Irish whiskey -- what's your favorite?

[SFS]

I agree 114% with Squires take ...QUOTE]

I see what you did there.

[unclebunk]

I agree 114% with Squires take on these two whiskies. Everything he says is exactly what I would say about them. Just to add, I was at a Bushmill's tasting a couple of weeks ago, and their entire line-up is very nice, save the 10 yr which was underwhelming to me. However, my thoughts on the 10 go counter to most reviews you'll read. It's generally thought of as very good. Just not what I was looking for that night, I guess. The sherry cask influence of the Black Bush really stands out against the other iterations when tried back-to-back-to back...It's an incredibly drinkable whiskey. Sweet and rich, just like Squire describes. The 16 and 21 yr were extremely nice. I recently picked up a 16 yr based on the tasting, but would have gone with the BB if my store would have had it in stock at the time.

Squire, you sure we ain't related?

I recently enjoyed some of the 21 year old but find it to be overpriced at roughly $120 around here. Me, I'll happily stick with the Black Bush and drink that all day long.

[unclebunk]

I agree 114% with Squires take ...QUOTE]

I see what you did there.

I noticed that too. Clever little bugger, that SmokinJoe.

[smokinjoe]

I noticed that too. Clever little bugger, that SmokinJoe.

And, cute. Don't forget cute!

[unclebunk]

And, cute. Don't forget cute!

Yeah. Yeah. Who could forget...:skep:

[squire]

Donno Joe, you got any Scottish genes in your heritage.

[MarkEdwards]

I am partial to Midleton Very Rare, but I really haven't found an Irish I don't like, so far.

[WhiskyToWhiskey]

Until a few days ago, the only Irish I tried was Redbreast 12yo (big fan) and standard Jameson. A few days ago I picked up Black Bush, Jameson Select Reserve, and Locke's 8yo single malt. My favorite of the 3 was Jameson Select Reserve, followed closely by Black Bush. The Locke's 8yo left a mineral spirit taste on my palate that I couldn't get rid of until over hours hours later...this one was returned to the store. Next up on the radar are Green Spot and Writer's Tears.

[tanstaafl2]

Until a few days ago, the only Irish I tried was Redbreast 12yo (big fan) and standard Jameson. A few days ago I picked up Black Bush, Jameson Select Reserve, and Locke's 8yo single malt. My favorite of the 3 was Jameson Select Reserve, followed closely by Black Bush. The Locke's 8yo left a mineral spirit taste on my palate that I couldn't get rid of until over hours hours later...this one was returned to the store. Next up on the radar are Green Spot and Writer's Tears.

Are you in the States and able to find those two locally? I had heard Green Spot was coming but haven't seen it yet. Didn't know Writer's Tears was available in the US.

Edit: Ah, just occurred to me, you are probably live in or are near Canada, hence the access to these two.

Edited April 14, 2013 by tanstaafl2

[WhiskyToWhiskey]

Are you in the States and able to find those two locally? I had heard Green Spot was coming but haven't seen it yet. Didn't know Writer's Tears was available in the US.

I'm in Ontario, Canada. This is available for $85. Our selection is scaled down from most places in the State...I guess we are fortunate in this case.

[portwood]

I'm in Ontario, Canada. This is available for $85. Our selection is scaled down from most places in the State...I guess we are fortunate in this case.

Yeah, very fortunate to have a 700ml bottle of 40% NAS whisky available for the low low price of $85

I'll write a thank you note to the benevolent LCBO as soon as I finish this post.

Edited April 14, 2013 by portwood

[tanstaafl2]

Yeah, very fortunate to have a 700ml bottle of 40% NAS whisky available for the low low price of $85

[DeanSheen]

Red Breast 12 Cask Strength

[Max Power]

Red Breast is good. I really like Tyrconnell. Knappogue Castle 12 is a great value around here at $24. Bushmills 16 was something that I tried recently that was fantastic.

[Richnimrod]

I'm no particular fan of Irish Whiskey. Of the few I've tried, I would say the Tullamore Dew 12-year is the best, second would be ordinary Tullamore Dew, followed by Bushmills. One I tried and and found absolutely awful is 'The Tyrconnel', if I spelled that correctly. That one reminded me of kerosene that had been left too long opened up to the air.... EEEEEEWWWW! :bigeyes:

[MyOldKyDram]

Redbreast CS would be my fave, but looking forward to giving the Green and Yellow spot a go here in about a month.

[Parkersback]

I mentioned on another thread that I picked up a Powers 12 and that I was not terribly impressed. But it is growing on me, especially if I just throw a cube in it and don't ponder it too much.

Having said that, I will probably replace it with a standard Powers which can serve the same "on the rocks" purpose much cheaper.

[Cigar Dan]

Red Breast 12 Cask Strength

Ditto. Definitely my favorite.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[smokinjoe]

Red Breast 12 Cask Strength

My fave, as well. Listen, I'm a bourbon-first guy, but I'm not sure I can find more than a couple that I like better than this Irish. Definitely, in my All-Time Top 5 of all whiskies.

[tanstaafl2]

A less common Irish that I have taken a liking to is the Greenore 15yo. Unfortunately it is not readily available locally. The 8yo is more common and OK but a bit on the mild side.

This is an all grain (corn) mashbill that is aged in used bourbon barrels. The extra time in the barrel makes a significant difference though. Perhaps the appeal is because it seems a bit more bourbon-y than others.

[Max Power]

You must have gotten a bad bottle, maybe someone drank the whiskey, then filled it with kerosene to clean a bicycle chain later, ... or something.

I haven't had Redbrest, but I've had a few and I like them all. So there's not much difference between my top and bottom here, but here goes:

Connemara peated (especially the cask strength version, whoa!)

Black Bush

Bushmill's 10 y.o.

Green Spot

Tyrconnell

Powers

Clontarf

Tullamore Dew

Jameson 12

Jameson

[Young Blacksmith]

Last week I would have said Redbreast 12, either proof. Last night I grabbed a Powers' John's Lane, and wow! Very similar to the Redbreast (probably off the same still) but the harsh penny flavor/bitterness I find easily in the Redbreast is hard to find in this, and replaced with some great honey notes. My list now looks like this:

Powers' John's Lane

Redbreast 12

everything else.

[tanstaafl2]

Agreed. Tyrconnell is one of my favorites and is exceptionally smooth. Connemara is a smoky whiskey for sure. One that most people won't mention is 2 Gingers, which is only here in MN. It's another Cooley product, but it's got nice balanced vanilla and citrus. Good for sipping...great with ginger ale.

Now that Beam owns Cooley it seems that 2 Gingers is likely to get broader distribution. Seems to be a young whiskey primarily intended for mixing such as with ginger ale/beer to suit the younger "hip" crowd (although the name has more to do with the hair color than the soda apparently). Might try it if I see it but not one I am hunting for at the moment.

[tanstaafl2]

Last week I would have said Redbreast 12, either proof. Last night I grabbed a Powers' John's Lane, and wow! Very similar to the Redbreast (probably off the same still) but the harsh penny flavor/bitterness I find easily in the Redbreast is hard to find in this, and replaced with some great honey notes. My list now looks like this:

Powers' John's Lane

Redbreast 12

everything else.

Another convert! :cool:

[Brisko]

Now that Beam owns Cooley it seems that 2 Gingers is likely to get broader distribution. Seems to be a young whiskey primarily intended for mixing such as with ginger ale/beer to suit the younger "hip" crowd (although the name has more to do with the hair color than the soda apparently). Might try it if I see it but not one I am hunting for at the moment.

It's pretty unremarkable. Fits into under $20 Irish category very well.