The Best Irish Whiskey to Drink in 2023

Irish whiskey has come a long way since the 12th century. Here are the best bottles you can buy today.

Irish whiskey is one of Europe's oldest distilled spirits, dating back to the 12th century. But it's only in the past decade or so that it has reclaimed its rightful status in the whiskey world. Ireland was the global whiskey capital in the 1800s, but by WWII the Irish whiskey industry nearly went extinct, shrinking from hundreds of distilleries on the island to just three.

Fortunately, we’re living in the midst of one of the greatest comeback stories in spirits history. High among the fastest-growing spirits categories, Irish whiskey is back in the creative hands of numerous exceptional producers, new and old, that are changing the definition and the perceptions of what Irish whiskey can be.

More approachable than Scotch, and lighter in body than most bourbons, Irish whiskey can be just as nuanced and complex as any fine whiskey—while retaining its drinkability and reaching new levels of diversity, as more distilleries continue to experiment and innovate. Price-wise, Irish whiskey generally offers incredible value relative to fine bourbon, Scotch, and Japanese whisky. 

Our best overall pick for the 2023 Men's Journal Spirits Awards, Redbreast 12 Single Pot Still, is exceptionally balanced, widely available, and uses both malted and unmalted barley in the signature Irish pot still style, making it the perfect introduction to the Emerald Isle’s top shelf.

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Why You Should Trust Us

I've been writing about bars, cocktails, and spirits for many years—and, before that, I bartended for more than a decade at Hollywood’s legendary Chateau Marmont Hotel. In one way or another, I’ve been employed in the realm of booze since the turn of the millennium. 

As professionally-trained mixologist, I got the opportunity to experiment with every kind of spirit in every kind of cocktail, and to help educate people about what they were drinking. As a journalist, I’ve gotten an excuse to meet with distillers, blenders, and producers, and do a deep dive into the way that wines and spirits are made—from grain, grape, and cane, to glass.

What We Look For When Choosing the Best Irish Whiskey

In putting this list together, we tried to cover the four styles of Irish whiskey—pot still, malt, grain, and blended—with a few criteria. Is it a solid example of a classic style? Does it offer good value? Or, if it’s more of a splurge, is it truly exceptional? Is it a reflection of the new enthusiasm and creativity in Irish whiskey? Is it good for certain iconic cocktails such as Irish coffee? While this list is not exhaustive, it covers all styles of Irish Whiskey for all budgets, and all use cases—from sipping neat to mixing with ginger ale to serving steaming hot with a dollop of cream, and all points in between.

Best Overall Irish Whiskey: Redbreast 12 

Redbreast 12 Irish Whiskey is, simply put, an exquisite whiskey for all cases—whether sipping neat, on the rocks, or mixing in cocktails like an old fashioned where the whiskey is the star. Widely available and relatively affordable, this single pot still whiskey exemplifies the style that makes Irish whiskey unique—where the mix of unmalted barley gives it a different flavor profile and mouthfeel. No single bottle of Irish whiskey covers all the essential bases quite like Redbreast. 

Best Single Malt Irish Whiskey: Bushmills 12 Year Old Single Malt

Based on the Northern Irish coast, Bushmills dates back to 1608, making it the oldest licensed whiskey distillery in the world. Its 12-year-old single malt is triple distilled, made of 100 percent malted barley, aged for 11 years in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, and then finished in marsala wine casks for a final flavor overlay that strikes the perfect balance between cost and complexity. All from a whiskey-maker that's been at it for over four centuries. 

Best Irish Rye Whiskey: Powers Irish Rye

This newly released Irish Rye will stand up very well in cocktails like the Boulevardier or Manhattan. It starts with a mash of 100 percent Irish rye grown in the rich coastal soil of Ireland, before a long fermentation brings out a wide spectrum of flavors from the mash—from maraschino cherries to gingered wood. The spice of the rye is balanced with aging in American oak. 

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Best Splurge Irish Whiskey: Midleton Very Rare 2022

One of the whiskeys spirits guru Noah Rothbaum pours for anyone who claims not to like Irish whiskey, this splurgy sipper is conversion in a bottle. Made in very limited amounts with an annual vintage by Midleton’s master distillers every year since 1984, Very Rare 2022 is a hand-selected blend of whiskeys matured from 12 to 33 years in ex-bourbon barrels, making it incredibly smooth but deeply complex. 

Best Irish Whiskey for Irish Coffee: Tullamore D.E.W.

A blend of malt, grain, and pot still whiskeys aged in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, Tullamore D.E.W. is a classic. The first U.S. home of Irish coffee, the Buena Vista Pub in San Francisco uses Tullamore D.E.W. in their signature drink. For the price, you can afford to batch them for a holiday party pick-me-up. And at 40 percent ABV, the booze won’t overpower the coffee, cream, and sugar. 

Best Irish Whiskey for Bourbon Lovers: Roe & Co

A blend of malt and grain whiskeys distilled in Dublin and aged in ex-bourbon casks, this light-bodied and smooth spirit will appeal to bourbon drinkers because of its bourbon cask finish. With more floral notes than bourbon and a lighter texture, Roe & Co is arguably even more enjoyable to sip on the rocks all night than its American cousin.

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Best Jameson Irish Whiskey: Jameson-18 Year

Jameson is what most people think of when they hear “Irish whiskey,” and with new expressions like their double-charred Black Barrel (our recommendation for Best Jameson for Cocktails) it’s clear even legacy brands are evolving along with the Irish whiskey resurgence. For an ultimate expression of what this brand can be,  Jameson 18-Year offers a rich, complex, and balanced whiskey that, at 40 percent ABV, is ready to be sipped neat. 

Best Value Irish Whiskey: John L. Sullivan

It was a toss-up between Best Value and Coolest Label for this pugilistic spirit distilled in copper pot stills and aged in ex-bourbon barrels. It’s named for an Irish American bareknuckle boxer (aka the Boston Strong Boy), who was both the last bareknuckle heavyweight champion and the first gloved heavyweight champion of the world—making for a story as good as the juice in the John L. Sullivan bottle. 

More Irish Whiskeys We Love

Best Irish Whiskey for Scotch Lovers: The Legendary Dark Silkie

This is the best peated, blended Irish whiskey I've tasted. It's a perfect segue for those who love peated Scotch but want to delve into new flavors. There’s a lot going on in this Dark Silkie bottle. A blend of double- and triple-distilled peated single malts and unpeated grain whiskey, it hits notes you’re not used to experiencing in a single sip. Think smoke reminiscent of Islay Scotch, the easy-drinking quality of any good Irish whiskey, and a richness and smoothness you’d expect from a fine bourbon.

Best Irish Whiskey for a Highball: Red Spot 15 Single Pot Still

While Green Spot Whiskey is easier to find and also excellent, the 15-Year Red Spot achieves a different level of complexity owing not just to its age, but also to the fact that it’s aged in a mix of American ex-bourbon casks, Sicilian Marsala casks, and ex-sherry casks. At 46 percent ABV, it’s perfect to sip with the slow dilution of one large cube.

Best Oak-Aged Irish Whiskey: Glendalough Pot Still

Made from 100-percent malted and unmalted barley, Glendalough Pot Still is aged first in ex-bourbon barrels, then in new charred Irish oak casks—reviving local wood aging in an industry that has long used seasoned casks from America and Europe.

Best Dublin Pot Still Irish Whiskey: Teeling Pot Still

Teeling Pot Still is triple-distilled in Dublin and made from 50 percent malted and 50 percent un-malted barley, then aged in a trio of casks: American virgin oak casks, ex-bourbon casks, and sherry butts. This gives it the tannins of virgin oak, the sweet influence of bourbon, and the umami kick of sherry. It’s bottled at 46 percent ABV with no chill filtration, giving it a rich mouthfeel and just the right amount of bite.

Best Irish Whiskey on the Rocks: Waterford The Cuvee

Waterford Whiskey is terroir driven, meaning that they focus on how the terrain of individual farms affects the grain they grow and the whiskey it’s made from. The Cuvee takes that to another level, blending 25 single malts each made from single farms for a terroir bomb. It’s non-chill filtered so it has a rich texture. At a stout 50 percent ABV, it stands up well to ice.

Best Cask Finish Irish Whiskey: West Cork Peat Charred Cask

For those who enjoy a little smokiness but not a full-fledged peated whiskey, this Peat Charred Cask single malt from West Cork Distillery is finished in casks that are charred with peat smoke, giving it a very subtle smoky flavor that rounds out the sweetness of the single malt for a more savory experience ideal for a food pairing.

Best Independent Irish Whiskey: Dingle Single Malt

Dingle is an independent and artisan distiller launched in 2012 by a small team that pioneered craft beer in Ireland in the 1990’s and sought to do the same thing with craft distilling. There’s a floral quality to their flagship whiskey, which is bottled in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks at an assertive 46.5 percent ABV.

Best Single Grain Irish Whiskey: High N’ Wicked Single Grain N.4 "Aeneas Coffey"

High N’ Wicked creates some of the most compelling limited release whiskies in the world. This non-chill filtered Single Grain dram is distilled in County Cork in a Coffey column still, then aged in ex-bourbon barrels and finished in Foursquare rum casks hand-selected by Irish master blender and distiller Noel Sweeney. The mash bill consists of 95 percent French maize, and 5 percent malted barley. At 50 percent ABV it can handle dilution from rocks or a cocktail shaker.

Best Peated Irish Whiskey: Connemara

Made at Noel Sweeney’s alma mater, Cooley Distillery, Connemara was the original peated Irish Whiskey of the island’s whiskey resurgence over the past couple decades. A peated single malt, it’s distilled in copper pot stills and aged in ex-bourbon casks—as is the case with most fine peated Scotch. Bottled at 40 percent ABV, it’s one you can easily take neat in a Glencairn glass.

Best Coastal Irish Whiskey: Clonakilty Double Oak

A blend of single grain whiskey and the award-winning single pot still whiskey from the coastal Clonakilty Distillery, this double-cask whiskey is aged in a combination of virgin American oak, ex-bourbon, and re-toasted European oak casks that give it a rich and slightly sweet flavor perfect for drinking with ginger ale or soda.

Best French Oak-Finished Irish Whiskey: Triple Dog

Triple-distilled using both copper pot stills and column stills for a greater range of flavor and texture, and aged a minimum of four years in French oak, Triple Dog offers a distinctive flavor. There is a noticeable difference in the richness of the French Limousin oak influence compared to American oak that may bring a young cognac to mind.

Best Triple Cask Irish Whiskey: Slane Triple Casked

Made on the grounds of the 18th-century Slane Castle north of Dublin, this newer whiskey brand launched in 2015. Slane focuses on combining three cask finishes for complexity: virgin casks impart new wood char and tannins, seasoned Tennessee whiskey casks give it a roundness of flavor, and ex-sherry casks maximize the depth of flavor.

What Is Irish Whiskey, and How Is It Made?

According to the rules of the Irish Whiskey Geographic Indicator, Irish whiskey must be distilled in Ireland using at least some malted cereals. It must be brewed at the same site as fermentation and distillation, and it must be aged for at least three years on the island of Ireland in oak casks no bigger than 700 liters. It can’t be exported in wood to be further aged elsewhere. The cool Irish climate and the use of pre-seasoned casks leads to a mellower whiskey with less wood influence than those aged in new oak in hotter climates such as the American South. Irish whiskey must be bottled at less than 94.8 percent ABV with a minimum of 40 percent ABV.

The Four Types of Irish Whiskey to Know 

Irish Pot Still Irish Whiskey

This style of Irish whiskey is made with at least 30 percent unpeated malted barley and 30 percent unmalted. The unmalted addition was originally used for practical reasons (it incurred less taxes than malted barley), while contributing a distinctive spicy flavor and mouthfeel often described as “creamy.” It must be distilled in copper pot stills, and when you see “Single Pot Still” on the label, this specifies that the whiskey was all pot distilled in a single location—the equivalent of the single malt designation in Scotch.

Malt Irish Whiskey

Made with 100-percent peated or nonpeated malted barley and distilled in pot stills, malt Irish whiskey differs from the category above by its lack of unmalted barley, making it the closest Irish cousin to single malt Scotch.

Grain Irish Whiskey

Made with less than 30 percent malted barley and other unmalted grains—primarily corn, wheat, or barley—grain Irish whiskey is distilled in column stills. It's the closest Irish cousin to bourbon.

Blended Irish Whiskey

This style is a blend of two or more of the above types of Irish whiskey—and it's what most people think of when they think of Irish whiskey. It's usually triple-distilled and unpeated. This is the Irish cousin of blended scotch.

What’s the Best Way to Drink Irish Whiskey?

The rules to drinking Irish whiskey are that there are none—or almost none. Fine sipping Irish whiskeys deserve to be treated with a large rock or neat in a Glencairn glass. Other styles are perfect for an Irish coffee, an old fashioned, or in a highball with ginger ale. In short, Irish whiskey remains as unpretentious as the Irish themselves.

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The Evolution and Revival of Irish Whiskey

To fully appreciate Irish whiskey today, it helps to understand how far the industry has come in a very short time relative to its centuries-long history.

“When I started out in the industry in the 1980’s, Irish whiskey had shrunk to almost being wiped out,” says Noel Sweeney, a legend in the Irish whiskey industry whose career has followed its resurgence. Sweeney was the master blender and master distiller behind several iconic whiskeys, including Tyrconnell, Kilbeggan, Connemara, and Fercullen. He’s now a consultant for emerging brands with Next Level Distillers, a founding member of the Irish Whiskey Association, and a 2017 inductee to the World Whiskey Hall of Fame.

As chairman of the committee that determines the rules of the Irish Whiskey Geographical Indicator, Sweeney says that when they made the rules, they did so according to the practices of the distillers in operation at the time. Now, the committee is seeking to broaden those rules to allow distillers more creative freedom while still preserving the meaning of the Irish whiskey title.

“Historically in the 1800’s and 1900’s, they were using a broader range of grains," says Sweeney, "so we’re trying to broaden the definitions to allow that.” Two norms have already been abandoned since the days when he started out: that Irish whiskey had to be triple distilled and that it shouldn’t use peat. You’ll now find plenty of peated and double-distilled Irish whiskeys—with the former yielding a more Scotch-like experience and the latter leading to a “more robust and floral” taste. The most important thing for Sweeney is that people enjoy it. “We’re not in the manufacturing industry,” he likes to say. “We’re in the entertainment industry.”

“There’s been a real renaissance for Irish distilling over the past 10 years,” says whiskey expert Noah Rothbaum, co-editor of The Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails and author of the forthcoming book, The Whiskey Bible. “The universe of Irish whiskey has expanded exponentially, and whatever preconceived notions you have, it’s time to revisit," he adds. "You still have the classics, but you also have all these new flavors.”

Whenever anyone tells Rothbaum that they don’t like Irish whiskey, he changes their minds by pouring them pinnacle expressions such as Midleton Very Rare, Redbreast, and Bushmills Single Malt—all of which are on this list. At the other end of the budget spectrum, he points out that the average price point for Irish whiskey is generally still lower than bourbon or Scotch, which makes it a good choice for cocktails. “One of the great advantages of Irish whiskeys has always been that people felt empowered to use them in mixed drinks,” he says.

How Does Irish Whiskey Compare to Bourbon or Scotch?

"For someone who would be familiar with bourbon or Scotch, I say to expect a more approachable spirit, not overly bold or one dimensional but delicate, smooth, and complex," says Sweeney.

Broadly speaking, a good Irish whiskey will be less heavy than bourbon and less forceful on the palate than Scotch, while still retaining complexity. Irish whiskey also tends to be very good value—with top shelf bottles as reasonable as $60, and $20 getting you much farther up that shelf than a 20-buck bourbon or Scotch.

From a flavor standpoint, you can expect any reputable Irish whiskey to have good balance, without being cloyingly sweet, overly sharp, or overly woody. Irish whiskeys will likely be lighter-bodied at higher ages due to the native climate. In general, they provide a more approachable flavor profile at every price point.

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