Get Your Irish ‘Spirit’ On!

As you should know by now (if you don’t, we are judging you), St. Patrick’s Day is really just an excuse to drink like a true Irish lad (i.e. a lot). Okay, so maybe in theory it is actually a day that commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, as well as a celebration of Irish culture in general, but here in America it’s basically just an excuse to wear green and drink lots of whiskey. So in the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, which takes place on March 17th, we’ve rounded up a list of the best Irish whiskeys for you to get your hands on in time for the big day.

Clontarf 1014 ($20.99) is a blend of 10% pot stilled single malt, while the remainder is a combination of pot stilled and column stilled grain whiskey. Clontarf uses the best grains and pure Irish spring water to produce a fine whiskey with tasting notes of vanilla, malt and toffee. Furthermore, the whiskey is triple distilled and filtered through Atlantic Irish oak charcoal and aged four years in bourbon barrels creating a great tasting, 40% ABV whiskey.

Tullamore D.E.W. Phoenix ($54.99) is a limited edition whiskey that blends together all three types of Irish whiskey — pot still, malt and grain. The triple distilled whiskey is known for its high content pot still, which is finished in old Oloroso sherry casks, with a high proof of 55% ABV. Upon first sip you can taste the spicy pot still flavor, while it finishes with notes of caramel, floral notes and oak tannins. The warm whiskey perfectly balances the sweetness of the sherry with the spicy pot still.

2 Gingers Irish Whiskey ($19.99) is now recently available nationwide just in time for the holiday. While the whiskey is double distilled at the Kilbeggan Distillery in Ireland, it’s roots lie in Minnesota. Noted as the fastest growing Irish whiskey in the U.S., the award-winning spirit is aged four years and is a sweeter whiskey than most, with notes of honey, citrus, and vanilla. For non-whiskey drinkers, this is the perfect place to start for something not quite as spicy as other Irish whiskeys.

Knappague Castle 16 Year Twin Wood Single Malt ($100.00) is worth the splurge. The Irish whiskey is triple distilled in copper pot stills and then aged in bourbon oak casks for 14 years. After this, the spirit is then placed in specially infused casks for 21 months of further aging using Oloroso sherry. The use of twin wood in the aging process creatives a complex and unique taste for the whiskey, resulting in a balance of malt and fruity sherry flavors with dark chocolate and vanilla notes, as well as a slight peppery and sweet taste. Any whiskey snob will love this particular expression.

Twisted Talk: How do you plan on celebrating St. Patrick’s Day? What whiskey will you be drinking? Discuss below!