Compared to scotch drinkers, Irish whiskey drinkers have little choice. Jews who are makpeed and insist on foregoing any whiskey aged (matured) in casks that once contained wine have slightly less selection.
While there used to be a number of firms making Irish whiskeys, today there are basically three organizations:
Beam Suntory from the US, owns Cooley
Pernod Ricard from France, owns Irish Distillers
Pernod Ricard acquired fewer brands, but it did buy what is said to be the Number One name in Irish whiskey, Jameson.
The nice thing about Beam nee' Cooley is that all Cooley whiskeys are aged in former American Bourbon barrels. (A win-win for Beam.)
Bushmills is small compared to Beam and Pernod. Bushmills distills only the Bushmills label.
The following table lists the more common Irish whiskeys; there may be more on the shelves in your neighborhood and, depending on place of residence, mail order may be an option.
The table below shows if the product is a blend, single malt, or single pot, and it also identifies the type cask in which the whiskey is aged - Bourbon, oak, Wine, or Mixed (Bourbon or oak and wine). As with all things, the list's contents are "subject to change."
If your favorite Irish whiskey is not listed but another from the same distillery is listed, assume the missing whiskey is matured in a wine cask until you check with the distiller.
| Irish Whiskeys | Comments |
|---|---|
| Bushmills Single Malt 10 y/o | Single malt, Bourbon |
| Clontarf 1014 | Bourbon |
| Clontarf Single Malt | Bourbon |
| Connemara Single malt 8 y/o (Cooley) | Single malt, Bourbon |
| Connemara Single malt 12 y/o (Cooley) | Single malt, Bourbon |
| Feckin (Cooley) | Blend, Bourbon |
| Finnegan 4 yr (Cooley) | Blend, Bourbon |
| Finnegan 8 yr Single malt (Cooley) | Single malt, Bourbon |
| Greenore (Cooley) 15 y/o corn | Bourbon |
| Greenore (Cooley) 18 y/o corn | Bourbon |
| Greenore (Cooley) 6 y/o corn | Bourbon |
| Greenore (Cooley) 8 y/o corn | Bourbon |
| Jameson Black Barrel 12 y/o | Blend; Bourbon |
| Jameson 18 y/o Limited Reserve | Blend, Bourbon & oak |
| John L. Sullivan (Cooley) | Blend, Bourbon |
| Kellan | Blend, Bourbon |
| Kilbeggan | Blend, Bourbon |
| Kilbeggan 18 y/o | Blend, Bourbon |
| Kilbeggan Distillery Reserve | Blend, Bourbon |
| Knappogue Castle 12 y/o | Single malt, oak casks |
| Lockes (Cooley) | Single malt, Bourbon |
| Michael Collins (all) blend | Blend, Bourbon |
| Michael Collins 10 y/o Single malt | Single malt, Bourbon |
| Middleton Barry Crockett | Pot still, Bourbon |
| Middleton Very Rare | Blend, WINE |
| Middleton Single Cask series | Single malt, Bournon |
| Paddy (Irish Distilleries) | Blend, Oak casks |
| Powers John's Lane Release | Single pot, Bourbon & Spanish oak |
| Irishman Single malt | Single malt, Mixed |
| Irishman 12 y/o Single malt | Single malt, Bourbon |
| Irishman Cask Strength | Single malt, Bourbon |
| Irishman Founders' Reserve | Blend, Bourbon |
| Tyrconnell Single Malt (Cooley) | Single malt , Bourbon |
