Irish whiskey ( or
Uisce beatha) is a whiskey made in
IrelandIreland is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island in the world. It lies to the north-west of continental Europe and is surrounded by hundreds of islands and islets. To the east of Ireland, separated by the Irish Sea, is the island of Great Britain...
. There are several types of whiskey common to Ireland: Single Malt, Single Grain, Pure Pot Still and Blended Whiskey.
The word whiskey is an Anglicisation of the ancient
GaelicThe Goidelic languages form one of the two branches of the Insular Celtic languages, the other consisting of the Brythonic languages. They historically formed a dialect continuum stretching from the south of Ireland, through the Isle of Man, to the north of Scotland. There are three modern Goidelic...
term "uisce beatha" which translates as "water of life". (
The Craythur is a modern
IrishHiberno-English also known as Irish English is the dialect of English spoken in Ireland. The English language was first brought to Ireland during the Norman invasion of Ireland in the late 12th century. However, due to England's inability to control the country, it was only spoken by a small...
term for whiskey.)
At one time, all whisky was spelled without the extra "e", as "whisky". In around 1870, the reputation of Scottish whisky was very poor as Scottish distilleries flooded the market with cheaper spirits produced using the
Coffey stillA column still, also called a continuous still, patent still or Coffey still, is a variety of still consisting of two columns invented in 1826 by Robert Stein, a Clackmannanshire distiller and first used at the Cameron Bridge Grain Distillery. The design was enhanced and patented in 1831 by an...
. The Irish and American distilleries adopted the spelling "whiskey", with the extra "e", to distinguish their higher quality product. Today, the spelling
whisky (plural
whiskies) is generally used for whiskies distilled in
ScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
,
WalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom, bordered by England to its east, and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It is also an elective region of the European Union...
,
CanadaCanada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
,
AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the continental mainland , the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans...
, and
Japanis an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, People's Republic of China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, while
whiskey is used for the spirits distilled in
IrelandIreland is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island in the world. It lies to the north-west of continental Europe and is surrounded by hundreds of islands and islets. To the east of Ireland, separated by the Irish Sea, is the island of Great Britain...
and the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Irish whiskey is similar to
Scotch whiskyScotch whisky is whisky made in Scotland. In Britain, the term whisky is usually taken to mean Scotch unless otherwise specified. In other English-speaking countries, it is often referred to as "Scotch"....
in that it is distilled primarily from barley, however Irish whiskey is distilled from a mash of mixed
maltedMalting is a process applied to cereal grains, in which the grains are made to germinate by soaking in water and are then quickly halted from germinating further by drying/heating with hot air. Thus, malting is a combination of two processes: the sprouting process and the kiln-drying process...
and unmalted grains whereas Scotch is distilled in a
pot stillA pot still is a type of still used in distilling spirits such as whisky or brandy. Heat is applied directly to the pot containing the mash or wine . This is called a batch distillation ....
exclusively from malted barley, hence "'malt whisky" ("Pure" or "Vatted" malt refers to a specific product which is a blend of single malts without grain alcohol). Irish whiskey also, usually contains mixed grains from a
column stillA column still, also called a continuous still, patent still or Coffey still, is a variety of still consisting of two columns invented in 1826 by Robert Stein, a Clackmannanshire distiller and first used at the Cameron Bridge Grain Distillery. The design was enhanced and patented in 1831 by an...
. This grain whiskey is then mixed with the malt whiskey to create "blended whiskey"). Today, most Irish whiskey is blended from a mixture of malted and unmalted barley and cheaper grain whiskey, Bushmills, however, is an exception in that it produces a Scottish style pot-still alcohol.
Most Irish whiskey is distilled three times while Scotch, apart from, Auchentoshan, is distilled twice, but the main distinction is that Irish whiskey contains unmalted barley, which give rise to the characteristic sweetness. Peat is rarely used in the malting process, so that Irish Whiskey has a smoother finish as opposed to the smokey, earthy overtones common to some Scotches. There are notable exceptions to these "rules" in both countries; an example is Connemara Peated Irish Malt (double distilled) whiskey from the independent Cooley Distillery in Co. Louth.
Although Scotland sustains approximately 90 distilleries, Ireland has only three (although each produces a number of different whiskeys): economic difficulties in the last few centuries have led to a great number of mergers and closures. Currently those distilleries operating in Ireland are:
New Midleton DistilleryThe Midleton distilleries complex is situated outside Midleton, Co. Cork, Ireland. It is owned by Pernod-Ricard. Located alongside is the Old Midleton Distillery which was established in the early 17th century.-History:...
(Jamesons, Powers, Paddy, Midleton, Redbreast, and others, plus the independently sold rarity Green Spot),
Old Bushmills DistilleryThe Old Bushmills Distillery was founded in 1601 and is now owned by the major drinks company Diageo. Bushmills whiskey is produced, matured, and bottled on-site at the Bushmills Distillery in Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland...
(all Old Bushmills, Black Bush, 1608, Bushmills 10-, 12- and 16- and 21-year-old single malts), and Cooley Distillery (Connemara, some Knappogues, (the '94 was by Bushmills) Michael Collins, Tyrconnell, and others). Only Cooley's is completely Irish-owned.
Irish DistillersIrish Distillers is a subsidiary of the French drinks conglomerate Pernod-Ricard S.A.. It was acquired in 1988 in a friendly takeover.-History:...
' Midleton distillery has been part of the
Pernod-Ricard conglomeratePernod Ricard is a French company that produces alcoholic beverages. The company's most famous products, Pernod Anise and Ricard Pastis, are both anise liqueurs, and often referred to as simply Pernod or Ricard...
since 1988. Bushmills was part of the Irish Distillers group from 1972 until 2005 when it was sold to
DiageoDiageo plc is the largest multinational beer, wine and spirits company in the world. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and has American Depositary Receipts listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The word Diageo was formed from the Latin dia and the Greek geo , symbolising the use...
.
Types
Irish whiskey comes in several forms. Most Irish whiskey contains alcohol, from malted and unmalted barley and other grain, made using continuous distillation but there are a few Irish single malt whiskies made from 100%
maltedMalting is a process applied to cereal grains, in which the grains are made to germinate by soaking in water and are then quickly halted from germinating further by drying/heating with hot air. Thus, malting is a combination of two processes: the sprouting process and the kiln-drying process...
barleyBarley is a cereal grain derived from the annual grass Hordeum vulgare. It serves as a major animal feed crop, with smaller amounts used for malting and in health food. It is used in soups, stews and barley bread in various countries, such as Scotland and in Africa...
distilled in a
pot stillA pot still is a type of still used in distilling spirits such as whisky or brandy. Heat is applied directly to the pot containing the mash or wine . This is called a batch distillation ....
. Grain whiskey is much lighter and more neutral in flavour than single malt. Most grain whiskey is used to blend with malt to produce a lighter blended whiskey.
Unique to Irish whiskey is the designation
pure pot still whiskeyPure pot still whiskey is a type of whiskey traditionally made from a mixture of malted and unmalted barley distilled in a pot still. It is unique to Ireland...
. All single malt Scotch is produced via "pot still" methods but single malt from Ireland is called "pure pot still" to differntiate it from most Irish whiskey and refers to whiskey made from 100% barley, mixed malted
and unmalted, and distilled in a pot still. The "green" unmalted barley gives the traditional pure pot still whiskey a unique, spicy flavour in Irish whiskey. Usually no real distinction is made between whether a blended whiskey was made from malt whiskey or pure pot still. Only Redbreast, Green Spot (which is sold only through Mitchell and Son vintners in Dublin), and some premium Jameson brands are pure pot still whiskies. All of these are distilled at Midleton.
Irish whiskey is believed to be one of the earliest distilled beverages in Europe, dating to the mid-12th century (see
Distilled beverageA distilled beverage, liquor, or spirits is a drinkable liquid containing ethanol that is produced by means of distilling fermented grain, fruit, or vegetables.This excludes undistilled fermented beverages such as beer and wine, and often the term hard liquor is used to contrast distilled beverages...
). The Old Bushmills Distillery lays claim to being the oldest surviving licenced distillery in the world since gaining a licence from
James IJames VI & I was King of Scots as James VI from 1567 to 1625, and King of England and Ireland as James I from 1603 to 1625....
in 1608, although production of whiskey didn't commence at Bushmills until the late 1700s. A statute introduced in the late 16th century introduced a viceregal license for the manufacture of whiskey.
Examples
- Blends: Black Bush
Black Bush is a brand of whiskey produced by the Old Bushmills Distillery in Bushmills, Co. Antrim. Black Bush is aged in sherry casks, giving it an amber color....
, Bushmills OriginalThe Old Bushmills Distillery was founded in 1601 and is now owned by the major drinks company Diageo. Bushmills whiskey is produced, matured, and bottled on-site at the Bushmills Distillery in Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland...
, InishowenCooley Distillery is the only independent, Irish-owned whiskey distillery in Ireland, converted in 1987 from an older industrial potato ethanol plant by John Teeling...
, JamesonJameson is a single-distillery Irish whiskey. The brand is today owned by the French beverage conglomerate Pernod Ricard. Jameson is similar in its adherence to the single distillery principle to the single malt tradition, but Jameson combines malted barley with unmalted or "green" barley...
, KilbegganCooley Distillery is the only independent, Irish-owned whiskey distillery in Ireland, converted in 1987 from an older industrial potato ethanol plant by John Teeling...
, Locke's BlendCooley Distillery is the only independent, Irish-owned whiskey distillery in Ireland, converted in 1987 from an older industrial potato ethanol plant by John Teeling...
, Midleton Very RareMidleton Very Rare is a premium blended Irish whiskey, produced by Irish Distillers at their distillery, in the East Cork town of Midleton, from which it gets its name...
, MillarsCooley Distillery is the only independent, Irish-owned whiskey distillery in Ireland, converted in 1987 from an older industrial potato ethanol plant by John Teeling...
, PaddyPaddy Whiskey is a brand of 80-proof blended Irish whiskey produced in Cork, Ireland by the company Irish Distillers. The brand is Ireland's third best selling whiskey-History:...
, PowersPowers Gold Label is a brand of Irish whiskey. Originally a pure pot still whiskey, it is now produced from a blend of pot still and grain whiskey. It is the most popular Irish whiskey sold in Ireland, selling over 6 million measures per annum.- History :...
, Tullamore DewTullamore Dew is a blended Irish whiskey. It was first distilled in 1829 in the small town of Tullamore, County Offaly, Ireland. The name derives from the initials of an early owner, Daniel E Williams - D.E.W. Tullamore Dew is the No.2 Irish whiskey brand in the world...
, ClontarfClontarf is a triple distilled Irish whiskey produced by the Clontarf Whiskey Company, a subsidiary of Castle Brands Inc. The whiskey takes it name from the Battle of Clontarf in 1014...
- Pure Pot Still: Green Spot
Green Spot is a pure pot still Irish whiskey, produced specifically for Mitchell & Son of Dublin, by Irish Distillers at the Midleton Distillery, Cork, Ireland...
, Jameson 15yr Old Pure Pot Still, RedbreastRedbreast is an Irish Whiskey. The only consistently available expression is a 12-year pure pot still whiskey, although a limited edition 15 year old expression has also been released. It comes in a green bottle and is 40.0% ABV . It is produced at the Old Midleton Distillery by Irish Distillers, a...
(12, 15 yrs)
- Single Malt: Bushmills
The Old Bushmills Distillery was founded in 1601 and is now owned by the major drinks company Diageo. Bushmills whiskey is produced, matured, and bottled on-site at the Bushmills Distillery in Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland...
(10, 16, 21 yrs), Connemara Peated MaltCooley Distillery is the only independent, Irish-owned whiskey distillery in Ireland, converted in 1987 from an older industrial potato ethanol plant by John Teeling...
(Regular, Cask Strength & 12 yrs), Locke's Single MaltCooley Distillery is the only independent, Irish-owned whiskey distillery in Ireland, converted in 1987 from an older industrial potato ethanol plant by John Teeling...
(8 yr), TyrconnellCooley Distillery is the only independent, Irish-owned whiskey distillery in Ireland, converted in 1987 from an older industrial potato ethanol plant by John Teeling...
- Single Grain: Greenore
Cooley Distillery is the only independent, Irish-owned whiskey distillery in Ireland, converted in 1987 from an older industrial potato ethanol plant by John Teeling...
(8, 10 yrs)
See also
- Irish whiskey brands
- Irish Cream
Irish Cream is a cream liqueur based on Irish whiskey, coffee, cream, and other ingredients, which can be served on its own or used in mixed drinks or as part of a shot. Baileys was the first Irish Cream liqueur....
(liqueur made from Irish whiskey, coffee and cream)
- Poitín
Poitín or Poteen is a traditional Irish distilled, highly alcoholic beverage . Poitín was traditionally distilled in a small pot still and the term is a diminutive of the Irish word pota, meaning "pot"...
External links