The Best Irish Whiskey That Isn't Jameson
2024-12-30 · 5 min read
Jameson is the entry point, and there is nothing wrong with it. But Irish whiskey extends far beyond that green bottle, and the category has exploded in the last decade with new distilleries, innovative aging techniques, and expressions that rival the best Scotch and bourbon on the shelf. If Jameson is all you know, you are standing in the doorway of a very large room.
Redbreast 12 is where most people should start exploring. It is a single pot still whiskey, a style unique to Ireland, made from a mix of malted and unmalted barley. The result is creamy, fruity, and spicy with a richness that Jameson cannot match. At around sixty dollars, it is worth every cent and routinely appears on best-of lists from critics and bartenders alike.
Powers John's Lane is another single pot still expression that flies under the radar. Named after the original Powers distillery in Dublin, it delivers honeyed sweetness with a peppery kick and a finish that lingers. It costs less than Redbreast and holds its own in any company. This is the bottle Irish whiskey enthusiasts reach for when they want to convert someone.
Green Spot and Yellow Spot from the Midleton Distillery are bonded whiskeys originally created for a Dublin wine merchant family named Mitchell. Green Spot is orchard fruit and barley, while Yellow Spot, aged longer in a mix of bourbon, sherry, and Malaga casks, is more complex and dessert-like. Both are exceptional and increasingly available in the US market.
For something modern, Teeling Small Batch from Dublin's first new distillery in over a century finishes in rum casks, giving it a tropical sweetness that is completely distinct. Writers' Tears, a blend of single pot still and single malt, is soft and elegant. And if you can find a bottle of Midleton Very Rare, the annual limited release blended by the master distiller, you are holding one of the finest whiskeys produced anywhere on earth.
