JEFF HARRIS
Once upon a time, Irish whiskeys could be accused of sameness, but that’s no longer true. In recent years Ireland has been among the most innovative of the major whisky nations, partly due to its good fortune of having some creative leeway in its production regulations. The new distillers that emerged in Ireland over the past decade have waited patiently for their whiskeys to mature and they’re releasing them. Meanwhile, the traditional players—Jameson, Bushmills, Redbreast, Powers, and the Spots—have been unveiling a host of new expressions. Here’s a list of our top-scoring Irish whiskeys to sip.
91 Bushmills 12 year old Single Malt 40% • $60
Date loaf, sweet fig, chocolate orange, oak, black tea, walnut, and honey
89 The Busker Single Malt 44.3% • $30
Toffee, apple, sultana, vanilla, chocolate ganache, spices, caramel, and rich fruit
89 Clonakilty Double Oak Single Malt 43.6% • $50
Lychee, fresh lemon, vanilla, pear, ginger, pepper, baked apricot, citrus, and caramel
90 Connemara 12 year old Single Malt 40% • $70
Moderate smoke, vanilla cream, barley, and spices
92 Dingle Single Malt 46.3% • $100
Cinnamon cereal, toast, vanilla, peppercorn, hazelnut, toffee, and dried fruits
92 Drumshanbo Single Pot Still 43% • $63
Pear, apple, spices, dried citrus, lime, and toasted coconut
91 Dunville’s 1808 Blend 40% • $30
Light citrus, vanilla, honey, orange flan, and baked orange
91 Fercullen Falls Blend 43% • $35
Honey, sweet grains, tangerine peel, zested lime, and pepper
91 Glendalough 7 year old Mizunara Finish Single Malt 46% • $100
Vanilla, warm citrus, lime, banana custard, malt, and peppery spices
93 Green Spot Quails’ Gate Single Pot Still 46% • $70
Red apple, cranberry sauce, cherry, pepper, clove, and nutmeg
90 Hinch 5 year old Double Wood Blend 43% • $40
Lemon Jell-O, orange curd, sugar-coated gumdrops, pepper, and clove
91 Hyde No. 5 The Áras Cask Burgundy Cask Finish Single Grain 46% • $40
Wine, vanilla, fudge, custard tarts, chocolate, and spiced dark fruit
93 The Irishman Cask Strength 2023 Vintage Release Single Malt 55.3% • $155
Peach, apple, caramel, heather honey, and wood spices
92 J.J. Corry 15 year old The Flintlock (Batch 3) Single Malt 46% • $125
Lemon bonbon, vanilla, key lime pie, and candied peel
91 Jameson Black Barrel Blend 40% • $40
Caramelized sugar, dark vanilla, pecan nut slice, peppery spice, and fleshy fruits
93 Kilbeggan Single Pot Still 43% • $45
Orange, apricot, cake, vanilla, and fizzing spices
92 Knappogue Castle 12 year old Single Malt 40% • $45
Lemon meringue pie, orange, spice, dried fruits, and baked apple
91 Limavady Single Barrel Single Malt 46% • $50
Butterscotch, barley sugar, candied orange peel, pepper, baked orange, and Kit Kat
90 McConnell’s 5 year old Sherry Cask Finish Blend 46% • $45
Sherry, spices, raisin bramble, black cherry, clove, and ginger
95 Method and Madness French Chestnut Finished 46% • $80
Sweet spice, cinnamon, clove, and pot still spice
88 Michael Collins The Prediction Blend 40% • $25
Sweet lemon, vanilla fudge, fresh apple, pear, and spices
94 Midleton Very Rare Vintage 2023 Single Pot Still 40% • $250
Toffee, chocolate, espresso, tobacco, vanilla pod, burnt sugar, and fennel
91 Portmagee Barbados Rum Cask Finished Blend 40% • $75
Tangerine, malt, sugared lemon, grapefruit, dry spices, and vanilla
94 Powers John’s Lane 12 year old Single Pot Still 46% • $70
Orange, chocolate, coffee, apricot, marmalade on toast, and barley sugar
93 Redbreast Kentucky Oak Edition Single Pot Still 50.5% • $100
Brown Sugar, red fruits, Milky Way, and warm apple pie
89 Slainté Blend 40% • $40
Vanilla, Victoria sponge cake, granola, red apple, and clove
90 Slane Blend 40% • $30
Blackberry, toffee apple, malt, vanilla, butterscotch, and dried apple
92 Sliabh Liag The Legendary Dark Silkie Blend 46% • $40
Stewed apple, currants, raisin turnover, and brown sugar
91 Teeling Single Pot Still 46% • $80
Apple, pear, cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper, and caramel
89 Tullamore D.E.W. Cider Cask Blend 40% • $30
Sugared apple slices, cider, caramel, vanilla, pepper, and clove
93 Tyrconnell 10 year old Madeira Cask Finish Single Malt 46% • $70
Peach, mango, caramelized pineapple, honey, vanilla cream, and coconut
90 Waterford Biodynamic Luna 1.1 Single Malt 50% • $120
Sweet citrus, orchard fruit, clove, pepper, and Whoppers
90 West Cork Stout Cask Finish Blend 40% • $40
Melon, honey, peach, and gentle spices
92 The Whistler Imperial Stout Cask Finish (Batch 2) Blend 43% • $40
Sherry, berry, citrus, gentle spices, crystalized pineapple, and mocha
93 Writers’ Tears Japanese Cask Finish Blend 55% • $120
Toffee, nut, malt, pepper, clove, baked apple, walnut, and currant
