It's the second-largest selling brand of Irish whiskey in the world. It's more gentle than some other Irish whiskeys, making it perfect for those who aren't usually comfortable drinking whiskey without a mixer.
Black Bush is made to be a smooth sip, with a dark, velvety, fruity note finish. It's aged for eight years in sherry casks, giving it a deep golden color and a complex flavor.
Hyde No. 5 is aged for six years and finished in red wine casks, which gives a nice sweetness to the flavor. It is triple distilled with pure grain and made in small batches, so you know it's going to be good.
If you want something super authentic, this is your best bet. Slane whiskey is made on the grounds of Slane Castle in Ireland. It's remarkably smooth because it's aged in three different casks. It's hard to find better reviews for an Irish whiskey than the ones this bottle has.
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