The 11 Best Irish Whiskeys to Sip This St. Patrick's Day
Drink me, I'm Irish!
For those that would rather opt out of the green beer trend, we've rounded up 11 Irish whiskeys that are bound to go down smoothly (and look less alarming).
Tullamore Dew 12-Year Special Reserve
Tullamore Dew's Special Reserve is a nicely balanced Irish whiskey for those who prefer a lighter, more delicate flavor in their brown liquors. There are still the classic notes of oak and vanilla, but this definitely isn't as heavy as some of our other selections.
2 Gingers
$24, acespirits.com
On the budget-friendly end of the spectrum, 2 Gingers hasn't been around long, but it's continuing to get rave reviews for being a smooth and easy-drinking alternative to the standard Bushmills or Jameson options in the same price point.
Glendalough 13 Year Single Malt
$110, drinkupny.com
Now it's time for one of the big guns. Aged for 13 years, this single malt errs on the smooth and sweet end, carrying notes of butterscotch and chocolate with a subtle hint of citrus to balance it out.
Green Spot Single-Pot Still
$65, acespirits.com
Green Spot's Single Pot Still whiskey comes into the pack right in the middle — both in price point and flavor profile. Citrus and tree-fruit notes paired with subtle spice, ginger, and grain give this whiskey a well-rounded three-bears, third-bowl-of-porridge-level of just right. If there's a mix of boldness preference in the drinking room, this one is likely to have mass appeal.
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Jameson Gold Reserve
While the standard blended Jameson isn't anything to write home about, their Gold Reserve is worthy of a spot on our list. The Gold Reserve has achieved top ranks amongst many of the whiskey industry's more notable media, doing quite well for a blended whiskey.
Redbreast 12-Year-Old Single-Pot Whiskey
$74, drunkupny.com
This single pot Irish whiskey from Redbreast is another solid and well-ranking option. A number of the distiller's whiskeys have taken home coveted awards over the years, making it a safe selection on any given day. It's also nicely priced for an aged whiskey.
Allman's 1916
$1,843, thewhiskeyexchange.com
Typically only available in an auction setting, this bottle of Allman's Irish whiskey is your real I don't believe in budgets offering. Bottled sometime in the '20s, and whose cork is heavily deteriorated, something like this is what whiskey collectors' dreams are made of.
Paddy Irish Whiskey
For those seeking a real bold, burning, "That'll put hair on your chest" Irish whiskey, you can do it on a budget. This isn't subtle or complex here — toffee, vanilla, oak, and pepper are the stronger cards in this blended whiskey.
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Redbreast Single Pot Still Non Chill-Filtered 21 Year Old
$270, drinkupny.com
Another exceptional offering from Redbreast, this 21 year old whiskey is aged for part of its life in American bourbon barrels, and then switched over to Spanish sherry oak. It's touted as one of the finest Irish whiskeys ever produced by the brand, and is worth blowing the bank on.
Clontarf Classic Blend
Back to the budget side, Clontarf is another light and subtle pick for the new-to-whiskey sect. It's definitely a strong one, better served on the rocks rather than neat.
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