WORLD WHISKEY DAY 2022: Whisky in Ireland & its Relationship with Japan
Everyone talks about Irish Whisky, but what is unique about our beloved whiskey. Irish whiskey is about its viscosity, smoothness, and subtle sweetness, popularly known as the holy trinity to gauge any Irish whiskey. The Scots and the Irish both contest that they created whiskey. However, the current leading opinion among drinks historians is that its origins were either Moorish or Arabic.
Until the late 1800s, most people spelt the word "whiskey" without the "e." However, the spelling changed when Scottish distillers were suddenly allowed to blend grain whiskey and single malts to create something like what their Irish counterparts were making. Then the significant distilleries in Ireland banded together and decided to make it very clear they were making a product entirely different from what was coming out of Scotland. Hence, they added the "e."
In the 1870s, when the Phylloxera plague devastated European vineyards, Irish whiskey replaced brandy to become the world's favourite spirit. Most people consider Irish whiskey as blended, triple distilled and unpeated. There are different Irish whiskeys, such as Single Malt whiskeys, Single Grain Whiskeys, Single Pot Still, and blended Irish whiskey.
Single malt whiskeys are made at a single distillery in pot stills from malted barley and only malted barley. From there, flavour ultimately depends on the barrels the whiskey is aged in. Single-malt whiskeys can be spicy or peaty, or more delicate, with floral, dried fruit, and bread notes. Bushmills, Tyrconnell, and Connemara all offer single malts.
Single grain whiskeys (are made in a single distillery. Still, contrary to what their name suggests, they are made from a mixture of cereals, including malted barley (no more than 30%), unmalted barley, corn, or wheat. (The term "single grain" refers to the actual mix used to make the whiskey.). These sweeter, lighter whiskeys are often found in blends.
Single pot still whiskeys are also made at a single distillery, also in a pot. Still, they are made from malted barley (at least 30%), unmalted barley (at least 30%), and other cereal grains. Pot still whiskeys are the most intense flavour, featuring lots of spice. They can have an oily mouthfeel compared to different varieties of Irish whiskey. Redbreast, Green Spot, and Powers John's Lane are names you might see on a menu.
As the name implies, Blended Irish whiskeys are made by blending together at least two Irish whiskeys, whether single pot still, single grain, or single malt. Blended whiskeys tend to be lighter and more approachable in flavour. Classic Bushmills, Jameson, and Tullamore D.E.W. are all blended Irish whiskeys.
Some of these WhiskEys can be enjoyed in our dedicated Whisky Bar located in the North City venue.
Reserve your table now or chance your luck and call in!
“On July 17, 2017, The Irish Whiskey Association welcomed the signing of the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement in Tokyo. It is the largest trade deal negotiated yet by the European Union.”
“Japan is currently the largest market in Asia for Irish whiskey”