- Big Moments
8 Irish Whiskeys Perfect for St Patrick’s Day
Toast the Emerald Isle’s rich history with these top drops
If you’re entertaining at home, you’ll want lunch to be a deliciously long, leisurely affair. No one’s in a rush, so make a day of it. Even if you’re putting a lot of effort into the occasion, there are still ways to make it feel like a lunch staycation – a lunch so relaxed, it’s practically a holiday.
Pick your setting
It’s autumn, that lovely unpredictable season that can serve up any number of conditions. Easter Sunday, which falls on April 1 this year, could be balmy enough for a garden party or cool conditions could sweep in and put an open fire firmly on the agenda. Naturally, you’ll be at the mercy of mother nature’s whims, so prepare options. Whether that’s cloth-covered trestle tables in the backyard or a moodier dining room affair. Knowing where you’re eating might have an impact on the menu, drinks and table settings.
March 17 is St Patrick’s Day – a day that commemorates the death of Ireland’s patron saint back in 461AD. While its primary focus was a religious one, in recent times it’s become synonymous with a celebration of Irish heritage and culture, with parades and festivals being held in many cities across the globe.
Here in Australia, St Patrick’s Day is steeped in tradition that dates back to the 1790s and the first Irish convicts, so what better way to toast the occasion than with a drop of Irish whiskey?
Irish whiskey is made from a yeast-fermented mash of malted cereals and triple distilled (once more than Scotch), which results in a lighter drink with a smoother finish. Irish whiskey pairs well with flavoursome foods such as red meats and blue cheese. You can also mix it with ginger ale or soda water in a tall glass over ice. But perhaps it’s most traditionally enjoyed neat, as a digestif.
Here’s our pick of the best for St Patrick’s Day and beyond.
Bushmills Single Malt Irish Whiskey 10YO
The benchmark Irish single malt, this has a great depth of flavour and is a former winner of Best Irish Single Malt Whisky at the World Whiskies Awards.
Roe & Co Blended Irish Whiskey
Roe & Co is named for George Roe, who helped build the golden era of Irish whiskey in the 19th century. It’s a luxuriously smooth blend with a perfect harmony between fruity malt and mellow grain.
In business since 1829, you can taste the history in this triple-blend Irish whiskey, known the world over for its smooth and gentle complexity. Sip and savour or enjoy in a whiskey cocktail.
This boxed award-winner makes the perfect gift. Matured in sherry casks and charred bourbon barrels, it delivers signature smoothness with enhanced spice, nutty notes, vanilla sweetness and sherry fruit.
Not a whiskey, but a whiskey-based liqueur, this smooth, sweet blend of Irish dairy cream and whiskey can be mixed in iconic cocktails, or simply enjoyed over ice.
The Dead Rabbits were a notorious Irish street gang in 1850s New York. A toasted oak nose and rich, mellow flavour finish with a hint of vanilla… and a dash of Dead Rabbit ’tude.
Hyde No.3 Single Grain Irish Whiskey
This triple-distilled drop spends six years in former Kentucky bourbon casks. Robust spices with a touch of cracked black pepper give way to a buttery vanilla and charred oak flavour.
If you prefer your spirits in a tall glass, this premium premix is a refreshing twist on the classic whiskey and ginger ale combo. Perfect for barbecues with friends, while the sun’s still shining down.
- Also in Big Moments
- View More Post Big Moments
