Irish Whiskey

Irish whiskey is a smooth, characterful spirit distilled and aged on the island of Ireland, known for its rich heritage and approachable flavour profile. The name itself comes from the Irish phrase uisce beatha, meaning “water of life,” and the tradition of whiskey-making in Ireland dates back to at least the 12th century. By law, Irish whiskey must be aged for a minimum of three years in wooden casks and bottled at no less than 40% ABV. It’s typically triple-distilled—unlike Scotch, which is often distilled twice—resulting in a lighter, cleaner taste with subtle notes of fruit, vanilla, and spice.

Irish whiskey comes in four main styles, each offering a distinct character shaped by tradition and technique. Single malt Irish whiskey is made from 100% malted barley at a single distillery and typically triple-distilled for a smooth, refined taste. Single pot still whiskey, unique to Ireland, combines both malted and unmalted barley in a traditional copper pot still, resulting in a rich, spicy profile with creamy texture. Grain whiskey is lighter and more delicate, distilled from grains like corn or wheat in column stills, often used in blends but increasingly bottled on its own. Blended Irish whiskey, the most common style, marries any combination of the above to create a balanced, approachable spirit that’s ideal for sipping or mixing. Each type contributes to the diversity and growing global appeal of Irish whiskey.

Distilleries like Bushmills, Teeling, and The Dingle Distillery are celebrated for their single malt offerings, each bringing a unique regional influence and cask selection to the final product. If you're exploring Irish whiskey, single malts offer a refined and expressive taste of the Emerald Isle’s distilling heritage.

There are few beverages in the world with as rich a heritage and diverse a background as whisky. Our range includes Scotch whisky (both blended and single malt varieties, of course), Irish whiskey, American whiskey, Japanese whisky and a host of other whiskies from around the globe. Knowing how varied each country of origin is, we’ve made it our mission to stock a full range of exquisite flavours from around the world, with tasting notes as individual as the locations they’re from.

Drink Finder is a family-run business with over 60 years of experience as an alcohol retailer. Today, our collection spans an eclectic mix of whisky, wines, spirits, gin, rum, and much more. Our catalogue includes popular brands and rare varieties alike, giving us one of the largest collections of alcoholic beverages in South West England. It doesn’t end there, though; at the heart of Drink Finder is people with a passion for what we do. If you’re looking for recommendations, we’d love to share our expertise with you and help you make the right choice, so get in touch today for expert advice on our exciting range.