Whiskey around the world: Ireland

Beer Snob | November 30th, 2016

By Chris Larson

cjlarson75@gmail.com

Irish whiskey is one of the oldest distilled spirits in Europe, dating back to the 12th century, when Irish monks brought back the art of distilling perfumes which was then modified to produce spirits for consumption.

The rules governing production of Irish whiskey are quite simple and to the point. In addition to the requirement that origin of distillation must be Ireland, the spirits must also be distilled to less than 94.8% and aged three years in wooden casks on the island of Ireland. If the final product contains more than one distilled spirit it must be referred to as "blended".

While Irish whiskeys were once the most popular spirits in the world, the region has suffered a massive decline in the last couple hundred years and currently only 4 distilleries in Ireland are producing Irish whiskey for the world market.

For the average consumer, Jameson Irish Whiskey may be your only experience, but you can thank the folks at Jameson for leading a huge growth in Irish whiskey over the last two decades; and especially in the most recent years, when growth rates of 20% or more have been commonplace.

While Jameson may be the big boy in town, there are many other excellent Irish whiskeys that are not only worth exploring but would make excellent gifts for any fan of Irish whiskey or whiskey in general.

For this week’s tastings of Irish whiskey, I have chosen two different styles: pot still whiskey, and blended whiskey.

Powers Gold Label

While originally distilled as a pot still whiskey, it is now a Blend of pot still and grain whiskey. It has an incredibly smooth nose filled with honey and toffee and hints of smoke; and the lack of alcohol on the nose gives me a sense, even before I take a sip, of how this has survived to be one of the oldest brands in Ireland. The mouth is full of sweet barley, toffee and honey with a touch of smoke and a touch of alcohol burn on an otherwise very smooth finish.

When I diluted it with a touch of water, the noticeably increased presence of alcohol in the nose surprised me but the mouthfeel mellowed out even more, and and as the alcohol bite subsides a bit it also falls more towards the back of the throat and away from the tongue until it creeps back up in just the right way.

If you are a fan of Jameson, especially Jameson black barrel, you should consider putting a bottle of Powers Gold on your gift list. Priced around $35 or less, this is a bottle that won’t break the bank.

Redbreast 15-Year

A single-pot still whiskey aged 15 years. The nose is pungent and full of alcohol while it also packs a hearty punch of honey, clove, and bright citrus aromas. Though the nose is quite strong, the palate is much more creamy and smooth than expected; and butterscotch, fried or cooked fruits (banana and orange) and a hint of nutmeg are finished with an intriguing mix of caramel and a touch of mint.

Diluting with water doesn't change the whisky much but rather smooths out the edges and creams up the caramel flavors even more. When diluted, the mint all but disappears and the nutmeg comes forward just a bit, but mostly it presents creamy caramel and honey that finishes quite smoothly, while it invites you back for sip after sip. At just under $100 retail, this whiskey may be a bit more expensive but the quality of the spirit and the 15 years of age easily justify the price point.

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