What sets Irish whiskey apart from the others, besides the inclusion of the “e” in the spelling, is a long-standing tradition with unique distillation procedures and a characteristic selection of grains.
While all whiskeys, including Scotch, Bourbon, etc. are produced by distilling a mash of crushed grains, Irish whiskey tends to use both malted and unmalted barley as well as grains such as corn in their mash. This combination is why you don’t see nearly as many “Single Malt” Irish whiskeys in the market, but in no way suggests a lesser product than the esteemed single malts coming from Scotland. Rather it does indicate a different style of whiskey with its own unique profile and character.
When browsing Irish whiskey labels, you will typically see terms such as “Triple Distilled”, “Pot Stilled”, and “Single Pot Stilled”. While it may sound intimidating, we’ll explore these methods to gain a better understanding of what makes Irish whiskey so special in this series!
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