Irish Whiskey Reviews

Connacht Batch One represents the first expression bottled by The Connacht Distillery of their own stock of Irish Whiskey. Located along the River Moy in Ballina, County Mayo, the distillery opened in 2015. Built at the site of the old Duffey's Bakery, the distillery produces vodka, gin and whiskey. The distillery takes its name from the central western location in the province of Connacht. The company's logo is represented by a sea serpent which symbolizes their "metaphorical exploration into unchartered waters". Connacht's range of products includes Straw Boys Vodka & Poitin, Conncullin Gin, & sourced whiskey under the Spade & Bushel...

One of Dublin's most celebrated figures has her own Irish Whiskey. Molly Malone has been commemorated in song, by statue, and now whiskey brand. To celebrate the May 2023 US launch and IWSA visit to Dublin's fair city, we review the latest Irish Whiskey to come stateside.  Molly Malone may or may not have been an actual person.  Historical records are murky and several variations of songs referencing a Molly Malone can be found. A well known version was first published in Boston in 1876. Another version was written in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1884.  A third iteration was found in a...

Many historic battles occurred in the month of April. Given the significance of these battles and those who gave their lives fighting, we honor the past by reviewing The Fighting 69th Irish Whiskey this month. On April 23, 1014, The Battle of Clontarf was fought between the Irish High King Brian Boru and a coalition which included Norsemen in the now Dublin suburb. The battle has been mythologically chronicled and is significant for both the death of Boru even in victory and the defeat of Viking power in Ireland.  In America, the Shot Heard "Round the World" rang out on...

Paddy's Old Irish Whiskey has a long and storied history. One of the best selling whiskeys in Ireland for over a century, the brand has undergone some changes over time as would be expected given the complicated history of Irish Whiskey. A few of the bottle and label designs over the last century can be seen above.   The brand's origins date back to the Cork Distilleries Company which started in 1867 after the consolidation of four pre-existing Cork based distilleries. Their core brand was known as Cork Distilleries Company Old Irish Whiskey, quite a mouthful before even taking a drink....

Midleton Distillery is known for its outstanding single pot still Irish whiskey brands. The Redbreast range is world renowned and regarded as the epitome of the style. The Spot range has no shortage of diehard fans anxiously anticipating the next addition to the stable of single pot still whiskeys.   The history of the spot range dates back to the early 1900's when Dublin city wine merchant Mitchell and Sons aged sourced whiskey from the Jameson Bow Street Distillery. The system utilized to maintain the maturation process was a simple dab of paint marking a "spot" on the outside of the...