Irish whiskey
Also called Irish whisky, uisce beatha
Whiskey distilled and matured on the island of Ireland for at least three years in wooden casks, usually triple distilled in copper pot stills for a light, clean spirit. Single pot still whiskey, made with a share of unmalted barley, is the style unique to Ireland. The base of Irish Coffee.
- green apple
- honey
- cereal
- vanilla
- light oak
- creamy texture
- citrus
Origin
Irish whiskey must be distilled on the island of Ireland from malted cereals, with or without unmalted grain, at less than 94.8% ABV so the spirit keeps its character, and matured there for at least three years in wooden casks of no more than 700 liters. Only water and caramel coloring may be added and it is bottled at 40% or above. The four styles are pot still, malt, grain and blended. Triple pot distillation is the Irish tradition, in contrast with the double distillation common in Scotland and the United States.
Common uses
- irish-coffee
- whiskey sour
- a highball with ginger ale
- Tipperary with sweet vermouth and Chartreuse
- neat
Pours that use it
Sources
- About Irish Whiskey, Difford's Guide · secondary source, retrieved 2026-10-11