St. Patrick's Day Recommendations
Like Punxsutawney Phil on Groundhog Day, Irish whiskey for many people makes a more or less annual, high-profile, big hullabaloo appearance on St. Patrick's Day next week. And just like the big furry rodent in his hole, it then disappears back onto a bar shelf for another year, with an occasional appearance in Irish coffee and Irish Car Bombs.
That's a damned shame. It's safe to say that most people really don't know what they're missing by relegating Irish whiskey to that one day. And it's kind of silly and absurd. It would be as if Scotch were consumed only on St. Andrews Day, the celebration for Scotland's patron saint. Good thing it isn't because most people don't even know when St. Andrews Day is. (It's November 30 in case you were wondering.)
Scotch is enjoyed year-round on all occasions. And Irish whiskey can and should be as well. In fact you could easily argue that, because of Irish whiskey's very easygoing approachability compared to the relative muscularity of many Scotches, it would be an even better choice as a regular beverage. Certainly at least to those who previously haven't considered themselves whiskey drinkers.
Getting people to explore and shift their perceptions about Irish whiskey is one of my missions in life. But it's one drinker at a time. Let's start with you.
If you're already an Irish whiskey drinker I'd like to hear what you're planning on having on St. Patrick's Day. I haven't decided yet myself. That's an indecision compounded by the 70 or so Irish whiskeys I have on hand, including the 12 newcomers from my January trip to Dublin. But that is a happy problem.
If you're not an Irish whiskey drinker or just an occasional sipper, here are some recommendations:
1) The standard Jameson is impressively good for a "regular" whiskey, as is Bushmills. Very affordable at about $20, quite likable, and readily available in most bars and liquor stores.
2) Tullamore Dew is the second best-selling whiskey behind Jameson and that's because it's very friendly and approachable to newcomers. Also affordable at $20-ish, available in some bars but in most liquor stores.
3) Paddy is probably the smoothest, softest, friendliest Irish whiskey available. It's making a cameo appearance in the U.S. in time for St. Patrick's Day. It readily wins converts and serves as an Irish whiskey recruitment tool for me. Its limited availability means it's pricier -- $35-$40, and it's smoothness (from it's low pot-still content) doesn't impress experienced whiskey drinkers. But it's eminently drinkable and a good door opener to the Irish whiskey world.
4) Jameson 12-year-old and Black Bush ($35-$40) are great steps up from the standard Jameson and Bushmills, especially for those who previously only tried those two. Really good.
5) Red Breast 12-year-old to me is the best all-around, quintessentially Irish whiskey. It's a pure pot still whiskey with a full body and rich flavor. Always a favorite. About $40.
6) Bushmills 16 year-old and Jameson Special Gold Reserve. Stepping up in price to around $80, these are two wonderful whiskeys. You'll like them.
7) Midleton Very Rare and Bushmills 21-year-old. Another step up to about $120, but absolutely delicious whiskeys and great gifts to yourself or others. A real treat.
I've focused a lot on Jameson and Bushmills offerings not out of favoritism, as the other major Irish distiller, Cooley, makes some of my all-time favorite whiskeys that you would like also. I pick them partly because of availabilty and awareness. They are, at several levels, introductory whiskeys that pave the way for further exploration of other offerings from all three distilleries. The point is, it's really hard to go wrong with picking a good, very good or excellent Irish whiskey for sipping on St. Paddy's Day -- or ANY day.
So go get a bottle. Ask your retailer for recommendations or post questions here. At minimum you'll have a good drink, and you'll have some good fun -- the "craic" is what it's all about after all -- along the way.
Sláinte, and Happy St. Patrick's Day!
That's a damned shame. It's safe to say that most people really don't know what they're missing by relegating Irish whiskey to that one day. And it's kind of silly and absurd. It would be as if Scotch were consumed only on St. Andrews Day, the celebration for Scotland's patron saint. Good thing it isn't because most people don't even know when St. Andrews Day is. (It's November 30 in case you were wondering.)
Scotch is enjoyed year-round on all occasions. And Irish whiskey can and should be as well. In fact you could easily argue that, because of Irish whiskey's very easygoing approachability compared to the relative muscularity of many Scotches, it would be an even better choice as a regular beverage. Certainly at least to those who previously haven't considered themselves whiskey drinkers.
Getting people to explore and shift their perceptions about Irish whiskey is one of my missions in life. But it's one drinker at a time. Let's start with you.
If you're already an Irish whiskey drinker I'd like to hear what you're planning on having on St. Patrick's Day. I haven't decided yet myself. That's an indecision compounded by the 70 or so Irish whiskeys I have on hand, including the 12 newcomers from my January trip to Dublin. But that is a happy problem.
If you're not an Irish whiskey drinker or just an occasional sipper, here are some recommendations:
1) The standard Jameson is impressively good for a "regular" whiskey, as is Bushmills. Very affordable at about $20, quite likable, and readily available in most bars and liquor stores.
2) Tullamore Dew is the second best-selling whiskey behind Jameson and that's because it's very friendly and approachable to newcomers. Also affordable at $20-ish, available in some bars but in most liquor stores.
3) Paddy is probably the smoothest, softest, friendliest Irish whiskey available. It's making a cameo appearance in the U.S. in time for St. Patrick's Day. It readily wins converts and serves as an Irish whiskey recruitment tool for me. Its limited availability means it's pricier -- $35-$40, and it's smoothness (from it's low pot-still content) doesn't impress experienced whiskey drinkers. But it's eminently drinkable and a good door opener to the Irish whiskey world.
4) Jameson 12-year-old and Black Bush ($35-$40) are great steps up from the standard Jameson and Bushmills, especially for those who previously only tried those two. Really good.
5) Red Breast 12-year-old to me is the best all-around, quintessentially Irish whiskey. It's a pure pot still whiskey with a full body and rich flavor. Always a favorite. About $40.
6) Bushmills 16 year-old and Jameson Special Gold Reserve. Stepping up in price to around $80, these are two wonderful whiskeys. You'll like them.
7) Midleton Very Rare and Bushmills 21-year-old. Another step up to about $120, but absolutely delicious whiskeys and great gifts to yourself or others. A real treat.
I've focused a lot on Jameson and Bushmills offerings not out of favoritism, as the other major Irish distiller, Cooley, makes some of my all-time favorite whiskeys that you would like also. I pick them partly because of availabilty and awareness. They are, at several levels, introductory whiskeys that pave the way for further exploration of other offerings from all three distilleries. The point is, it's really hard to go wrong with picking a good, very good or excellent Irish whiskey for sipping on St. Paddy's Day -- or ANY day.
So go get a bottle. Ask your retailer for recommendations or post questions here. At minimum you'll have a good drink, and you'll have some good fun -- the "craic" is what it's all about after all -- along the way.
Sláinte, and Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Posted by Richard Nagle at 3/11/2010 3:44 PM 
Categories: Paddy, Midleton, Craic, Jameson 12, Red Breast, Jameson, Bushmills, St. Patrick's Day, Black Bush, Tullamore Dew, Bushmills 16
Tags: Irish whiskey St. Patrick's Paddy's Day
Categories: Paddy, Midleton, Craic, Jameson 12, Red Breast, Jameson, Bushmills, St. Patrick's Day, Black Bush, Tullamore Dew, Bushmills 16
Tags: Irish whiskey St. Patrick's Paddy's Day
Rich, I will be spending St. Pat's visiting my daughter in Grand Rapids, Michigan where her boyfriend is the bass-player in an Irish band that has two gigs scheduled at 6pm and 9pm. The proprietor at the 2nd site, good Irish fella by the name of Bill Quinn, stood me to a few drinks of his very impressive selection of Irish whiskeys (to include the ONLY bottle of Greenore 8 year old I have ever seen offered at any pub) that were lined up behind his bar when I visited in October for my daughter's 21rst b'day, which also happened to coincide with a gig for the boys. At any rate, I intend to take with me the bottle of Paddy's that I mentioned in a facebook post a couple weeks ago to you, as well as my bottle of Green Spot and my 15 year old Greenore. We shoud have a grand time, I'm thinking!
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Barry, that sounds wonderful and is a great example of what I mean when I say that's although it's about the whiskey, it's NOT about the whiskey. It's about whiskey as a communion, a connection between family, friends and future friends. Gotta love it. Cheers,
Rich
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I appreciate the reviews; thank you and keep them coming.
As a year-round drinker of Jamesons and Guinness, I'm not a big fan of St Patrick's Day. A big fan of the saint, and Jamesons, and the Black, mind you, just not of the "Irish for a day" goings on.
That said, we'll make our annual pilgrimage to an Irish bar in Alexandria, drink some, sing some corny songs (but nothing like Patriot Games, mind you; too political), and generally have a high time.
We're all a bit hypocritical, then. But the whiskey remains honest.
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Hi Rich,
I'll be spending St Patrick's at our only Irish Pub drinking what is likely to be the last available Bushmill's 21. The lovely state of New Hampshire has seen fit to stop bringing in a number of fine spirits, including many (too many) Irish imports.
Luckily, I managed to snap up a few of the Bushmill's 21 as the state put them on clearance to move the remaining inventories - 30% off list, I could not refuse!
Enjoy the day and savor the whiskey!
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Goodness gracious! That is dire news. I have to see if I can snag a few also.
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Sadly, I must attend a big boring Washington Black Tie Affair instead of enjoying some traditional Irish music in a comfortable pub (thinking about substituting a green bow tie for the black one!), but when I get home, I'll be pouring a taste or two of the Midleton. It's an occasion.
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I was having a hard time imagining what I was going to have on Paddy's Day. Then I suddenly realised it's already 15 minutes into Paddy's Day here in Ireland so why imagine?
You got me thinking about Bushmills and the only bottle from that distillery I have on hand is the 12yo distillery edition. That's a pretty nice drop so that's what's in my glass as I write this. Sláinte!
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Im a fan of Jamesons myself, can't get enough of the stuff!
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Hey Rich - I bought my son Jason and myself a round of the Bushmills 16 a couple weeks ago. We were in Dallas with Jason's new fiance celebrating their recent engagement. All I can say is "fan-damn-tastic!" I really don't know if that's a word, but if it isn't, it should be. In my limited experience, that is the best glass of Irish whiskey I've ever had. Granted I've only tried a few since discovering this evil little preoccupation, but so far that's my favorite.
Second on my limited list is the Tullamore Dew 10 that Dad (Jim) recommended. That bottle still calls to me at the most random times. It's just good.
My most recent taste is the Black Bush. Just picked that up tonight for no good reason. That one surprised me. It's good... I like it... but it did knock me back a couple feet on first taste. I was expecting something different, maybe smoother. After I got over my shock and sipped it for a while, it started to grow on me. Again, I have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about here, but this one has to be the "loudest" of the small group I own. It's really full of flavor and what I imagine you mean by "character." One thing is certain, you definitely know you're drinking whiskey with this one. Good whiskey at that.
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