Uisce Beatha Eireannach "Irish Whiskey" |
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Legal Definition
To provide the best definition of Irish Whisky we have paraphrased and quoted when appropriate Ireland's Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in their “Technical File: Setting out the Specifications with which Irish Whiskey/Uisce Beatha Eireannach/Irish Whisky must comply”. The full text can be read here: https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/media/migration/foodindustrydevelopmenttrademarkets/geographicalindicationsprotectednames/IrishWhiskeytechnicalfile141114.pdf
Definition
Irish Whisky is a spirit “distilled on the Island of Ireland, including Northern Ireland, from a mash of malted cereals with or without whole grains of other cereals and which has been:
a) Saccharified (turned to sugar) by the diastase of malt contained therein, with or without other natural enzymes;
b) Fermented by the action of yeast;
c) Distilled at an alcoholic strength of less than 94.8% by volume in such a way that the distillate has an aroma and taste derived from the materials used;
d) Subject to the maturation of the final distillate for at least three years in wooden casks, such as oak, not exceeding 700 litres capacity. The distillate, to which only water and plain caramel colouring may be added, retains its colour, aroma and taste derived from the production process referred to in points (a) to (d).
The complete Ireland Ministry of Agriculture Legal definition can be found here:
Definition
Irish Whisky is a spirit “distilled on the Island of Ireland, including Northern Ireland, from a mash of malted cereals with or without whole grains of other cereals and which has been:
a) Saccharified (turned to sugar) by the diastase of malt contained therein, with or without other natural enzymes;
b) Fermented by the action of yeast;
c) Distilled at an alcoholic strength of less than 94.8% by volume in such a way that the distillate has an aroma and taste derived from the materials used;
d) Subject to the maturation of the final distillate for at least three years in wooden casks, such as oak, not exceeding 700 litres capacity. The distillate, to which only water and plain caramel colouring may be added, retains its colour, aroma and taste derived from the production process referred to in points (a) to (d).
The complete Ireland Ministry of Agriculture Legal definition can be found here:
Ingredients
Mash: Malted Barley is the predominant grain. The mash may also include unmalted cereals of usually maize, wheat or barley. The inclusion of these additional cereals depends on the class of Irish Whisky being produced.
Still Type
Pot Stills are required for Pot Still and Malt Whiskey Styles. Column stills may be used to produce Grain Irish Whisky.
Classifications/Styles
Pot Still Irish Whisky
Mash of a combination of malted barley, unmalted barley and other unmalted cereals. The mash must contain a minimum of 30% malted barley and a minimum of 30% unmalted barley.
Distilled in pot stills in such manner that the distillate has an aroma and taste derived from the materials used.
Mash of a combination of malted barley, unmalted barley and other unmalted cereals. The mash must contain a minimum of 30% malted barley and a minimum of 30% unmalted barley.
Distilled in pot stills in such manner that the distillate has an aroma and taste derived from the materials used.
- Individual distilleries adhere to specific practices to maintain uniformity of flavour characteristics for varying types of “Pot Still Irish Whiskey” styles. One of these practices is the approach taken to address residual alcohol remaining on completion of the standard distillation sequence. Still residues may be collected and redistilled in column stills with the resulting feints subsequently distilled along with recycled pot still feints in a pot still. The final spirit is assessed by a trained quality control panel before release for subsequent maturation. This guarantees a uniform quality check on the consistency of the distillate.
- The traditional practice is to triple distil “Pot Still Irish Whiskey” although this practice is not exclusive and double distillation may also be employed. Triple distillation results in a higher strength final spirit and contributes to a particular ratio of ‘total higher alcohols to ester’ concentration. This is manifested by a spirit which is light in aroma yet particularly sweet in taste.
Mash of 100% malted barley
Distilled in pot stills in such manner that the distillate has an aroma and taste derived from the materials used.
Distilled in pot stills in such manner that the distillate has an aroma and taste derived from the materials used.
- Malt Irish Whiskey may be double or triple distilled, the choice to double or triple distil depends upon the tradition of individual distilleries.
Mash of malted barley (not exceeding 30%) and includes whole unmalted cereals usually maize, wheat or barley.
Distilled in column stills in such manner that the distillate has an aroma and taste derived from the materials used and the column distillation method.
Distilled in column stills in such manner that the distillate has an aroma and taste derived from the materials used and the column distillation method.
- Most “Grain Irish Whiskey is currently triple distilled, the choice to double or triple distil depends upon the practice of individual distilleries. The spirit, typically around 94% alcohol, is reduced with local water to typically 63-70% alcohol.”
Blended Irish Whisky
A blend of any of the following styles: Pot Still, Malt, Grain
A blend of any of the following styles: Pot Still, Malt, Grain
Finishing
Barrel aging
“The maturing “Malt Irish Whiskey/ Irish Malt Whiskey” is stored for a minimum of three years on the island of Ireland. The whiskey is contained in wooden casks, such as oak, which may have been previously used to store other alcoholic beverages, for example Madeira, Sherry, Port or Bourbon. ”
“The maturing “Malt Irish Whiskey/ Irish Malt Whiskey” is stored for a minimum of three years on the island of Ireland. The whiskey is contained in wooden casks, such as oak, which may have been previously used to store other alcoholic beverages, for example Madeira, Sherry, Port or Bourbon. ”
Chill filtration
“All Irish whiskey is filtered prior to bottling to remove any particles of wood which have accumulated in the spirit during the maturation process. It is also common, but not always the case, that Irish whiskey will be chilled filtered prior to bottling. The purpose of chill filtration is to remove what is referred to as ‘haze floc’.
“All Irish whiskey is filtered prior to bottling to remove any particles of wood which have accumulated in the spirit during the maturation process. It is also common, but not always the case, that Irish whiskey will be chilled filtered prior to bottling. The purpose of chill filtration is to remove what is referred to as ‘haze floc’.
If so desired and prior to bottling, the blender may use the only additive which is permitted for Irish whiskey, namely plain caramel colouring (E150a).
Featured Brands
Most Irish Whisky, including everything in this article comes from one of three large distilleries making the category more similar than different. We found that Sexton particularly stands out at this price point because it’s the only Single Malt available, and the taste does in fact reflects this production difference. The other production “category” to note is the, Bourbon Barrel aging only (Dubliner, Power’s Gold, Red Bush,).
A printable PDF is available for Subcribers
A printable PDF is available for Subcribers
Notes about this table
- To better understand the sub $30 (MSRP) available in Hawaii, we searched for the differences between the production processes to make sense of the category.
- Suggested retail price/ Average Retail price for 750ml
- Outliers: For under $30, The Sexton Irish Whiskey is the only Pot Still Whiskey available. The remainder are blends.
photo by Bushmills
Value |
Bushmills |
Bushmill's Red Bush |
Bushmills Black Bush |
The Sexton |
Proper 12 |
Average Retail Price |
$19.99 |
$19.99 |
$19.99 |
$21.99 |
|
Supplier |
Proximo |
Proximo |
Proximo |
Proximo |
Proximo |
Style |
Blend of 55% Single-Malt and 45% Grain Whisky (from Midleton) |
Blend of Malt Whisky and Grain Whisky (From Middelton) |
Blend of 80% malt and 20% Grain Whiskey (From Middelton) |
Single Malt Irish Whiskey |
Blend of Pot and Grain |
Ageing |
Bourbon and Sherry Casks |
Minimum 5 years in American Oak Ex-Bourbon Casks |
70% matured 8-10 years in former Oloroso Sherry casks with the remainder ex-bourbon |
Four years in in European oak and former sherry casks |
N/A |
Hawaii Distributor |
Young's Market Co |
Young's Market Co |
Young's Market Co |
Young's Market Co |
Young's Market Co |
2 Gingers |
Hellcat Maggie |
Wolfhound Irish Whisky |
|
Average Retail Price |
19.99 |
21.99 |
20.99 |
Supplier |
Beam Suntory |
Phillips Distilling |
Prestige |
Style |
Blend |
Blend |
Blend of Malt and Grain |
Ageing |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Hawaii Distributor |
Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits |
Johnson Brothers’ Wine Merchants |
Johnson Brothers |
Jameson |
Powers Gold |
Paddy's |
|
Average Retail Price |
27.99 |
27.99 |
29.99 |
Supplier |
Pernod Ricard |
Pernod Ricard |
Sazarac (Purchased from Pernod Ricard in 2016) |
Style |
Blended of Pot and Still and Grain |
70% Pure Pot Still to 30% Grain |
Single pot still, single malt and grain |
Ageing |
Bourbon and Sherry Cask |
Ex-bourbon barrels, Non-chill filtered |
N/A |
Hawaii Distributor |
SGWS |
SGWS |
SGWS |
Tullamore D.E.W. Distillery
Photo: William Grant & Sons, Ltd.
Tullamore D.E.W |
Slane |
The Dubliner |
|
Average Retail Price |
$24.99 |
$23.99 |
Under $30 |
Supplier |
William Grant & Sons |
Brown-Forman |
Quintessential Brands/ Prestige Beverage Group |
Style |
Blend of Pot Still, Malt and Grain (soon to be Irish Wheat specifically) |
Blend of Pot Still and Grain |
Blend of Pot Still and Grain |
Ageing |
Ex-bourbon and sherry casks |
Blended together after being aged in one of the following casks: Virgin Oak, Ex-American Whiskey (Jack Daniels and Woodford Reserve), Oloroso Sherry Casks |
Aged in Bourbon Casks |
Hawaii Distributor |
Young's Market Co |
Young's Market Co |
Johnson Brothers |