Five Farms Irish Cream
$45.99
Looking for an Irish Cream that is better than Bailey's? This is one of a few Cream Liqueurs that we could recommend - others include Coole Swan, Arran Gold, and Edradour's Cream Liqueur.
Five Farms Irish Cream bills itself as the world's first farm-to-table Irish Cream Liqueur. It is produced in County Cork, Ireland and is made using real cream.
Green Spot Irish Whiskey
$109.99
Green Spot is a 7 to 10 year old Single Pot Still Irish whiskey made under license for Mitchell & Son of Dublin, an independent wine merchant. The whisky itself is made by Jameson/Irish Distillers. It is aged in a combination of ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry casks.
Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Whiskey
$79.99
One of the many newer distilleries on the Irish Whiskey scene is the Shed Distillery, which was founded in 2014. The Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey is triple distilled with a grain combination of malted barley and Irish Barra Oats. The resulting spirit is aged in a combination of ex-Bourbon and ex-Oloroso casks.
What is Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey you ask? It is whiskey made using a combination of malted and unmalted barley. Why do this, you ask? Why, to dodge taxes, of course! The Malt Tax came into being in Ireland for a short time starting in 1785, enforced by the (insert expletive said in your best Irish accent here) English. The Irish, being Irish, decided that they didn't need to use malted barley for the entirety of the mash used to distill whiskey and started adding portions of unmalted barley. Necessity being the mother of invention, this eventually became a legitimate style of whiskey-making that is now not just celebrated but codified into law in Ireland with the Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey classification.
From the Producer
"Every precious drop of Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey has been triple distilled at the Shed Distillery using Malted Irish Barley, Un-malted Irish Barley and Irish Barra Oats. Aged in Sherry Oloroso and Kentucky Bourbon casks with no added colour and no chill filtration, this 43% Single Pot Still has been proudly distilled by our Head Distiller, Brian Taft."
Writers Tears Red Head Whiskey
$86.99
This triple-distilled Single Malt Irish Whiskey from Walsh Whiskey Company is matured in ex-Oloroso Sherry butts, then bottled at 46%.
Dumangin Whisky Bushmills 2014
$134.99
This one says its first maturation was for 6 years in (probably in ex-Bourbon) before a 12-month finish in a Ratafia Champenois Barrel. So...a seven-year-old then, rather than 6? Who knows? Maybe they were short a day or two somewhere in there. Either way, we love Bushmills. Especially when it comes from the indie bottlers.
282 bottles. Natural colour and non-chill filtered. 47.3%
Suntory AO Whisky
$109.99
Not exactly a new concept, but perhaps the most coherent and well-executed example of blends that cross international borders and waters. Suntory tells us this five-sided bottle is meant to represent "the most prestigious whisky regions in the world" by marrying whisky (and whiskey) from some the industry's true titans: Yamazaki (Japan), Hakushu (Japan), Cooley (Ireland), Jim Beam (America), Alberta Distillers (Canada), Ardmore (Scotland), and Glen Garioch (Scotland). Each is meant to ante up with its "unique history and climate." And if you're curious, the name 'Ao' means 'blue', referring to the oceans that tie the continents together.
43% abv
Midleton Very Rare Irish Whiskey
$379.99
Since its first release in 1984, the venerable Midleton Very Rare has been a blend of pot still and grain whisky that is produced at the new Midleton Distillery in East Cork. The releases of Very Rare are usually aged in ex-Bourbon casks, giving it a somewhat different twist than the more sherry-driven Redbreast Irish Whiskey range.
Midleton Distillery produces some of the best whiskey and most coveted expressions we see coming out of Ireland and Midleton Very Rare highlights that.
We are currently on the 2023 edition. Bottled at 40% ABV.
Producer Note: "Since 1984, each Master Distiller of Midleton Very Rare uses their eye for detail, their passion for quality whiskey and their exemplary skill to create the pinnacle of Irish whiskey—our special vintage release. The latest chapter of this renowned collection is adorned with the signature of our Master Distiller, Kevin O’Gorman. After months of exploration, O’Gorman crafted a balanced blend of rare and hand-selected single pot still and single grain Irish whiskeys from Midleton’s exclusive inventory to create this truly special release. Matured in lightly charred ex-bourbon American oak barrels, the Midleton Very Rare 2023 Vintage Release delights with decadent flavours and a tantalising aroma. The aroma, taste and finish of this whiskey will enliven the palates of those new to this collection while taking the seasoned whiskey collector on a journey through an exciting exploration of taste."
40% abv
Two Stacks Double Irish Cream
$49.99
Irish Cream from the fantastic folks at Two Stacks! 17.5% ABV
Coole Swan Irish Cream
$45.99
Absolutely no contest. Coole Swan is our very bestest, most favoritest Irish Cream ever! This is not the kind of stuff you need to mask with coffee. This is the kind of stuff you pour in a frosted glass and savour just as is. Of course, it works a treat in coffee too! 100% fresh Irish cream, Single Malt Irish Whiskey and white Belgian chocolate are pretty much all you've got here. No artificial ingredients. They like to tell us that 231 versions of Coole Swan were produced before they finally reached a recipe that they were happy with. Thank goodness for persistence. Irish magic in a glass.