by KIRK MILLER

The 40 Best Irish Whiskeys for 2023

Powers Gold Label

To quote an Irish whiskey expert we interviewed a few years back: “[This is] smooth, approachable and the right price point … drink it neat. Perfect to aid in washing down a pint of Guinness, Smithwicks or Magners Cider. In that order.”

The Busker Triple Cask

“Triple cask, triple smooth” doesn’t exactly make this Irish whiskey stand out, but the bottle’s typeface and the low price certainly do. As does its mission: The distillery wanted to create something that would appeal to bourbon drinkers and also be used in cocktails that don’t normally feature Irish whiskey. The Triple Cask release is matured and finished in, natch, three different casks (bourbon, sherry, Marsala).

Slane

This smooth, triple-cask Irish whiskey (which spends time in virgin oak, seasoned oak and sherry casks) hails from the family behind Ireland’s excellent Slane Concert series. A premium Special Edition, which ramps up the virgin oak influences, arrived last year.

The Pogues

Crafted at West Cork Distillers, one of Ireland’s few remaining independently owned distilleries (more on them in a minute), there’s a surprising amount of maltiness and smoke for an Irish whiskey, almost like a Scotch, along with subtle hints of wine and honey.

Paddy’s

A classic trait of many Irish whiskies is they’re triple-distilled, making it a bit more approachable. Paddy’s does this times three: It’s a blend of three types of Irish whiskey. It’s clean and crisp with lots of toffee notes.

Lost Irish

Lost Irish is crafted from casks sourced from six continents and triple distilled using all three whiskey production styles. It’s a unique and easy drinker, with different elements and influences coming through on each sip

Killowen Signature Rum & Raisin

Ireland’s smallest craft distillery recently launched an Experimental Series, featuring six blends finished in six unique casks (from rum to peated malt to txakolina acacia). We’re partial to their Signature Blend, a “rum & raisin” inspired 5-year single malt that’s spent time in dark rum and PX sherry casks. They also produce a Poitin, an unaged spirit that’s sort of like Irish moonshine.

Kilbeggan Single Pot Still

Lightly fruity on the nose, Single Pot Still features a very rich mouthfeel and it’s undeniably creamy on the palate. Even with just 2.5% oats in the mashbill, this is a whiskey I’d drink for breakfast — “oatmeal” flashed through my mind repeatedly during my tastings.

Glendalough 7-Year-Old Single Malt Mizunara Cask

This award-winning (Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition) Irish whiskey brand is based an hour south of Dublin. Glendalough is known for its double-barrel program, which finds some of its hooch resting (or getting additional rest) in Irish oak, Oloroso sherry barrels and, now, Japanese Mizunara wood.

“Over a century on from the start of Prohibition, it is worth remembering that Ireland was once the largest supplier of whiskey for the U.S.,” says William Lavelle, head of the Irish Whiskey Association (IWA). “And now, once again, American consumers are flocking to discover the depth and diversity of Irish whiskey.”

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