Any fans of Irish whiskey?

[Ghoste]

Just wondering how much interest some of you fine folks have in the Emerald Isle offerings?
I like to keep a few around for a change every now and again. Currently, my favourite non bourbon pour is Bushmills black label.

[CrispyCritter]

Black Bush is a very good choice indeed. It's almost too easy-drinking.

The others I've had, and have also liked quite well have been Redbreast 12yo, and Connemara (in both the standard and cask-strength offerings).

Redbreast is the only example I know of the traditional Irish pot-still whiskey (mash of malted barley and unmalted grains, distilled entirely in pot stills) that is (a) currently in production and (b) affordable. It's one of Irish Distillers' products.

Connemara, from Cooley, is a pot-stilled single malt (100% malted barley), and the malt is peated. If you like peated Scotches, give it a try.

Another interesting tidbit: Bushmills has been spun off from the Irish Distillers Group - it's part of Diageo now, with Pernod Ricard holding on to IDG and the Midleton distillery. Cooley is still the only true independent in Ireland, though - that after a long period where IDG had a complete monopoly on Irish whiskey production.

[Hedmans Brorsa]

Redbreast is the only example I know of the traditional Irish pot-still whiskey

There is also Green Spot. Basically, this is a younger version of Redbreast (no age statement, though.) with less sherry input which gives the whiskey opportunity to display some herbal/vegetable characteristics.

At some stage, the brand was made exclusively for a liquor store in Dublin but in recent years it has cropped up in a lot of places, including Swedish state controlled liquor shops, indicating perhaps a change.

There was also, produced in conjunction with the Millenium celebrations, a Jameson 15yo. Becoming extremely scarce (not to mention expensive) it reminded me a lot of Redbreast, only difference being more traces of refined oak.

[Ghoste]

I have some of the Redbreast around here too. That's been my second choice of late. I had some Tullamore Dew a while back that I liked quite well too but haven't been able to find it again.
I'm going to have to try the older Jameson's if I can find some. We have some regular Jameson's here and my wife prefers that.

[kbuzbee]

Yeah, same here. We had an Irish tasting last St Patrick's day. Jameson, Red Breast, Bushmill's 16yo...

The concensous was for the Bushmill's 16 yo. Very tasty when you want to go that way (which I haven't in some time)

Ken

[gr8erdane]

My experience has been mostly in the Bushmills. I have std Bush, Bushmill's Millenium Malt and Redbreast behind my bar but have had the Black Bush and 10 yr Single Malt Bush and have enjoyed them all. I have been rather stingy on the MM which is very good but I really do like the Redbreast from time to time as a change from bourbon.

[Ghoste]

I like that idea of an Irish whiskey tasting in March. I may have to collect a couple more samples over the winter and do that.

[AVB]

Not a big fan of Irish but I do like Bushmill's Millennium Malt. It's getting pretty expensive now though.

[brockagh]

Pure pot still Irish, for me, is the greatest of all whisk(e)y. They have made it a little lighter over the last 20 years, though, and I don't think it's as good as it once was.

Remaining whiskey from old, not closed distilleries like the Jameson Bow Street, Powers John's Lane, Tullamore and Midleton show just how good this kind of whiskey can be. All of these labels are still being produced, but from the new Midleton Distillery.

Anyway, in my opinion, some great Irish whiskeys are:

Redbreast
Green Spot
Jameson 12
Powers 12
Powers Gold Label
Jameson 18
Jameson Gold
Bushmills Millennium
Bushmills Select Casks - Carribean Rum

[Edward_call_me_Ed]

Hi Hedmans,

There is also Green Spot. Basically, this is a younger version of Redbreast (no age statement, though.) with less sherry input which gives the whiskey opportunity to display some herbal/vegetable characteristics.

I have wanted to try the Red Breast for a while now. It is a little bit expensive, I don't remember the price for a bottle when I have seen it but it was somewhere in the range of two good bottles of bourbon and the bourbon has always won out. So Far. I have seen it in one bar, but they wanted 12 bucks for a shot and I think that place gives stingy shots. Not that they short you, but 30, 31 ml isn't much whiskey when you are paying 12 bucks. I may ask my favorite bar to stock some. They will probably do it and they will give me more than my money's worth.

I didn't know that Green Spot was young Red Breast. I occasionally see it. Next time I will check the price and maybe buy a bottle.

Ed