The Best In Affordable Irish Whiskeys

By Richard Thomas

Listing the mass market, budget Irish whiskeys you might want to pick up for St. Patrick’s Day sipping is largely unnecessary. While I could draw up a list with Kilbeggan, Jameson, Powers, Paddy, Slane, Tullamore Dew and other brands on it, I believe it would be more valuable for the reader if I suggested what bargain Irish whiskeys should be avoided. If you are reading this, you probably know all those names and are probably looking for advice on something in the next rung up the ladder.

Dingle Single Malt ($100)
Located in scenic western Ireland, Dingle was part of the early stages of the renewal of the Irish Whiskey industry, which has seen a tenfold expansion of distilleries during the last decade. After years of releasing limited edition single malts, Dingle finally built themselves into a position to issue a regular release single malt, and that is now generally available in most parts of the world. It’s a six or seven year old malt aged in PX Sherry and Bourbon first-fill casks.

Jameson Black Barrel ($35)
One step up from regular Jameson is Jameson Black Barrel, originally released over a decade ago as Jameson Small Batch. It is unclear if what is going into the bottles have changed in that time; it’s possible. However, its place as the affordable, premium, widely available spin on Jameson remains unchanged, and the difference between the basic and the bling remains clear. Like Jameson, this is a blend of grain and pot still whiskeys; malt whiskey is not used. The difference between this and regular Jameson is Black Barrel uses a higher proportion of pot still whiskey.

Green Spot ($60)
When Irish Distillers basically took over The Spots brand from negociants Mitchell & Son, they had furthering the revival of the single pot still whiskey in mind. Their earlier push on that front, Redbreast, had a Sherry cask-based identity, and introducing Green Spot allowed them to plot a separate, distinct identity for those whiskeys. I wonder if the folks who advanced this idea inside the company are surprised at just how well it worked out, because Green Spot has been joined by Yellow, Red and Blue Spots since. So, this is how it all started: with a marriage of seven to ten year old pot still whiskeys, matured in first- and second-fill bourbon barrels and ex-sherry casks.

Method & Madness Single Grain ($60)
Normally I recommend Teeling Single Grain as a delicious, affordable whiskey of its class, but I have been singing its praises since 2013! In the interest of expanding horizons, allow me to suggest the Method & Madness Single Grain, which has expanded distribution into the United States these last couple of years. Matured in some very well used ex-bourbon barrels, in the way most grain whiskeys are, Irish Distillers gave it a year-long finish in virgin Spanish Oak from Galicia, North West Spain to put that extra polish on it.

Powers Irish Rye ($35)
If you want an Irish Whiskey buy outside the box, how about a rye whiskey from a country best known for making things from barley? The stuff’s billing reads like an American craft whiskey from Pennsylvania or Colorado: 100% rye mash!

Teeling Small Batch ($35)
It’s hard to believe the inaugural expression of Teeling Whiskey Company is now over 10 years old. Since then, the company opened the first working distillery in Dublin of the modern era; that distillery has been around long enough to have an in-house single pot still whiskey out; and forged a reputation for releasing sourced, ultra-aged single malts. And all the while, their original label continues unchanged and excellent.

Writer’s Tears Red Head ($80)
I can’t draw up a list of seven Irish Whiskey recommendations and have just one single malt on it, and for this pricing zone, Writer’s Tears Red Head is a good choice. Whereas Writer’s Tears is best known (other from its delightful name) as a malt and pot still whiskey blend that leans more heavily on the pot still part, Red Head is a Sherry bomb of an Irish malt, hence the reddish hue.