How (and Why) You Should Start Drinking Irish Whiskey - AleHorn

Cute, Jameson.

If you’re like me and you live out in the boonies, your little liquer store may not have everything on this list, but you can bet your bottom dollar it’ll have Jameson. Many credit Jameson for reinvigorating the deflating Irish whiskey market, so if you like any Irish whiskeys, you should raise your glass once in awhile to the Dublin original.

According to Jameson, their whiskey has “The perfect balancy of spicy, nutty, and vanilla notes with hints of sweet sherry and exceptional smoothness.”

Just because it’s easy to find, inexpensive, and popular, it doesn’t mean you should overlook this one as you traverse  the Irish whiskey wilds.

Concannon Irish Whiskey

Concannon is now made by Cooley, one of Ireland’s recent upstart distilleries expected to pump out excellent product as it comes of age. It’s a corn and barley blend, and it received Irish Whiskey of the Year at the 2012 New York International Spirits Competition, but it’s very easy on the wallet at $25 per bottle.

The L.A. Whiskey Society describes Concannon’s palate as “heavy on vanilla with malt in the background, turning to cream soda notes that last forever.”

Clontarf 1014

This budget whiskey is great for drinking in cocktails, but also great with water or on the rocks.

According to the Clontarf Whiskey Company, “The palate entry is sweet, mildly grainy, and peppery; at midpalate the flavor profile features lemongrass and grain.”

An added bonus is the history behind Clontarf 1014, which is named for the Battle of Clontarf in 1014 in which the High King of Ireland, Brian Boru, defeated an army of Vikings. Since 2011, the new packaging has highlighted the 1000 year anniversary of the battle of Clontarf. Both High King Brian Boru and Earl Sigard the Stout died in battle, but it is said to have been the battle that freed the Irish from foreign onslaught, and King Brian became an instant legend.

If you end up with a bottle of Clontarf 1014, try an Irish Shillelagh:

Ingredients

1.5 oz Clontarf Irish Whiskey 1 oz light rum .05 oz sloe gin 1 oz fresh lemon juice .05 oz simple syrup

Fill a shaker halfway with ice, mixing in all ingredients. Shake and strain into rocks or highball glass, or an AleHorn. Garnish with cherries and a few berries.

Kilbeggan Blended