Liquor & SpiritsWhisky(ey)
Irish Whiskey, very much a distinctive product of Ireland, is distilled
in pot stills from a fermented mash of grain. Primarily malted and unmelted
barley are used in the mash as well as corn, rye, wheat and oats. However,
unlike malt scotches, Irish lacks the peaty, smoky quality of Scotch
because the malt is dried in kilns, without the smoke permeating the grain.
Irish Whiskey is distilled 3 times, while most other whiskies are distilled
twice. The third distillation is said to produce a different whiskey.
In the 60's the Irish began blending their whiskies. They now produce a
wide range of whiskies, which they characterize as light, medium and heavy,
with grain whiskey. In the U.S. the trend has been toward a lighter Irish
Whiskey.
Irish is aged in seasoned oak casks for at least 4 yrs but the average age
for most Irish is between 5 and 6 yrs old.
Bushmills - the oldest licensed distillery in the world (1608). The whiskey is pot and continuous distilled and is comprised of both grain and malt whiskies. The result is a blend of malty sweetness and perfumy dryness.
Bushmills 10 yr Single Malt - made from 100% malted Irish barley. Triple distilled in pot stills which produces a more refined, smoother and mellower product than blended Irish Whiskey. Rich, heavy-bodied, slightly sweet and spicy with a long, smooth finish.
Jameson 1780 - a super premium 12 yr old blend. Distillcd in pot stills, Jameson is rich, complex, smooth and elegant. This puts the "Very" in a Very Irish coffee drink.