The Four styles of Irish whiskey

If you want to become a whiskey geek then you should know these different styles of Irish whiskeys produced which are unique in variation. Irish whiskey has a very turbulent history so you may want to educate yourself through the types of Irish whiskey. They come in various forms depending on the grain used and distillation process. Learn more about the four types of Irish whiskeys below.

Single Pot Still Whiskey

Single pot still Irish whiskey is made from single distillery from a mixed mash of malted and unmalted completely distilled in a pot still. It is produced and bottled in Ireland. This is different from single malt whiskey through the inclusion of raw, unmalted grain in the mash. The combination of malted and unmalted grain gives the whiskey a unique spiciness known as ‘pot still character’. All the single pot still whiskey are currently produced by Irish Distillers and are triple-distilled.

This type of whiskey you won’t find elsewhere not even in Scotland.

Single Malt Irish Whiskey

This type of whiskey is made 100% from a mash of malted barley at a single distillery. It is commonly referred to as Scotch whisky. These are aged for at least three years in oak barrels and bottled at abv of 40% or higher. It is commonly double distilled as opposed to traditional triple distillation as it’s practised at Bushmills. The process is almost as similar to single malt scotch.

Single Grain Whiskey

Made with a mash which includes whole grains or cereals other than malted barley, and must be produced at a single distillery. Scotch single grain whisky ingredients include malted barley as well as other cereals. Irish single grain whiskeys are not as well-known as other types of whiskeys. The great majority of grain whiskey is used to make blended whiskey. Teeling Single Grain Wine Casks Whiskey is one of the few producers of Irish Single Grain Whiskeys. 

Blended Whiskey

This is a mixture of all the above styles. Unlike blended scotch whisky, the Irish have one more style to play with that is Single pot still whiskey. One of the oldest and recognizable blended whiskey is Jameson. Irish blend includes blending of single grain and single malt whiskey as well as single pot still Irish whiskey. Blended whiskey styles are most common in Irish and Scotch whiskeys. Irish whiskey has a wide variety of flavours, style and brands to choose from. Soon, we can see new options as it’s the fastest-growing whisky industry in the world.