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I’m currently on my hols in Donegal and somewhat overwhelmed by the number of whiskeys available. I suppose I could try them all and choose my favourite but I suspect my liver would give out well before the end of the project. Where should I start? I like Islay single malts, as well as Talisker and Highland Park. Extra points for a local product. Thanks for your advice!!
Just down the road from my mum and dads is this place:
then slightly more seriously is this place:
https://thecrollydistillery.com
personally, I really like Bushmill’s 16yr old.
Bushmills Black Bush is a nice drop. It's a blend and very easy to drink. Any of their aged single malts are good too.
I like Islay single malts, as well as Talisker and Highland Park.
So more on the peated side? I do have a bottle of Connemara but not opened yet so cant directly recommend it.
Sliabh Liag do peated whiskeys and are Donegal but again havent tried them.
Black Bush or Green Spot
A friend bought me a bottle of Jameson Black Barrel and it was fantastic. I'm a peaty Islay malt drinker normally and it was right up my street
Don't drink whiskey myself but a friend of mine recommends Tullamore Dew.
Thanks all. Will make a start 😎
Good thread - I'm staying at Bushmills for a few days then on to Donegal, Letrim, Sligo and Mayo this summer...
We bought a friend a bottle of Midleton (Cork) as a leaving pressie from Ireland. It was pricey and he enjoyed it. Unfortunately he didn't hang around long enough for me to get a snifter... the swine!
Black Bush. But do the Bushmills tour and take a boozy journey through deliciousness
When you get a bit further south Jameson seems to be the popular choice in Cork. I was gifted a bottle of Jameson Redbreast, apparently it’s pretty decent, shame I don’t drink though.
My pal did a trip over there recently - his recommendation was the Bushmills Jamaica cask - or Hinge...
However, it was the Gin that he is going back for... An Dulaman Irish Maritime Gin
A friend bought me a bottle of Jameson Black Barrel and it was fantastic. I'm a peaty Islay malt drinker normally and it was right up my street
Big fan of the black barrel too, but the entry level basic Jameson is also a very nice whiskey.
When you get a bit further south Jameson seems to be the popular choice
Might be related to it being produced in Ireland unlike Bushmills.
Might be related to it being produced in Ireland unlike Bushmills.
Thanks for the heads up - I hadn’t realised that!!
Another vote for bog-standard Jameson. As an entry-level it's a very nice whiskey.
Another vote for bog-standard Jameson. As an entry-level it's a very nice whiskey.
Jameson also do a "Crested" variety which is (imho) an even nicer tipple than the standard https://summerstirs.com/how-is-jameson-crested-different/
Can ofter be found in Irish Supermarkets reducted from RRP to about €25 a bottle.
Might be related to it being produced in Ireland unlike Bushmills.
Eh? Their distillery last time I looked, is in County Antrim which is very much "in Ireland". Northern Ireland not the Republic sure, if that was the point you were making? Still "produced in Ireland" though, unless I've missed something and they've moved their production elsewhere? A quick Google shows nothing to indicate that - all still produced at the Old Bushmills Distillery. The oldest distillery in the world apparently, and well worth a visit.
Northern Ireland not the Republic sure, if that was the point you were making?
Slightly tongue in cheek by me but yep. If people, not a pop at anyone here, want to have NI as a separate country and part of the UK, an impose idiocy such as EU and other tourists staying in Ireland needing an ETA to visit the north then the differentiation can cut both ways.
Still "produced in Ireland"
yes Bushmills is very much marketed as Ireland's oldest distillery and as Irish whiskey in their promotional materials... even if it is located north of the borderless border!
Northern Ireland not the Republic sure, if that was the point you were making?
Slightly tongue in cheek by me but yep. If people, not a pop at anyone here, want to have NI as a separate country and part of the UK, an impose idiocy such as EU and other tourists staying in Ireland needing an ETA to visit the north then the differentiation can cut both ways.
Fair enough and I don't disagree with any of that, but probably better for another thread. I just wanted to clarify so that the OP wasn't mislead that whichever way you cut it, Bushmills IS Irish Whiskey and IS produced in Ireland. Even (or especially) the staunchest Irish nationalists consider the 6 counties part of Ireland.
I know jokingly Bushmills is considered "proddy" whiskey and Jamesons for the "papists" but the reality is that's a load of old bollocks and they are both very nice to drink, if Irish Whiskey is your thing 🙂
At least it's not as diversive as Guinness v Murphy's.
If the thread is wandering onto the black stuff, I'm gonna make a possibly contentious claim. Stout from just about any small craft brewery in UK or Ireland is going to be far superior to the bland, pasteurised stuff from St. James' gate.
- As a regular whisky drinker, particularly the islays I may have to give the Jamieson's black barrel a try
- Andy4d I am noting your stout defence of Beamish
Opened a bottle of Jameson's Triple Triple last night. Very smooth. I like. (on offer at Sainsbury's).
Coincidentally, the youtube algorithm threw this at me today. Very interesting gallop through the history of Irish whiskey. It claims they've been at it longer than the Scots 👀, throws doubt on Bushmills' claim of being the oldest and name checks some Irish whiskeys I hadn't heard of before. Only 8 minutes long and worth a watch.
Redbreast is a nice wee nip, last time I had a bottle of the 12yo, however there are a few different cask versions available. Last time I saw it in the wild was in an O'Neil's in Cardiff.