Questions & Answers - Dublin Whiskey Tours

WHISKEY Q & A

“We answer the most popular whiskey questions”

STYLES OF IRISH WHISKEY

“from 3 basic styles we get infinite variety”

IRISH WHISKEY Q & A

“we try to answer most of the common questions“

Drinking Irish whiskey like most other whiskeys is shrouded in so much jargon and rules. We here at Dublin Whiskey Tours would like to give some simple advice about enjoying Irish whiskey and how to improve the flavour and enjoyment of our liquid gold.

Here are some of the most common questions we get when hosting our Dublin Whiskey Experiences. If you want to know more about Irish whiskey then check out our whiskey and whiskey history pages.

STYLES OF IRISH WHISKEY

“From 3 basic styles we get infinite variety”

Here at Dublin Whiskey Tours we get asked quite a lot about the different styles of Irish Whiskey. There are 4 styles of Irish whiskey – single grain, single malt, single pot still and blended whiskey. From these first 3 pure styles we get blended whiskey, which is the most popular style of Irish whiskey in the world – some notable examples are Jameson and Tullamore Dew.

SINGLE GRAIN WHISKEY

Grain whisky ordinarily refers to any whisky made, at least in part, from grains other than malted barley, such as whisky made using maize (corn), wheat or rye. Generally they are distilled using a column Still.

Some popular Irish single grains include Teeling Single Grain, Glendalough Double Barrel & Kilbeggan 8 Year old.

Teeling Irish Whiskey Single Grain Cabernet Saugnivon Barrel Aged

SINGLE MALT WHISKEY

Single malt whiskey is malt whiskey from a single distillery, that is, whiskey distilled from fermented mash made exclusively with malted grain (usually barley), as distinguished from unmalted grain.

Some popular Irish single malts include Bushmills 21, Knappogue 16 & Palace Bar 12.

SINGLE POT STILL

Single pot still whiskey is a style of Irish whiskey unique to Ireland. It is made by a single distillery from a mixed mash bill of malted and unmalted barley and 5% other grains and distilled in a copper pot still.

Some popular Irish Single Pot Stills are Yellow Spot, Powers Johns Lane & Redbreast 21.

Green Spot Irish Pot Still Whiskey Rare Ireland

BLENDED WHISKEY

Blended whiskey is the product of blending 3 different styles of whiskeys in complementary ratios. Blended whiskeys were invented in Scotland and are now the most popular whiskey style in the world.

Some blended whiskeys are the Midleton very rare series, Writers Tears & Jameson Caskmates.

1. ADDING WATER?

2. ICE OR NO ICE

3. ADDING A MIXER?

4. WHAT GLASS?

Adding water – adding water to whiskey does two things. It lowers the percentage of alcohol in your glass which reduces the flavour inhibiting effect of alcohol. Secondly it will release water soluble aroma molecules, making it easier for you to smell and enjoy them.

Whiskey at room temperature will contain 100% of the flavour you can discern. When adding ice you are lowering the tempeture of the whiskey and thereby lowering the ability to apreiciate all of the flavour. In our opinion ice is helpful in making cheaper whiskeys taste less harsh.

Adding mixers to whiskey is quite common around the world. In Ireland whiskey is usually served neat with a little water. When adding a mixer, the cheaper the whiskey the more the mixer will help disguise the not so plesant taste. With a more expensive flavourful whiskey, it’s best enjoyed neat to savour the flavour.

The glass you enjoy your whiskey from is up to you but we would like to offer a little advice. A whiskey glass like a Glencairn, Copita or Tuath glass share very similar traits. A large bowl at the bottow to let the whiskey breathe and a small aperture at the top to direct the aromas to your nose.

5. ADDING WATER?

6. ICE OR NO ICE

7. ADDING A MIXER?

8. WHAT GLASS?

Adding mixers to whiskey is quite common around the world. In Ireland whiskey is usually served neat with a little water. When adding a mixer, the cheaper the whiskey the more the mixer will help disguise the not so plesant tastes. With a more expensive flavourful whiskey, it’s best enjoyed neat to savour the flavour.