Top 10 Irish whiskeys for St. Patrick’s Day

Whether you’re celebrating with family or friends this 17 March, what better way to toast the patron saint of Ireland than with a glass of Irish whiskey for St. Patrick’s Day.

Jameson’s St. Patrick’s Day bottle

Most revellers this St. Paddy’s Day will likely head for one of two classic Irish drinks – a pint of Guinness, or a slug of Jameson, likely from the brand’s specially-designed bottle.

While the latter is the largest-selling Irish whiskey brand in the world, we think St. Patrick’s Day is somewhat special and deserves an equally exceptional drink to celebrate.

We’ve racked our brains and dug out our favourite Irish whiskeys from aged blends to single pot stills and single malts.

With some brands now extinct thanks to Beam cutting Cooley Distillery’s supply contracts to third parties, we picked out a bunch of spirits we know for sure are still available.

Have we missed any out? Do you have a favourite we haven’t mentioned? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Jameson 2007 Rarest Vintage Reserve

Jameson 2007 Rarest Vintage Reserve is one of the finest blended whiskeys you’ll find on the planet. Made with some of Jameson’s oldest liquid, including an old pot still whiskey aged in a port pipe, this vintage blend is living proof that blended whiskey should not be overlooked. A bit hard to get hold of nowadays, and pricey if you do, but this release is a true gem and perhaps the pinnacle of Jameson’s portfolio.

Redbreast 12 Year Old Cask Strength

Many might gape at the high alcohol content of this single pot still whiskey from Irish Distillers, but whether taken straight or diluted, this 2011, 57.7% abv Redbreast release is sure to impress. Christmas cake and sherry on the nose give way to a big hit of dried fruit and creamy, viscous oak on the palate, finishing in a warming wave of butterscotch. Not to be mistaken for the Redbreast 12-year-old, which although is a sublime whiskey itself, lacks the punchier, upfront notes of the cask strength.

Hybrid Edition 1

Some true Irish whiskey aficionados may remember Hybrid in its original 2004 incarnation as Celtic Nations. The inaugural release from The Teeling Whisky Co in late 2012, is a blend of 10-year-old Bruichladdich (Islay) single malt and Cooley peated malt aged in oak barrels for an additional eight years. The hybrid whiskey’s reincarnation, after stern disapproval from the Scotch Whisky Association upon its initial release eight years ago, is a smooth, sweet and peated expression limited to just 1,200 bottles. The Teeling Whisky Co. is a frontrunner in the Irish whiskey renaissance currently exploding in Ireland just now, with Hybrid Edition 1 being the first new independent release since Beam bought Cooley Distillery in 2011.

Yellow Spot

Irish whiskey fans gave Irish Distillers and Mitchell & Son a standing ovation when news emerged that Yellow Spot would be returning to shelves. Not seen in Ireland since the 1960s, Yellow Spot is the second single pot still release in the ‘Spot’ series, which also features Green Spot. Aged for 12 years in American oak, Spanish sherry butts and Spanish Malaga casks and bottled at 46% abv, the release is abundant in woody, spicy notes and is a great example of the Irish single pot still style of whiskey.

Jameson 18 Year Old Limited Reserve

Yes another recommendation for Jameson, but this whiskey earns its place on this list for being a classic. Aged 18 years in a combination of Bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks, the liquid gives off notes of vanilla, fudge, toffee and spice on the palate before delivering a lingering finish full of wood and toffee. At around £70 for a 750ml bottle it’s not an everyday go-to Irish whiskey, although you’ll wish it was. A perfect way to spend St. Patrick’s Day with friends, if you ask us.

Midleton Very Rare

Every year Midleton Distillery releases a new small batch blend of around 50 American oak casks aged between 12 and 25 years. Although each batch is different from the previous released, Midleton Very Rare generally gains widespread acclaim, making each edition a treat to behold. Each bottle is individually numbered and signed by the master distiller, making these vintages highly collectable.

Kilbeggan 18

Critically acclaimed as one of the best aged Irish whiskey blends, Kilbeggan 18 Year Old is a 40% abv small batch release of just 4,000 bottles from the Cooley Distillery. A wonderful balance of sweet vanilla and honey notes with fresh oak, light coconut and cereal tones allow for reasonable comparisons with Bourbon. After releasing Kilbeggan 18 Year Old in 2011, the distillery held back several casks to age further, allowing stocks for a 21-year-old release in 2014.

Bushmill’s Honey

Bushmill’s Honey is the only flavoured Irish whiskey in existence, and one of the only flavoured whiskies in the world to actually taste like honey. The classic Bushmill’s taste is dominant on the palate in this release, giving way to a realistic honey flavour as the liquid slides down the back of the throat in a fashion that’s reminiscent of Willy Wonka’s three-course meal chewing gum. Come St. Patrick’s Day, if it’s still snowing where you are or the Arctic winds are a-howling, we think a slug of Bushmill’s Honey in a Hot Toddy is a perfect way to get warmed up for the event.

Bushmill’s Black Bush

We’re not all about recommending the extra-aged or rare expressions as our top Irish whiskeys to drink this St. Paddy’s Day. Bushmill’s Black Bush, a slight step up from the brand’s entry-level release, is packed full of flavour and boasts a relatively low price point (US$30 for 750ml). Bottled at 40% abv, Bushmill’s Black Bush has notes of dried fruit and sherry, giving way to a salty, buttery and smooth mouth feel with lingering woody notes on the finish. If you’re budget is low, and you’re looking for something a little more special to celebrate this 17 March, we recommend this tipple as a sure-fire hit.

Connemara Peated Cask Strength

It’s not often you’ll find a peated Irish whiskey, which makes this cask strength release from Cooley Distillery’s Connemara brand a great find. Bottled at 57.9% it’s not a dram for the faint hearted, and has been described as a monster of a whiskey. Aromas of hay, almond and smoke, alongside flavours of smoky tea, barley, brine and spiced, dried fruit make this Connemara a fantastically layered and unique drink that stands out amongst its peers.