Irish Whiskeys to Drink While Watching "House of Guinness"

Water. Malted barley. Hops. Yeast. Copper. Oak. Fire. Family. Money. Rebellion. Power. These 12 words flash across the screen in the opening moments of Netflix’s smash hit “House of Guinness,” a signal that it’s time to pour a glass of good Irish whiskey and settle in.

"House of Guinness" was written and created by Steven Knight, and the dark cinematography and slick pace have a natural affinity to “Peaky Blinders,” Knight’s best-known work. The power struggles and sibling rivalries bear a close resemblance to another family drama, “Succession.” The costumes for the principal parts are magnificent, subtly drawing on the rich color palette of a pint of Guinness: think black, cream, and deep reds. The hustle and bustle of the brewery and cooperage are vividly brought to life through the sweat, grime, and noise of the men working the coppers (giant riveted fermenting vessels), shoveling coal into fires, and repairing and rolling casks. Aerial views over the export wharf, docks, and brick smokestacks of industrial Dublin in the mid-19^th century really set the scene.

While 1759 is famously known as the year Guinness was founded, the eight-part series picks up the story much later, with the death of Sir Benjamin Guinness in 1868. The grandson of brewery founder Arthur Guinness, Sir Benjamin was the wealthiest man in Ireland when he died, thanks to his stewardship of the company. From here, “House of Guinness” covers the fortunes and misfortunes of the dynasty’s next generation and their legendary brewery at St. James’s Gate, Dublin, through a tale of four siblings, two weddings, and a funeral. This is a drama inspired by real events, combining historical figures and fictional characters. Here we explore the story, and while there are no major spoilers, a few minor ones do appear.

As the eldest son of Sir Benjamin, Arthur Guinness (played by a mustachioed Anthony Boyle from “Say Nothing”) has returned to Dublin from London following his father’s death, fully expecting to inherit the brewery, but his younger brother Edward (Louis Partridge) has more experience and ambition and wants to take over the brewing empire. As the family gathers in Dublin for the burial and reading of the will, little do they know that the outcome will please none of them. Arthur and Edward will be forced to work together as joint heads of the family, while the remaining siblings are left out. Sir Benjamin’s only daughter, Anne Guinness Plunket (Emily Fairn), receives nothing from his estate, as he deems her—by virtue of marriage—already provided for. Wayward son Benjamin (Fionn O’Shea), frequently intoxicated due to various addictions, also receives no inheritance from his father, as a protective measure to save him from his demons.

In charge of St. James’s Gate is Sean Rafferty (James Norton), a swaggering and fecund brewery foreman in a black coachman hat, who also serves as the family’s protector and enforcer. His opening speech galvanizes the workforce of the cooperage to “grab a means of persuasion” to enable Sir Benjamin’s funeral cortege to proceed smoothly through street protests by Irish nationalists, and “remove all obstacles with a firm hand.” The coopers arm themselves with mallets, adzes, cooper’s hammers, side axes, and flagging irons, while Rafferty wields a heavy-looking cooper’s plucker to help him clear the path.

The Guinness family lives in enormous wealth and comfort, mixing with aristocracy, socialites, and the political classes, though their flaws and predilections mean they are never far from a scandal that could bring the whole house crashing down. Dublin has its dark side, too, of course, and gin palaces, houses of ill repute, and organized rebellion all simmer beneath the surface. The Fenian Brotherhood’s fight for independence from Great Britain sets them against the Guinness family’s Anglo-Irish roots as Unionists, making targets of the family and their business. Fenian leader Patrick Cochrane (Seamus O’Hara) discloses his threat to burn the cooperage and a million empty barrels to Ellen (Niamh McCormack), his more astute sister, who argues with him about the pointlessness of such destruction; shortages of stout will not attract more Dubliners to their cause. Operating against political, religious, and class tensions that threaten to destabilize the power of church and state, the Guinness family recognizes this could all be bad for business.

The Guinness Family's Drink of Choice

“House of Guinness” delivers plenty of swearing, punch-ups, blackmail, sex, explosions, toxic relationships, and street battles, all set to a thumping soundtrack of traditional and contemporary Irish music from Fontaines D.C., Kneecap, Lankum, Thin Lizzy, The Wolfe Tones, and The Mary Wallopers. A lot of bottles are thrown in anger. Like "The White Lotus," drink is abundant in every episode. The joint managing directors of the Guinness family are never seen drinking the black stuff for their own enjoyment, however, preferring a large measure of whiskey from a crystal decanter or a coupe of fine champagne when in company. Remember, this point in history was a golden age for Irish whiskey, with the distilleries of Dublin at its heart. High-society characters enjoy drinking madeira in “House of Guinness,” while we watch others consume gin, poitín, and Margaux during different scenes. Guinness is mainly the drink of workers and the lower classes.

The show portrays illicit love affairs that challenge the social, political, religious, and sexual norms of the time. Finding brides for the eligible Guinness bachelors deemed acceptable to their standing in society is an endeavor that involves the whole family. The extent of their wealth and sheltered lives is made stark by contrast with the rural population in Connacht; Irish speakers living in extreme poverty, trying to survive in communities devastated by the Great Famine. Those with the privileges of the Guinness family would ordinarily shun these villagers through fear of attack, seeking armed protection to travel through their settlements, until circumstances force them to interact. Anne and Edward, at least, show compassion and a willingness to help those less fortunate than themselves. Acts of philanthropy and social change take place through the company, leading to the introduction of pensions, better access to potable water, and new accommodations for the workers.

The story shifts to New York’s Bowery district, where Byron Hedges (Jack Gleeson, almost unrecognizable from his role in “Game of Thrones”) becomes the self-appointed agent for Guinness in the U.S., despite being an illegitimate cousin of the Guinness heirs and a Fenian sympathizer. He significantly expands trade, though not without political consequences for the Guinness family's reputation and perceived loyalties. With trade flourishing throughout the British Empire and the U.S., the family expands the brewery to become the largest on Earth, covering 45 acres and producing half a million hogsheads of beer a year. Having made the family a fortune while simultaneously bankrolling the Fenians, Hedges returns to Dublin to support the political aspirations of Arthur Guinness as an election comes around. Arthur feels the need to rule is a birthright, yet his flaws make him vulnerable, and his enemies begin to close in. As for what happens next, you’ll have to watch and see.

Since the Guinness family sips (unidentified) whiskey throughout the series, here’s our list of Irish whiskeys to enjoy while watching "House of Guinness." We’ve picked great pours inspired by the show, focusing on stout and madeira finishes and whiskeys with a historic Dublin connection. Even though it’s not an Irish whiskey, we couldn’t finish without an honorable mention for an Islay whisky rather than an Irish whiskey: Lagavulin Offerman Edition: Guinness Cask Finish, the only known whisky finished in a Guinness cask.

Irish Whiskeys to Drink While Watching "House of Guinness"

94 points - Powers John’s Lane 12 year old single pot still, 46%, $70

Dublin Connection: John’s Lane Distillery was founded in Dublin in 1791, and this remains one of the best examples of single pot still whiskey you can try.

Bramley apples, oolong tea, allspice, marmalade, barley sugar, bitter chocolate

93 points - Bushmills The Rare Cask 30 year old Madeira Cask single malt, 49%, $1,000

Madeira Finish: Aged for 17 years in a madeira cask, this is a limited edition with a price tag fit for Arthur Guinness, which likely puts such decadence out of reach for many people.

Nutmeg, ganache, dried fig, mixed peel, malty chocolate, red fruits

93 points - Jameson Bow Street 18 year old (Batch 2) blend, 55.1%, $179

Dublin Connection: Jameson Bow Street Distillery was founded in 1780 in Dublin, and while this cask strength version is distilled at Midleton Distillery, Cork, it is different from regular Jameson 18 year old as this is finished in fresh bourbon casks in the Jameson Bow Street cellars under the streets of Dublin.

Baked lemon, vanilla toffee, ground ginger, dried banana, lemongrass, and herbal notes

93 points - Teeling Blackpitts single malt, 46%, $75

Dublin Connection: In 2015, Teeling Whiskey opened Dublin’s first new distillery in 125 years, and this triple-distilled peated whiskey is named after the Blackpitts area of Dublin, close to the Guinness brewery, and once home to tanneries, malting houses, and weavers.

Subtle smoke, orchard fruit, panna cotta, tangy marmalade, peppery spice

93 points - Tyrconnell 10 year old Madeira Cask Finish single malt, 46%, $80

Madeira Finish: Aged for 10 years in bourbon casks, then finished in madeira casks for 3-5 months.

Peach, mango, cantaloupe, caramelized pineapple, honey, coconut

92 points - The Whistler Imperial Stout Cask Finished (Batch 2) blend, 43%, $40

Stout Finish: Boann Distillery prepares refill sherry casks, previously used to mature single malt, and seasons them with stout for 6 months, then uses them to finish whiskey for 6 months. For each batch, they partner with a different brewhouse; this batch came from O’Hara’s Brewery.

Sweet vanilla, coffee, orange, berry notes, ginger nuts, chocolate

91 points - Boann Madeira Cask single pot still, 47%, $60

Madeira Finish: Initially matured in bourbon casks, Boann finishes this whiskey in madeira casks from Justino’s, one of the oldest producers and exporters of madeira.

Aromatic spices, jasmine, zested lemon, panna cotta, stone fruits, cacao

91 points - Clonakilty Cigar Blend, 52%, $65

Stout Finish: This is a blend of double-distilled malt and 10 year old grain whiskey matured in Ziko’s Rage Imperial stout casks from 26^o Brewing.

Nutmeg, cinnamon, hickory, cappuccino, wood spice, coffee

91 points - Blue Spot 7 year old single pot still, 58.7%, $85

Dublin Connection: This perfectly encapsulates the history of the Irish whiskey bonder, as Mitchell & Sons of Dublin, founded in 1805, began whiskey bonding in 1887, using different paint colors on the cask ends to represent the age. Blue Spot, the youngest in the Spot Whiskey range, is a cask strength bottling of pot still whiskey matured in bourbon casks, sherry butts, and madeira casks.

Baked apple, melted toffee, crisp spices, bitter peels, dried cherry, peppery spice

90 points - Dunbrody Small Batch Madeira Cask single grain, 46%, $65

Madeira Finish: The brand takes its name from the Dunbrody Famine ship, which was launched in 1845 and carried thousands of emigrants to North America during the Great Famine. This whiskey is produced in small batches from 50% barley, 32% corn, and 18% rye, and finished in madeira casks.

Toasted coconut, nectarine, black currant mousse, nutty caramel, orange peel, oak spices

88 points - Roe & Co blend, 45%. $35

Dublin Connection: The George Roe & Co Distillery was built across the street from the Guinness brewery and was the largest producer of Irish whiskey by 1887. George Roe was running the business at the time “House of Guinness” takes place. There are many connections between the Roe and Guinness families. The modern Roe & Co Distillery is built inside the former Guinness power station.

Grilled orange, conference pear, barley sugar, vanilla, white pepper