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With St. Patrick’s Day nearly upon us, Irish whiskey will be front and center. It’s a most versatile and exciting spirit, but if your experience with Irish whiskey is limited to downing shots once a year dressed in a green velvet leprechaun’s hat, then we’ve got three routes to help you engage with Irish whiskey on a more rewarding level. First, our neat pour list contains six whiskeys that are worth getting to know better as they represent some of the most flavorsome whiskeys from Ireland right now. Second, for the make-at-home cocktail enthusiast, we pick six bottles to play with at home, each with a different style of Irish whiskey. With dozens of cocktail recipes online for inspiration, we want to be less prescriptive and encourage you to make a cocktail you love using an Irish whiskey and then make it again with a different pick to show you how whisky flavor influences the finished cocktail. Finally, Irish whiskey and food is a match made in heaven, so we have a flavor–driven list of ingredients with Irish whiskey suggestions if you’re planning to cook up some tasty treats for St. Patrick’s Day.
Best Irish Whiskey for Neat Pours
These are fine ones to be savored, nosed, and tasted slowly, unpacking their various qualities to discern how the aromas and flavors interact. These can sometimes be expensive, but they’re for an occasion when you need a whiskey that will rise to the occasion.
96 points – Bushmills 21 year old, 40%
Master blender Alex Thomas gives this a generous 2-year finish in madeira casks, giving this classic Bushmills single malt a real depth of flavor.
Sultana, brown sugar, walnut oil, forest honey, browned butter, and date.
95 points – Teeling Reserve Collection 30 year old, 46%
This single malt bottled from Teeling Whiskey made at Cooley Distillery was matured in bourbon casks and finished in sauternes casks, which layers on sweetness and richness.
Honey, vanilla essence, mango, papaya, candied fruits, and poached pear, with a silken mouthfeel.
94 points - The Whistler 16 year old El Misterioso Palo Cortado Sherry Finish, 46%
Boann Distillery sources and finishes single malts for The Whistler label, which has produced a string of high-scoring expressions, and this gem of a sherried Irish whiskey is a cut above the rest.
Fresh fig, green olive tapenade, orange peel, salted caramel, marzipan, and sweet cherries.
93 points – Midleton Very Rare Barry Crockett, 46%
A permanent release honoring the work and legacy of Barry Crockett, Midleton’s master distiller emeritus, this is made from rare single pot still whiskeys laid down over the past 22 years.
Vanilla pod, wood spices, zested lime, green apple, tangerine, and cinnamon.
92 points – J.J. Corry The Flintlock 15 year old, 46%
Whiskey bonder Louise McGuane makes seriously good whiskeys worthy of deep contemplation, good conversation, and debate. Here, she handpicks six bourbon cask-matured single malts from the same distillery and brings them together in a moscatel sherry butt.
Creamy sweetness, with lemon mousse, stone fruits, floral notes, key lime pie, vanilla, and plenty of spice.
91 points – Shortcross Rye & Malt, 46%
This double distilled malted rye and malted barley made at Raedemon Estate Distillery, is matured in new chinkapin oak and bourbon casks.
Rye crackers, vanilla sponge, golden syrup, cinnamon, cinder toffee, and walnuts in syrup.
Best Irish Whiskeys for Cocktails
Irish whiskey is a hugely adaptable spirit and will work well in most cocktails. If you’re the type of home mixologist who prefers to precisely follow a recipe, then we’ve got you covered with some simple creations to help you build a repertoire of impressive drinks. You can also visit your favorite whiskey’s website for ideas to get you started from Teeling Whiskey, Jameson, and Bushmills, but the best learning experience at home comes from experimenting with the same cocktail using different whiskeys to see what works. For cocktail enthusiasts happy to riff on a theme, here are six fabulous Irish spirits to use as the base in your cocktail, each selected for having the strength of character to be expressed in the finished drink, but all the right qualities to complement the flavor of the other ingredients.
Rye – Kilbeggan Small Batch Rye, 43%
Whether it’s a Manhattan, Old Fashioned, or Sazerac, this pot still rye whiskey made with 30% rye brings plenty of toasty rye character, sweetness, and spice to the party.
Blend – Teeling Small Batch, 46%
This is a superb all-rounder for the cocktail enthusiast, with the vanilla, dried fruit, and spice flavors particularly enlivening spirit-driven short drinks, making it a pick that won’t let you down.
Single Pot Still – Powers John’s Lane 12 year old, 46%
With its oily pot still character and oolong tea, allspice, and chocolate notes, this has the power and balance to cut through in long drinks, though it works best in small, late-night sippers.
Single Malt – The Sexton, 40%
This triple-distilled single malt matured in oloroso sherry works particularly well in fruity cocktails where it complements citrus juices, such as lemon, lime, and pineapple, as well as your favorite sweet vermouth.
Irish Grain – J.J. Corry The Hanson, 46%
This blend of grain whiskeys makes a superb base for lots of cocktails, but pairs particularly well with ingredients such as lemon juice, champagne, and quality Irish cider.
Flavored – Jameson Orange, 30%
Bottled up with zesty orange flavors, this flavored Jameson whiskey provides refreshment on warmer days with a slice of orange and lemonade or soda water cascading into a tall glass full of ice.
Best Irish Whiskey With Food
Irish whiskey pairs with many tasty morsels, but it can also help cooks enliven a wide range of culinary dishes and home baking in the kitchen. The golden rule is to make the flavors in the whiskey enhance the other ingredients.
Beef – Hearty Irish stews, warming casseroles, and delicious pies can all take a dash of Irish whiskey, so either try a stout finish or an aged sherried whiskey that will deliver those deeper chocolate notes to give the flavor that extra depth. Our pick is Jameson Caskmates Stout Edition 40%.
Glaze – Whiskey is a superb addition to the recipe when you mix up a batch to glaze chicken wings or baked ham. As we’re usually looking for plenty of sweetness and extra spice, reach for Bushmills Original 40%.
Seafood – While whiskey makes a wonderful accompaniment to many seafood dishes, a smoky Irish whiskey can be drizzled on oysters, or for extra pizzazz, buy an atomizer and spritz on a whiskey such as Hinch Peated 43% just before popping it into your mouth.
Apple – Green apple is a signature note in many Irish whiskeys, and a little of the right whiskey can be added to apple cakes and loaves. With its inviting fruity profile, a great choice is Waterford The Cuvée 40%.
Chocolate – To work with chocolate in sauces, soufflés, and truffles, you need a vanilla-forward whiskey such as Two Stacks Double Barrel 43%, where the supporting citrus, smoke, nutty, and cocoa notes will add complexity to each mouthful.
Fudge – Fudge calls for sweetness, but choosing an Irish whiskey such as Writers’ Tears Red Head 46% adds flavors of red fruit, citrus peel, and a hint of chocolate, turning this into a moreish treat.
Ice Cream – With so many flavors of ice cream to choose from, finding a natural match with a whiskey is relatively easy. If we’re talking scoops of the best quality vanilla ice cream sprinkled with chopped nuts, then a splash of a sweet, uncomplicated blend over the top, such as Paddy's Irish Whiskey 40%, can really put a smile on your face.
Coffee – Irish coffee cake or coffee cheesecakes take the appeal of Irish coffee to the next level, so try adding a little Tullamore D.E.W. Original 40% into the recipe. Or keep life simple, and just make an Irish coffee instead.
