Although
the holiday of Saint Patrick is inevitably associated with beer, its cousin Irish
whiskey
is part of the celebration on March 17.
As with other great inventions, the story of its creation obeys whoever tells it.
Although the first surviving mention of whiskey appears in a Scottish document from 1494,
Ireland claims to have made this distillate several centuries earlier,
a fact that is unverifiable.
According to the Irish, whiskey came to their lands at the hands of Catholic monks and
was widely used as a medicinal supplement
, to eliminate bacteria from the body.
This is where the famous nickname “water of life” comes from,
uisce beatha in Irish (or uisge-beatha in Scottish Gaelic).
Whiskey or whiskey?
Bushmills, traditional Irish whiskey.
It is assumed that the manufacture of whiskey
did not prosper in Ireland because the religion censored the consumption of alcohol
, something that Scotland (of Anglican faith) took advantage of to develop its flagship industry.
Leaving aside the question of origin, the truth is that
the Irish are also drunk on Saint Patrick's Day
, since what is celebrated itself is the Irish culture, where whiskey is an important element.
For example,
there are several Irish folk songs dedicated to this drink
and even the verses "Oh, whiskey you are the Devil, you are leading me astray" (whisky you are the Devil, you lead me astray) were changed with the opposite intention: “Oh whiskey yer the Devil, keep leadin' me astray”.
Irish folk verses dedicated to whiskey.
Although "whisky" and "whiskey" are synonymous, the letter "e" in the word whiskey is used to mark the difference with Scotch whiskey,
calling American whiskeys (or bourbons) and those of Irish origin.
How Irish whiskey is made
Although its fame does not reach that of the Scotch,
Irish whiskey became very popular in the mid-19th century
and is a variety worth knowing.
It is a drink that
is made with water, malted barley and unmalted barley.
The last two commonly harvested in the own lands of Ireland to maintain the tradition.
Teeling, Irish whiskey whose distillery is in Dublin.
After blending and fermentation, it is distilled three times, hence its
smoother taste on the palate than Scotch.
The necessary amount of water is added to keep it between 40 and 50% alcohol and then it is stored, generally in oak barrels, for 6 or 7 years.
Both blends and single malts are produced in Ireland
, and there is also a
third variety, the single pot still.
Due to a heavy British Crown tax on the use of malt, the Irish began making their whiskey with one part unmalted barley to keep costs down.
But the result had its followers and ended up defining
a very characteristic whiskey from the country of clover.
The best Irish whiskeys to drink on St. Patrick's Day
Jameson
The most popular
of the Irish whiskeys -
and the most sold in Argentina
-
comes in three expressions.
The traditional (from $4,850), widely used in cocktails, is aged in ex-sherry barrels and then in ex-bourbon for 7 years.
It is a triple distillate, without peat, light golden in color, faint on the nose and with a light and fruity flavor.
Jameson, the most popular of Irish whiskeys.
Jameson Caskmates, in its Stout edition ($15,975), is aged in casks at Cork's Franciscan Well
brewery
.
This has added notes of cocoa, coffee and caramel to this classic Irish whiskey.
Meanwhile,
Jameson Caskmates IPA
(from $5,179)
is aged in barrels impregnated with Irish Pale Ale.
Its flavor is hoppy and soft citrus with notes of sweet herbs and spicy tones.
The persistence of fresh fruit and hops give way to barley grains and their smooth and characteristic finish.
It has 40% ABV and is ideal to drink with IPA beer.
The Jameson Black Barrel
(starting at $9,535)
is a triple distillate
, matured in ex-sherry and ex-bourbon casks, from the blend of still and grain whiskeys.
Unlike the rest of the Jamesons, the bourbon barrels are charred a second time.
It features the signature smoothness of original Jameson, with aromatic notes of spice and nuttiness, the sweetness of vanilla and the fruitiness of sherry.
Jameson Caskmate IPA Irish whiskey, ideal to drink with a beer of that variety.
Tullamore DEW
Tullamore DEW's origins date back to 1829
, when Daniel E. Williams made his way into that distillery in the Irish town, became owner, and created a whiskey so personal that he put his initials on it.
It is a
mixture of the three types of Irish whiskey
: golden grain, single malt and pot still, which produces a more complex whiskey.
Tullamore DEW (starting at $6,074) is
reinvigorating the age-old Irish tradition of drinking whiskey alongside beer
, to unlock the complementary flavors in each.
Tullamore DEW reinvigorates the age-old tradition of drinking whiskey with beer.
Beer and Tullamore DEW are cousins to malt
, because malted barley is a raw ingredient in both.
The combination of the bitter taste of beer and the sweet and smooth taste of Tullamore DEW is, for many, simply perfect.
connemara
This label belongs to a distillery dedicated to creating single malt Irish whiskey
, harvesting the grains according to 18th century methods, drying the malted barley over a peat fire.
He was several times awarded gold medals, such as "World's Best Irish Single Malt".
Its alcohol percentage ranges between 40 and 43%
and its current owner is the famous Japanese group Suntory.
The aroma of smoked peat is characteristic of Connemara.
In relation to the aroma,
the smoked peat essence is balanced with floral fragrances.
Its flavor has details of honey, almonds, spices, oak and fruit.
The expression Connemara Peat Single Malt is available in online sales sites
for around $65,000
teeling
When we talk about Irish whiskeys we cannot fail to mention the Teeling brand,
characterized by 46% alcohol.
This distillery, based in Dublin for more than a century, has stood out since its inception for carefully selecting its grains.
Thanks to that he achieved
great sales success and awards in various contests
.
Despite being considered a classic, it continues to innovate with different variations.
The
Teeling Small Batch
consists of a
hand-selection of casks that have undergone additional maturation in ex-rum casks
, imparting a complementary character and the smooth, unique flavor of Irish whiskeys.
Teeling, a classic that innovates.
In this expression, notes of rum are added to the vanilla and spices of the traditional version.
On the palate
it feels soft, sweet and slightly toasted
, with a finish of sweet spices complemented by nuances of wood.
It is obtained in online sites for $17,600
The single malt version is aged in five different wine barrels (Sherry, Port, Madeira, White Burgundy, Cabernet Sauvignon).
Like all Telling whiskeys,
it is bottled at 46% abv without chill filtration
, allowing
all the natural flavors to be retained.
The Teeling Single Grain is made with an unconventional mash bill consisting of
95% corn and 5% malted barley
, which has been triple distilled and matured exclusively in California French oak ex Cabernet Sauvignon wine barrels.
A truly unique Irish whiskey
.
In online sites, at $18,700.
bushmills
In the north of Ireland is the Bushmill Distillery
, located in the town of the same name.
It is a popular tourist attraction visited by around 120,000 people a year.
It stands out because
in the elaboration of its whiskeys it only uses water from Saint Columb's Rill
, a popular stream in the town.
Bushmills, an Irish whiskey made exclusively from water from the Saint Columb's Rill.
Bushmills
Single Malt Irish is triple malt distilled and matured for 10 years in ex-bourbon barrels
.
It has simple hints of honey and ripe fruit, but milk chocolate and lightly charred wood stand out.
It is sold online from $25,900.
Meanwhile, the
Sherry Cask Reserve Single Malt expression was matured in oloroso sherry barrels
and has a smooth, sweet and long-lasting finish.
redbreast
With 12 year old vintages, Redbreast is
a single pot still considered by many to be the best exponent of the category
.
At least that's how it appears in the Whiskey Bible (the whiskey bible) published annually by critic Jim Murray, where it obtained first place for six years.
Redbreast is produced at one of the largest distilleries in Ireland.
Redbreast is produced at the Midleton Distillery, one of the largest in Ireland
, owned by Irish Distillers, where Jameson is also made.
On the nose it is a warm and fruity whiskey, with an aroma of orange cake, notes of vanilla, caramel, nuts and raisins.
On the palate it feels oily and velvety, with a finish where sherry stands out.
According to experts, the Redbreast 12 is a must in a
well-stocked home bar.
In Argentina it is obtained online, at $27,900.
Roe & Co.
This
blend of grain whiskey and malt whiskey
was launched in 2017 by Diageo.
The premise they gave Peter O'Connor, former Bushmills brand ambassador and current Roe & Co ambassador, was clear:
"something different"
.
O'Connor
worked for two years
with Master Blender Caroline Martin to achieve a whiskey that could meet the needs of bartenders, with a
completely Irish profile.
Roe & Co, a blend of grain whiskey and malt whiskey.
They came to try 120 prototypes until they got the Roe & Co, "a new and contemporary whiskey, with more flavor."
Bottled at 45% volume and without cold filtering,
matured in American bourbon barrels
(mostly first fill).
Whiskeys from other Irish distilleries
have been used to create it
(it probably contains quite a bit of Bushmills).
On online sites, from $49,599.
Promotions and special events to try Irish whiskey in San Patricio
This March 17, several bars join the celebration offering
discounts, promotions and free tastings.
At
Best Wine San Isidro
(Roque Sáenz Peña 530), from 5 to 8 p.m. there will be
free tasting of Tullamore DEW
In addition, drinks with whiskey of that brand, specially prepared for the celebration.
Prado & Neptuno
(Ayacucho 2134, Recoleta)
, offers
20% off
measures of Jameson Irish Whiskey.
While in
Brunch, bourbon and bear
(Emilio Ravignani 1802, Palermo) there will be 2 for 1 in the Jameson Lemon cocktail.
In the Sede whiskey bar there will be special prices.
Headquarters
(Guevara 421, Chacarita) joins the party with Jameson: there will be special prices in all expressions, with the traditional one at $1,200.
And
top-selling whiskey shots, the $1,000 Irish Kick and Irish Punch.
Also, Irish music.
To crown,
two very special bottles will be opened
, coming directly from Ireland.
These are two
West Cork single malts, one aged in Sherry barrels and the other in ex-Bourbon
.
The measure, at a special price: $2,500
For its part, the Tullamore DEW brand invites you to celebrate the traditional Irish party at Maldini Rooftop Bar, at DOT Baires Shopping and at Casa Cavia.
You can
enjoy exclusive brand cocktails, such as Tully Tonic
and the traditional Irish ritual of drinking whiskey accompanied by beer.
At its location in Palermo,
Growlers
(Gurruchaga 1450) invites you to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day with a
mega-event
.
Theme decoration, green beers, live makeup, fire jugglers and three live DJ Sets.
At the Growlers brewery there will be discount passes that include whiskey in addition to beer.
There is a
pre-sale of exclusive passes
: the San Patricio pass with 50% off (a green beer and allegorical party favors, $1,999);
the VIP pass with 20% off (a green beer, a shot of Jameson Irish whiskey and VIP party favors, $3,999);
and the
Premium Rooftop
pass , for groups of four people (access to the terrace with personalized attention, four pints of green beer, a bottle of Jameson and special cotillion, for a total of $28,000).
Also in Palermo, and
although it specializes in Mexican food, Baum
(Cabrera 4427) offers to celebrate with discounts on beers and for whiskey lovers, its bar offers
a discounted measure of Jameson, at $1,300
(its usual price is $1,530 ) All night long.
At Grizzly,
the beer bar in Villa Crespo (Palestina 1107), the beers on offer ($600) will include a
free shot of Jameson Irish whiskey.
There will be cocktails like the Irish Car Bomb (stout beer with a shot of Baileys -the Irish cream liqueur- and Jameson).
More fish & chips (breaded and fried fish with French fries) as a special dish of the day, at $2,300.
And finally, those who are vacationing or residing in
Ushuaia
- where the Whiskey Live 2023 fair is already being prepared,
on July 1
- will be able to enjoy
free Jameson tastings
at the Duty Free Shop - Atlántico Sur, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
look too
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Whiskey: what is the best glass to drink it from?
