Top 10 best value for money Irish whiskeys
Thanks to rapid growth and a habitude for distillery building, the Irish whiskey industry is flying high, with no shortfall in choice and quality.
Take a look through our pick of the top 10 best value for money Irish Whiskeys on the marketThe Spirits Business held its annual Irish Whiskey Masters last month, where an experienced panel of judges recognised the best bottlings in the business.
Looking across multiple categories, from blended to single malt, single pot still to Poitín, a wide range of whiskeys were awarded the top accolades of Master and Gold medals for their quality.
The individual scores of each entrant have not been revealed, however these are 10 of the highest rated medalists in the competition, in no particular order.
While some expressions are not standard priced, our judges have given each gin listed here the seal of approval for offering excellent quality within their respective price categories.
Click through to the following pages to view the top 10 best value for money Irish Whiskeys of 2016.
Teeling Single Grain
Price: £40
A unique bottling of non chill-filtered corn whiskey aged in Californian Cabernet Sauvignon barrels, Teeling Single Grain attracted a Gold medal from the panel. Judges felt it ticked all the boxes, pffering “a great nose for a grain” with “no horrible acrylic note on the palate”. First launched in 2013, the release was part of Teeling Whiskey Company’s strategy to offer more choice within the Irish whiskey category.
Jameson Signature
Price: approx £42
Part of the brand’s Heritage Series, Blended Super Premium Master medalist Jameson Signature was described as “a really excellent all-rounder with a lovely bit of burnt caramel on the palate”. Judges felt the expression offered “something for everyone”, and would appeal to both whiskey veterans and newbies alike.
Tullamore Dew 12 Year Old
Price: approx £49
Originally launched for the travel retail market, the “very drinkable” Tullamore Dew 12 Year Old won a Gold medal at our recent Irish Whiskey Masters. A blend of malt whiskey, pot still whiskey and grain whiskey matured in Bourbon and Sherry casks, the expression is said to have a “deep spice” flavour with a “creamy body” and notes of dried fruits, nuts and chocolate.
Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy
Price: approx £125
Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy was described as “more savoury than the others” in the Single Pot Still Ultra Premium subcategory, “while still offering a fruity element”. Introduced by Irish Distillers in 2011 as part of the relaunched range of pot still whiskies, the expression honours Barry Crockett, former master distiller of Jameson Irish Whiskey, who retired back in 2013 after 47 years at the Midleton Distillery.
Powers John’s Lane Release
Price: approx £45
The highest medallist in the Single Pot Still Premium flight, Master medalist Powers John’s Lane Release was said to have “a lovely lightness to it”. Described as “quite accessible, with a nice mellowness, for pot still” the expression is matured in a combination of Bourbon and oloroso Sherry casks, and named after the distillery where it was first made, which is now closed.
Redbreast 15
Price: approx £68
The highest scoring expression in the Single Pot Still Super Premium flight, Redbreast 15, was bestowed a Master medal. “Clean and straightforward,”, judges praised the whiskey’s “lovely aroma of wood chips and spice” and “interesting profile”, which offered soft caramel with a hint of lemon.
Jameson Caskmates
Price: approx £26
The result of a collaboration between Irish Distillers’ Midleton Distillery and Cork-based microbrewery Franciscan Wells, Jameson Caskmates won a Gold medal at the Masters, credited for its “aromatic” profile. After being used to age beer for three months, barrels were returned to the Midleton Distillery and subsequently employed to finish traditionally-aged Jameson Irish whiskey for five to six months.
Teeling Distillery Spirit of Dublin Poitín
Price: approx £29
Solitary Poitín entrant Teeling Spirit of Dublin Poitín seriously impressed the panel, scooping a Master medal straight off the bat. The expression is the first liquid released by The Teeling Whiskey Company from its new distillery, and is made from a “traditional” Dublin recipe of both malted and unmalted barley for a “sweet cereal” flavour. One judge said: “The quality of the spirit was much better than some of the other whiskeys we’ve tasted. It reminded me of a really good Tequila.”
Writers Tears Copper Pot
Price: approx £33
Produced by Walsh Whiskey Distillery, Writers Tears Copper Pot is a blend of aged single pot still and single malt whiskeys, both distilled in copper pots. The whiskey is intended to “salute great Irish writers” from Behan to Yeats, and others in-between. Judges found the liquid to be “very different, in a good way”, and awarded the brand a Gold medal.
Tullamore Dew 18 Year Old
Price: approx £91
Yet to be released, Tullamore Dew 18 Year Old wowed the panel with “delicious notes of prunes, oats and wood”. The whiskey has been finished for up to six months in Oloroso Sherry, Port, Madeira, and Bourbon casks, and won a Master medal in the Single Malt Super Premium flight. One judge remarked: “I got really excited about it – everything you’d expect at this price point was there.”
