Connemara Whisky

Irish whiskey differs from Scotch and his cousin has been in Ireland for hundreds of years. There are several types of whiskey common to Ireland: Single Malt, Single Grain, Pure Pot Still Whiskey and mixed. Whisky is an anglicized word for the ancient Gaelic term "Uisce beatha" meaning "water of life." It's not just the spelling that Irish whiskey gives his award - he has a very different flavor and process mixing differ.

Although it is similar to Scotch whiskey in that it has been distilled from barley mainly traditional Irish whiskey is distilled from a mash of malt and grain mixed unmalted (referred to as "pure pot-still whiskey), whereas Scotch is distilled or exclusively from malted grain or cereal unmalted. It is from grain unmalted loads is usually then blended whiskey malt to create blended whiskey. Most Irish whiskey is blended from a mixture of whiskey and grain whiskey stills.

The most common myth is that most Irish whiskey is distilled three times, unlike Scotch Whisky and that's the main difference between the two varieties. Irish whiskey is also notable that peat is almost never used in the malting process, so that smoke, earthy common scotches are not present. There are notable exceptions to these rules in both countries; Connemara peated Irish malt (double distilled) whiskey independent Cooley Distillery in County Louth is one of those exceptions.

Considering that there are nearly one hundred Scotch Whisky distilleries throughout Scotland and the Scottish islands, there are actually a handful of Irish distilleries producing a range of Irish whiskey. Irish whiskey comes in several varieties of single malt whiskey, which is made from 100% malted barley distilled in a pot still and grain whiskey made from grains distilled in a column still. Grain whiskey is much lighter (in color and flavor) as the single malt and is rarely bottled as a single grain. It is more commonly used to blend with single malt to produce a lighter blended whiskey.

Pure pot still "whiskey is unique in Irish whiskey. While single malt both Scotland and Ireland is distilled in an alembic pot pure designation "still" refers to Irish whiskey is made from 100% barley (mixed malted and unmalted) and distilled in an alembic. unmalted barley 'green' gives the traditional pure pot still whiskey spicy, unique flavor Irish. Similar to single malt, pure pot is sold on a specific classification of whiskey. It can also be blended with grain whiskey. Usually no real distinction is made between whether a blended whiskey was made from pure malt and unique pot still. Only the red-throated, Green Spot and some premium brands Jameson considered pure pot still whiskey.

The most common Irish whiskeys like Jamesons, Paddys, Bushmills Original and Millars Special Reserve are available from most retailers right spirit, but some rarer varieties can be difficult to find outside of their native Ireland. But the Internet has provided access to Irish whiskey lovers some of the more exotic blends and pure pot still whiskeys, including limited editions such as Kilbeggan 15 year old who has been launched to mark the restart of the distillation Kilbeggan Distillery and was recently voted Best Irish Blended Whiskey at the ceremony at the World Whisky.

Irish Whiskey is a wonderful gift for a special occasion or as a gift exclusive business and continues to grow in popularity among drinkers of whiskey world.