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Irish Whiskey 101

Last Updated: January 31, 2024

Irish whiskey is arguably less famous than it’s neighboring Scotch whisky, but don’t count it out. Did you know, for example, that Irish whiskey is also known as “uisce betha,” which means “water of life” in Gaelic?

Despite it’s long history, there aren’t very many whiskey distilleries. Some of the most famous Irish whiskies include Bushmills, Kilbeggan, Teeling, and, of course, Jameson. It only takes a sip of one to know that Irish whiskey is more than just something to make an Irish coffee with. Read VinePair’s full Irish Whiskey guide to learn more.

Read Our Full Irish Whiskey 101 Guide

Popular Irish Whiskey Brands

10 Things You Should Know About Tullamore D.E.W.
10 Things You Should Know About Tullamore D.E.W.
8 Things You Should Know About Teeling Whiskey
8 Things You Should Know About Teeling Whiskey
7 Things You Need to Know About Redbreast Whiskey
7 Things You Need to Know About Redbreast Whiskey
12 Things You Should Know About Bushmills
12 Things You Should Know About Bushmills
13 Things You Should Know About Jameson
13 Things You Should Know About Jameson

Recent Irish Whiskey Reviews

The Last Drop 32 Year-Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey
The Last Drop 32 Year-Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey
High N’ Wicked ‘Saints And Scholars II’ 19 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey
High N’ Wicked ‘Saints And Scholars II’ 19 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Waterford Single Malt Irish Whisky ‘Biodynamic: Luna 1.1’
Waterford Single Malt Irish Whisky ‘Biodynamic: Luna 1.1’
Two Stacks Blended Irish Whiskey ‘Tawny Port Cask Finished’
Two Stacks Blended Irish Whiskey ‘Tawny Port Cask Finished’
Method and Madness Rye and Malt Irish Whiskey
Method and Madness Rye and Malt Irish Whiskey
Writers’ Tears ‘Red Head’ Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Writers’ Tears ‘Red Head’ Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Killowen Distillery Single Malt Irish Whiskey Signature 5 Year Rum and Raisin Inspired
Killowen Distillery Single Malt Irish Whiskey Signature 5 Year Rum and Raisin Inspired
The Midnight Silkie Irish Whiskey
The Midnight Silkie Irish Whiskey
West Cork Distillers Single Malt Irish Whiskey Bog Oak Charred Cask
West Cork Distillers Single Malt Irish Whiskey Bog Oak Charred Cask

See All Irish Whiskey Reviews

The Best Bottles Of Irish Whiskey To Buy

All of the Best Whiskeys to Drink in 2024
All of the Best Whiskeys to Drink in 2024
The 50 Best Spirits of 2023
The 50 Best Spirits of 2023
The 20 Best Irish Whiskeys for 2023
The 20 Best Irish Whiskeys for 2023
The 7 Best Irish Whiskeys to Gift This Holiday
The 7 Best Irish Whiskeys to Gift This Holiday
The 12 Best Irish Whiskey Brands for 2020
The 12 Best Irish Whiskey Brands for 2020
10 of the Best Celebrity Spirits, Tasted and Ranked
10 of the Best Celebrity Spirits, Tasted and Ranked
Seven of the Best Whiskeys for Irish Coffee, Ranked
Seven of the Best Whiskeys for Irish Coffee, Ranked
The 8 Best Irish Whiskies Under $50
The 8 Best Irish Whiskies Under $50
The 8 Irish Whiskies To Help You Get Into The Spirit, Literally
The 8 Irish Whiskies To Help You Get Into The Spirit, Literally

Irish Whiskey Infographics & Maps

Five Ways to Drink Single Malt Whiskey [Infographic]
Five Ways to Drink Single Malt Whiskey [Infographic]
A Timeline of Irish Whiskey [Infographic]
A Timeline of Irish Whiskey [Infographic]
Let’s Duet: 20 of the Best Two-Ingredient Cocktails
Let’s Duet: 20 of the Best Two-Ingredient Cocktails

Classic Irish Whiskey Cocktails

The Tipperary
The Tipperary

Modern Irish Whiskey Cocktails

Irish Lady Recipe
Irish Lady Recipe
The Irish Mule Recipe
The Irish Mule Recipe

Recent Articles About Irish Whiskey

Irish Spirits Exports Reached Record Highs in 2022
Irish Spirits Exports Reached Record Highs in 2022
Bushmills Opens New Distillery Near Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland
Bushmills Opens New Distillery Near Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland
7 of the Best Irish Whiskey Cocktails
7 of the Best Irish Whiskey Cocktails
Bushmills Irish Whiskey Launched Two New Expressions — Just in Time for St. Patrick’s Day
Bushmills Irish Whiskey Launched Two New Expressions — Just in Time for St. Patrick’s Day
Jameson Will Pay You $10,000 to Call in Sick and Drink on St. Patrick’s Day
Jameson Will Pay You $10,000 to Call in Sick and Drink on St. Patrick’s Day
Whiskey Tourism in Ireland Increased By 425 Percent Last Year
Whiskey Tourism in Ireland Increased By 425 Percent Last Year
Amid an Irish Whiskey Renaissance, the World’s Oldest Licensed Whiskey Distillery Comes of Age
Amid an Irish Whiskey Renaissance, the World’s Oldest Licensed Whiskey Distillery Comes of Age
Pernod Ricard Just Announced a New Irish Distillery, Opening in 2025
Pernod Ricard Just Announced a New Irish Distillery, Opening in 2025
The U.S. Is Officially the Biggest Consumer of Irish Spirits
The U.S. Is Officially the Biggest Consumer of Irish Spirits
International Feud Erupts Over Kings County Distillery’s “Irish style American whiskey”
International Feud Erupts Over Kings County Distillery’s “Irish style American whiskey”
Amid Crypto Crash, a Bet That Alt-Coin Obsessives Will Drop $5M Each on 12 New ‘Crypto Collection’ Whiskeys
Amid Crypto Crash, a Bet That Alt-Coin Obsessives Will Drop $5M Each on 12 New ‘Crypto Collection’ Whiskeys
Behold, the First Peated Irish Whiskey Actually Made From Irish Malt
Behold, the First Peated Irish Whiskey Actually Made From Irish Malt
Exciting Aging Vessels Are Helping Irish Whiskey Mature
Exciting Aging Vessels Are Helping Irish Whiskey Mature
8 of the Oldest Irish Pubs in America That Are Still Open for Business
8 of the Oldest Irish Pubs in America That Are Still Open for Business
Chronicling the Cameron’s Kick, the St. Patrick’s Day Cocktail Turned Bartender Darling
Chronicling the Cameron’s Kick, the St. Patrick’s Day Cocktail Turned Bartender Darling
VinePair Podcast: Can Irish Whiskey Ride the Premiumization Wave?
VinePair Podcast: Can Irish Whiskey Ride the Premiumization Wave?
Can Irish Rum Turn the Tides of Tradition in Ireland?
Can Irish Rum Turn the Tides of Tradition in Ireland?
This Irish Cream Recipe Is Designed for Year-Round Indulgence
This Irish Cream Recipe Is Designed for Year-Round Indulgence
Ocean-Aged Whiskey Is Not Just a Gimmick
Ocean-Aged Whiskey Is Not Just a Gimmick
How to Drink Irish Whiskey, According to an Irish Bartender
How to Drink Irish Whiskey, According to an Irish Bartender
Why Conor McGregor’s Proper No. Twelve Whiskey Might Have to Change Its Name
Why Conor McGregor’s Proper No. Twelve Whiskey Might Have to Change Its Name
Mariah Carey Launches Luxury Irish Cream ‘Black Irish’ Nationwide
Mariah Carey Launches Luxury Irish Cream ‘Black Irish’ Nationwide
The Difference Between Jameson, Bushmills, and Tullamore D.E.W., Explained
The Difference Between Jameson, Bushmills, and Tullamore D.E.W., Explained
We Asked 11 Bartenders: What Are You Drinking on St. Patrick’s Day?
We Asked 11 Bartenders: What Are You Drinking on St. Patrick’s Day?
Why Bushmills Is the Irish Whiskey You Should Be Drinking This St. Patrick’s Day
Why Bushmills Is the Irish Whiskey You Should Be Drinking This St. Patrick’s Day
Jameson Will Pay You $50 To Take Off St. Patrick’s Day
Jameson Will Pay You $50 To Take Off St. Patrick’s Day
The 18th-Century Tax That Shaped the Future and Identity of Irish Whiskey
The 18th-Century Tax That Shaped the Future and Identity of Irish Whiskey
New Study Finds Whiskey Can Show Terroir
New Study Finds Whiskey Can Show Terroir
Bushmills Wants to Buy Your First Round of Irish Whiskey in 2021
Bushmills Wants to Buy Your First Round of Irish Whiskey in 2021
3 Single Malt Cocktails to Make for the Holidays
3 Single Malt Cocktails to Make for the Holidays
This Is What Makes an Irish Single Malt Unique
This Is What Makes an Irish Single Malt Unique
Whiskey Aficionados Know There Is So Much More to Single Malts Than Scotch
Whiskey Aficionados Know There Is So Much More to Single Malts Than Scotch
Dozens of Distilleries Are Betting That Irish Whiskey Has a Future Bigger Than Jameson
Dozens of Distilleries Are Betting That Irish Whiskey Has a Future Bigger Than Jameson
How Conor McGregor Built a $200M Irish Whiskey Brand in Just Two Years
How Conor McGregor Built a $200M Irish Whiskey Brand in Just Two Years
We Asked 10 Beverage Pros: What’s the Best Irish Whiskey for St. Patrick’s Day?
We Asked 10 Beverage Pros: What’s the Best Irish Whiskey for St. Patrick’s Day?
Red Lobster is Selling a Jameson Mudslide Milkshake for St. Patrick’s Day
Red Lobster is Selling a Jameson Mudslide Milkshake for St. Patrick’s Day
Why Irish (Yes, Irish) Single Malt Whiskeys Deserve Your Attention
Why Irish (Yes, Irish) Single Malt Whiskeys Deserve Your Attention
Is Conor McGregor’s Whiskey to Blame for Jameson Sales Slump?
Is Conor McGregor’s Whiskey to Blame for Jameson Sales Slump?
Quality Whiskey and ‘Sexy-Quaint’ Design Are Giving Irish Cream a Craft Makeover
Quality Whiskey and ‘Sexy-Quaint’ Design Are Giving Irish Cream a Craft Makeover
The ‘Mezcal of Ireland’ Is Making a High-Proof Splash
The ‘Mezcal of Ireland’ Is Making a High-Proof Splash
U2’s Bono is the Latest Celebrity to Get Into the Whiskey Business
U2’s Bono is the Latest Celebrity to Get Into the Whiskey Business
‘Notorious’ MMA Star Conor McGregor Debuts His Own Irish Whiskey
‘Notorious’ MMA Star Conor McGregor Debuts His Own Irish Whiskey
Irish Whiskey Shortage Ahead, Says Industry Veteran
Irish Whiskey Shortage Ahead, Says Industry Veteran
There Has Never Been a Better Time to Drink Your Way Through Dublin, Ireland
There Has Never Been a Better Time to Drink Your Way Through Dublin, Ireland
Love It or Hate It, Without Jameson You Wouldn’t Be Drinking Irish Whiskey
Love It or Hate It, Without Jameson You Wouldn’t Be Drinking Irish Whiskey