Knives and Drinks!

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cbach8tw said:
So I have to ask, not that I know the difference, but what is the taste difference between Scotch and Irish Whiskey? I have heard the Irish whiskey limited or production by the Crown and that Irish is making a comeback. Do you like the differences?
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Short answer, it depends. If talking about single malts, both are made from 100% malted barley. Generally, scotch is peated and Irish whiskey is not (although there are exceptions). So scotch is often smokier. Irish whiskey can be a bit smoother in general. That's not to say Irish whiskey can't be complex though. The quality of either really depends on the individual single malt.

Single Pot Still is its own thing, made from a mix of malted and unmalted barley. These are quintessentially Irish. Some, such as Green Spot and the single pot stills from Powers, have a green apple note. For a more red fruit note, Redbreast 12 is probably the most famous single pot still and quite lovely. (Redbreast 12 is an easy recommendation.)

More common Irish whiskeys like the basic Jamesons, Powers Gold, or Paddy's are blended Irish whiskeys. They can contain a mix of single malts, single pot stills, and unspecified grain whiskeys. Like their counterparts in scotch, such as Johnnie Walker, Dewar's, or Cutty Sark; some people look down on these due to the inclusion of those more affordably produced grain whiskeys. On the one hand, it makes the finished product more affordable. On the other, it does represent something of a compromise if you are looking for the full flavor of a single malt or single pot still. That's not to say that they are necessarily bad but something to think about. Also, not all blended uses questionable "grain whiskey". One I rather like is The Irishman Founder's Reserve, which is a blend of only single malt and single pot still.

While "grain whiskey" gets a bad rap from the cheaply produced stuff added to blends, there are good grain whiskeys. For instance, Teeling Single Grain is a nice Irish whiskey made from corn. If someone likes bourbon, the Teeling Single Grain is worth a try. The Powers Irish Rye is also a single grain, being made from 100% rye. That's the big deal on this one, as rye whiskey used to be much more popular in Ireland. The Powers Irish Rye is the first modern rye being produced in Ireland.
 
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