While Scotch may receive most of the attention when it comes to whiskey from the European continent, Ireland also has a charming and delectable distilling culture. Many Scottish traditions are incorporated into Irish whiskey, but—as you might expect from that rebellious bunch—they add their own twist to make it their own. Irish whiskey has significantly fewer legal restrictions than its Scottish counterparts, but that doesn't make it a lawless frontier.
Irish whiskey is any whiskey produced on the island of Ireland. It is produced by numerous manufacturers, so you can find drinks in a variety of flavours. There are four varieties of Irish whiskey: pot-still, blended, malt, and grain. An alcoholic beverage must contain both malted barley and unmalted cereal grains in order to be referred to as "Irish Whiskey." It was formerly among the most widely consumed beverages until the late 19th century, after which the industry eventually fell out of favour. After declining in popularity in the 1990s, Irish whiskey is currently experiencing a resurgence. Irish whiskey is reputed to have been one of the most popular distilled beverages in Europe when it first appeared in the 12th century. Irish whiskey has spread over the world as a result of its revival.
Scotch Vs. Irish Whiskey
The two most traditional varieties of the dark distilled spirit are Irish whiskey and Scotch whisky. Historical disagreement exists as to which was created first. The most noticeable distinction is that whereas scotch is always spelt "whisky," Irish whiskey is always spelt with an "e."
The two types differ in how they are produced, although they both have common methods. Meanwhile, there are some whiskies that copy other brands' methods, which might be confusing.
Both are typically fermented with barley, while Irish whiskey is largely unmalted and Scotch is frequently malted; either can have grain whiskey in its blended whiskey. Scotch is frequently just twice distilled, whereas Irish whiskey is typically triple distilled. Whiskeys in both varieties can be blended or single malt, but scotch is more well-known for the latter. The two are often distinguished by the smoothness of Irish whiskey and the peaty smokiness of scotch. There are repeated and double-distilled Irish whiskies, but there are also non-peated and triple-distilled scotch whiskies, which is the catch.
Varieties Of Irish Whiskey
• Blended Irish Whiskey: Ninety per cent of all Irish whiskey is produced as blends.
• Single Pot Still Whiskey: This whiskey, which was formerly known as "pure pot still," is a combination of malted and unmalted barley that has been distilled in a pot still. It's a whiskey that can only be found in Ireland.
• Single-Grain Whiskey: The only difference between this kind of whiskey and grain whiskey is that only one grain is used in the distillation.
• Potcheen: Because the distilled liquor does not reach the legal drinking age to be named Irish whiskey, it is also known as poitn or poteen. It's a new-made spirit that has spent little to no time in a barrel, similar to an American white dog.
• Grain Irish Whiskey: Grain whiskey, a particularly light variety manufactured from corn or wheat, is created in column stills as opposed to Ireland's frequently preferred pot stills.