One of the world’s greatest whiskeys is Irish whiskey. It’s usually made from unmalted barley, which is usually mixed with grain whiskey, although Single malt whisky are also available. Its extraordinary smoothness has made it a popular across the globe, but notably in the United Kingdom and the United States. When it comes to Irish Whiskey there’s a wide variety of options available, making it the ideal time to enjoy a sip or create an Irish whiskey cocktail.
Irish Whiskey vs. Scotch
The dark distilled spirit’s earliest varieties include Irish whiskey and Scotch whisky. Historically, historians disagree on who came up with the idea originally. There is a clear distinction in the spelling of the words “whiskey” and “whisky” when referring to Irish and Scotch whiskies.
When it comes to making music, each style has its own unique set of techniques. Some whiskeys, on the other hand, adopt the methods of their rivals, which might cause complication. Barley is used to ferment both scotch and Irish whiskey, with Scotch often malted and Irish whiskey unmalted. It is common for Irish whiskey to be triple-distilled, although scotch is usually distilled just twice.
Blended and single malt whiskeys may be found in both types, although scotch is more known for its single malts. Whiskeys from Scotland and Ireland are often distinguished by their peaty smokiness and smoothness. When it comes to scotch whisky, there are a number of different types, including both peated and unpeated varieties.
What Are the Ingredients in Irish Whiskey?
One of the most popular types of whiskey in the world is Irish whiskey. Since 1880, there have only been restrictions governing the manufacturing of Irish whiskey in the country where it was invented. Both of these elements are included in the Irish Whiskey Act of 1950:
- To be called Irish whiskey, a cereal grains and mash of malt must be distilled in Ireland.
- Whiskey produced in an Irish pot still must be made from a mixture of cereal grains that are cultivated in Ireland.
Typically, Irish whiskey is made from unmalted barley, although some may also include malted barley. During the drying process, the malt is solely exposed to hot air and not smouldering smoke. Additional enzymes may be added to the fermentation process in order to prepare the starches for alcohol conversion. Some whiskeys are distilled three times in copper pot stills whereas others employ continuous column stills, such grain whiskeys.
Three years of barrel ageing is required by law for all whiskeys in the Republic of Ireland. New or previously used, they may hold sherry, bourbon or rum and are typically used as storage. Most of them are blends that, after barrelling, incorporate grain whiskey. Whiskeys from single malt casks may be obtained in the high-end market. For the most part, Irish whiskeys are bottled at 40% ABV or somewhat higher (up to 120 proof).
Traditional Irish whiskeys are breaking with tradition by infusing peat, cereals like barley and rye, and new kinds of oak barrels into the mix.
Taste of Irish Whiskey
Light and sweet with noticeable cereal grain overtones, Single malt Irish whisky has a unique taste character. The oakiness and caramel flavors of aged whiskey is another distinctive characteristic.
How to Drink Irish Whiskey?
You may serve Irish whiskey any way you desire because of its smoothness and great drinkability. It goes well with food, particularly traditional Irish fare, and may be enjoyed neat or on the rocks by many. Snipers and shooters alike like it. However, it can be used in a wide range of cocktails, from elegant martinis to basic soda highballs—and, of course, it’s a great addition to any coffee-based drink. To have an Irish whiskey in your bar, the options are almost limitless.
Cocktail Recipes
Mixing Irish whiskey with other spirits provides a wide range of cocktail options. Almost every whiskey drink may benefit from the addition of this spirit, but several cocktail and shooter recipes explicitly call for it.
