| Irish whiskey is distinctive from its Scottish cousin | | | | ‘Pure pot still’ whiskey is unique to Irish |
| and has been made in Ireland for hundreds of years. | | | | whiskey. While single malt from both Scotland and |
| There are several types of whiskey common to | | | | Ireland is distilled only in a pot still, the designation |
| Ireland: Single Malt, Single Grain, Pure Pot Still and | | | | ‘pure pot still’ refers to Irish Whiskey that is |
| Blended Whiskey. The word whiskey is an | | | | made from 100% barley (mixed malted and |
| Anglicisation of the ancient Gaelic term "uisce beatha" | | | | unmalted) and distilled in a pot still. The |
| which translates as "water of life". It isn’t just | | | | ‘green’ unmalted barley gives the traditional |
| the spelling that gives Irish Whiskey its distinction | | | | pure pot still whiskey a spicy, uniquely Irish flavour. |
| – it has a very different flavour and the brewing | | | | Similar to single malt, pure pot still is sold as a specific |
| process does differ. | | | | classification of whiskey. It can also be blended with |
| Although it is similar to Scotch whisky in that it was | | | | grain whiskey. Usually no real distinction is made |
| distilled primarily from barley, traditional Irish whiskey | | | | between whether a blended whiskey was made |
| is distilled from a mash of mixed malted and unmalted | | | | from single malt or pure pot still. Only Redbreast, |
| grains (referred to as "pure pot-still" whiskey) | | | | Green Spot and some premium Jameson brands are |
| whereas Scotch is either distilled exclusively from | | | | regarded as pure pot still whiskies. |
| malted grain or from unmalted grain. That brewed | | | | The more common Irish Whiskeys such as |
| from unmalted grain is generally then mixed with malt | | | | Jamesons, Paddys, Bushmills Original and Millars Special |
| whisky to create blended whisky. Most Irish whiskey | | | | Reserve are readily available from most good spirit |
| is blended from a mixture of pot still whiskey and | | | | retailers, but some of the rarer varieties can be |
| cheaper grain whiskey. | | | | difficult to locate outside their native Ireland. |
| The most common myth is that most Irish whiskey | | | | However the Internet has given Irish Whiskey lovers |
| is distilled three times, unlike Scotch Whisky and that | | | | access to some of the more exotic blends and pure |
| this is the main distinction between the two varieties. | | | | pot still whiskeys, including limited editions such as |
| Irish whiskey also differs in that peat is almost never | | | | Kilbeggan 15 Year Old, which was launched to mark |
| used in the malting process, so the smoky, earthy | | | | the restart of distilling at the Kilbeggan distillery and |
| overtones common to Scotches are not present. | | | | was recently voted Best Blended Irish Whiskey at |
| There are notable exceptions to these rules in both | | | | the World Whisky Awards. |
| countries; Connemara Peated Irish Malt (double | | | | Irish Whiskey makes a wonderful gift for a special |
| distilled) whiskey from the independent Cooley | | | | occasion or as an exclusive business gift and |
| Distillery in Co. Louth is one of those exceptions. | | | | continues to grow in popularity amongst whisky |
| Whereas there are nearly one hundred Scotch | | | | drinkers all over the world. |
| Whisky distilleries all over Scotland and the Scottish | | | | Did you find this article useful? For more useful tips |
| Isles, there are actually only a handful of Irish | | | | and  hints, points to ponder and keep in mind, |
| distilleries producing a range of Irish Whiskey. Irish | | | | techniques, and insights pertaining to credit card, do |
| Whiskey comes in several varieties including single | | | | please browse for more information at our websites. |
| malt whiskey, which is made from 100% malted | | | | <a rel="nofollow" |
| barley distilled in a pot still, and grain whiskey made | | | | onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(' |
| from grains distilled in a column still. Grain whiskey is | | | | outgoing/article_exit_link');" href=" |
| much lighter (both in colour and flavour) than single | | | | "> |
| malt and is rarely bottled as a single grain. It is more | | | | < |
| commonly used to blend with single malt to produce | | | | Â Â Â Â Â Â |
| a lighter blended whiskey. | | | | <a rel="nofollow" onclick="javascript:pageTracker. |