A Guide To Irish Whiskey
Irish whiskey has been produced in Ireland for almost 400 hundred years and has become a popular favorite throughout the world. It became a preferred hard liquor in the United States after the end of Prohibition in the 20th century, but it is also exported to many other countries. Apart from the spelling difference Irish Whiskey being spelled with an "e" in whiskey as opposed to other types of whisky spelled without an "e." Irish whiskey has a specific base made from distilled grains including: barley, wheat and some varieties will use oats. These grains are malted and then undergo a fermentation process to produce alcoholic content. It is most often distilled three times, creating the characteristic and smooth flavor that is well known as Irish whiskey. Several brands, including some brands of former distilleries that have since closed and sold their label, continue to be marketed around the world, bringing top prices per bottle. The history of Irish whiskey continues by the production of popular brands that have become favorites to people everywhere. Andrew A. Watt & Co. The original distillery of Andrew A. Watt and Company began in the 18th century in the northern part of Ireland in County Derry. Watt’s distillery used barley as their source grain for whiskey production and successfully sold three different brands until 1925. One of the most popular brands, Tyrconnell, was a large-selling product until the time of Prohibition, when it was then discontinued. The production of the whiskey started again in the late 20th century under the work of Cooley Distillery, and remains one of the classic brands of Irish whiskey. Coleraine Distillery Coleraine Distillery opened its doors in 1820 by producing a barley based malt whiskey. The distillery was run by Robert Taylor, and produced some of the finest whiskey of its time. Coleraine Whisky (as it was spelled, comparing the letters to the Scotch whisky form) prided itself on the fact that its product was allowed to age ten years before bottling, giving it a superior flavor. The distillery struggled throughout the 20th century and was sold to the Bushmills Distillery in the 1930s. It then went through a series of transfers in ownership over the next 40 years. It finally closed in 1978 and its brand is no longer available. Comber Distilleries Co. The Comber Distillery began in County Down in 1825 and was actually a combination of two separate distilleries that eventually merged into one. Comber produced a heavy type of Irish whiskey known as "pot still whiskey"; made from 100% barley, both malted and unmalted distilled in a pot still. The whiskey flavor was considerably heavy compared with the much more commonly distilled blended whiskey. Pot still whiskey is similar to a single malt whiskey because it is not blended with a grain whiskey. Comber Distilleries closed its doors in 1953, but the original building remains. The Cork Distilleries Co. This company began in 1877 with several small distilleries around the Cork area. The most prominent whiskey produced by Cork Distilleries became known as Paddy Whiskey, which remains a popular label today. The whiskey was named after salesman Patrick O’Flaherty, who worked to sell whiskey to the surrounding areas. Cork Distilleries merged with two other whiskey producers in the 1960s to form part of the Midleton Distillery. Fitzgerald & Co. Fitzgerald & Company is a spirits producer based out of Dublin. The most well known Irish whiskey under their production is called Redbreast. This whiskey is made by pure pot still and is aged for twelve years before bottling. The distillation of Redbreast is done by the Irish Distillers Group at the Midleton Distillery in Cork. John Jameson & Son Started in 1780, Jameson & Son became one of the biggest producers and exporters of Irish whiskey. The original distillery was in Dublin and the company was started by John Jameson, who later added the help of his son. Jameson whiskey used the pot still method of distillation, producing a heavier, brown whiskey than some of its blended competitors. The most popular products of the distillery are labeled as Jameson Irish Whiskey as well as Crested Ten, although the whiskey is now produced in Cork. John Jameson & Son merged with other distilleries in the 1960s to form the Midleton Distillery Company, but its well-known flavor remains one of the most popular Irish whiskeys sold in the world. John Locke & Co. This distillery opened in 1757 in Kilbeggan, but was taken over by John Locke in 1843 and remained in the family until its closing in 1957. The distillery produced a pot still whiskey using barley and water from the Brusna River. It’s most popular product was called Kilbeggan Whiskey. The label was acquired by Cooley Distillery in the 1990s and Kilbeggan remains on the market today. Cooley Distillery produces Ireland's only peated single malt whiskey known as Connemara. John Power & Son Started in 1791 in Dublin, John Power & Son Distillery became a prosperous company in the 19th century. The distillery produced blended Irish whiskey, its most common brand being Powers Gold Label. With a lighter flavor than traditional pot still whiskey, its popularity increased to the point that it is now the best selling whiskey in Ireland. John Power & Son eventually merged with two other distilleries to form the Irish Distillers Group, which launched the Midleton Distillery Company in Cork. The Midleton Distillery Co. Midleton Distillery Company began in 1975 at the merging of three different distilleries. It is located in County Cork and was originally owned by the Cork Distilleries Company (also known as the Old Midleton Distillery). When Cork Distilleries merged with Jameson & Son and John Power & Son in the 1960s, the collaboration became the Irish Distillers Group, and opened the Midleton Distillery Company in 1975. It owns and produces the brands Jameson Whiskey, Powers Gold Label, Redbreast, Paddy’s, and others; taking on several of the brands of the founding distilleries. Mitchell & Son The company called Mitchell & Son began in 1805 as a group of wine merchants in Dublin. They began to distill whiskey by using materials from Jameson distillery before it merged into Midleton. The most notable brand of Irish whiskey made by Mitchell & Son is called Green Spot, and is a pure pot still whiskey. Green Spot has been described as a dense and sweet flavor, with only 6000 bottles produced per year. Green Spot is the only Irish whiskey to be produced through a distillery (Irish Distillers Group), yet marketed through a wine merchant. The Old Bushmills Distillery Company Bushmills Distillery is historically the oldest distillery in Ireland, gaining its license in 1608. Throughout the centuries, the production of Irish whiskey has remained popular and current distillation and bottling is in Northern Ireland in County Antrim. Ownership of the company has changed hands several times, including possession by the Irish Distillers Group at one time. It is currently run by the Diageo Corporation, based out of London. Common brands created include several different blends known as Bushmills, as well as Black Bush, both of which are blended whiskeys. Despite a downturn in sales and marketing in past decades, the company continues to have positive sales and is recovering under Diageo. The Tullamore Dew Company Tullamore Dew is the second most popular brand of whiskey in Ireland. Its production dates back to 1829 in County Offaly, Ireland. It is a blended whiskey and is marketed as Tullamore Dew Original or as Tullamore Dew Reserve. The “Dew” part of the name comes from Daniel E. Williams, a general manager of the distillery in the 19th century. Williams was responsible for much success of the whiskey at the time. Tullamore Dew is now produced at Midleton Distillery through the Irish Distillery Group, but is owned by C&C group of Ireland. Irish whiskey has a long and interesting history as it has been produced in Ireland and shipped all over the world. Differing from other types of whiskey in its familiar taste, Irish whiskey remains a popular favorite for hard liquor connoisseurs to enjoy.
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