Top 5 Irish Whiskeys For Under $90

By Richard Thomas

One truism about Irish Whiskey is that the better stuff ain’t cheap. Although perhaps not as expensive as Scotch, many of the fan favorite expressions from Ireland are priced in the upper double digit range. Just to talk about good, but reasonably priced Irish Whiskey means placing the bar at $60 or less. To encapsulate the prime premium choices in Irish single malts and single pot stills means going up to at leas the $90 mark.

Following our customary practice for lists of this type, the selection was based on the opinions of our own team, our readers and our consultation with outside experts.

5. Teeling Single Malt ($60): Although it’s a no age statement (NAS) single malt, there is a lot going into the bottle here. The stock used to make it runs up to 23 years old and comes out of five different cask types: Cabernet Sauvignon, Madeira, Port, Sherry and White Burgundy. The character that comes out of that palette of flavors has made this quite the popular expression, and it’s very reasonably priced at that.

4. Knappogue Castle 14 Year Old Single Malt ($80): This was a favored choice among the staff here at The Whiskey Reviewer. The stock we’re familiar with is a sourced single malt distilled in 1998 and bottled in 2012 from a mix of ex-bourbon barrel and ex-Sherry cask stock. It’s fruity, as some Irish whiskeys can be, but surprisingly spicy as well.

3. Glendalough 13 Year Old Single Malt ($95): A sourced single malt, what makes it such a standout is its novelty of getting a finish in rare Japanese Mizunara casks. This is billed as a first for Irish Whiskey, and I believe it, since Mizunara is not commonly used even in Japan and is an extreme rarity outside it. The smooth, malty honey of a mature Irish single malt is joined by the trademark sandalwood and citrus notes of the Mizunara, making for a very distinctive pour.

2. Yellow Spot ($85): “The Spots” are a brand evolution of what was once product of a bonded independent bottler in Dublin, Mitchell & Son. The distinction of being a bonded bottler is buying and then aging your own whiskey, which the Dublin merchants no longer do. The name comes from their habit of marking casks with colored daubs.

“I love the depth of character of this, tinged with an aggressive bite. It’s not for the easily distracted. Both passive and aggressive at the same I love the caramel, honeysuckle, sweet resin and roasted nuts flavors,” says wine writer Michael Cervin.

As a 12 year old, Yellow Spot is the older of the two Spots (the younger being Green Spot). On top of that, it’s also finished in Malaga Oloroso Sherry casks. Although not as widely available or as high profile as some of the Redbreast offerings, Yellow Spot is still a fine example of a single pot still whiskey.

1. Redbreast 12 Year Old Single Pot Still ($65): The standard bearer of the single pot still whiskey revival, it’s hard to find any serious enthusiast of Irish Whiskey who doesn’t know and love this expression. Indeed, the 15 Year Old version might be crowning the top of this list, were it not just a little too expensive.

The 12 Year Old sets the two key characteristics of the brand: the sweet and spicy nature of single pot still whiskey, and an marked, but not dominant influence of Sherry wood. Whenever the subject of Redbreast and Sherry casks comes up with a representative of Irish Distillers, they are always very keen to emphasize how much they do not want the Sherry flavors to drown their native spirit. The result here is a well-balanced, flavorful pour. If you haven’t tried it, you need to.