The first written reference to Irish whiskey came in 1405, recounting the story of an Irish chieftain who drank himself to death at Christmas. Three hundred years later, the British passed a series of taxes on the volume of pot stills and malted barley. In response, Irish distillers changed the shape of their stills and began triple distilling their whiskeys as well as adding unmalted barley into their mashes- all in order to minimize their taxes on stills and malt. In the 1870s, Irish whiskey had a brief increase in their exports, but growth was hampered by three wars and the US Prohibition, which cut off their largest market. Since 2003, however, sales of Irish whiskey have grown by more than 1000%, demonstrating massive growth in the popularity of the spirit.
Irish whiskey can be made anywhere on the island of Ireland, which includes both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Irish whiskey is prized for its sweeter profile and subtle complexity. The addition of unmalted barley gives the whiskey a spice character different from rye, and adds complexity to the spirit. Because Irish whiskey has three standard styles, Blended Irish whiskeys have more options to draw upon.
A spirit fermented from a mash of 100% malted barley, double or triple distilled at one distillery in a pot still, and aged for a minimum of three years in a wooden cask on the island of Ireland.
A spirit fermented from a mash of malted barley (max 30%), and other unmalted grains, distilled at one distillery with a continuous column still and aged for a minimum of three years in a wooden cask on the island of Ireland.
A spirit fermented from a mash of a combination of malted barley (min 30%), unmalted barley (min 30%) and other unmalted grains. Double or triple distilled at one distillery in a pot still, and aged for a minimum of three years in a wooden cask on the island of Ireland.
A mixture of two or three styles of Irish whiskey. These include Single Malt Irish Whiskey, Single Grain Irish Whiskey, and Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey.