{"id":2583759,"date":"2023-10-13T14:18:43","date_gmt":"2023-10-13T14:18:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/?page_id=2583759"},"modified":"2025-03-07T15:13:07","modified_gmt":"2025-03-07T15:13:07","slug":"different-types-of-irish-whiskey","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/whiskey-guide\/different-types-of-irish-whiskey\/","title":{"rendered":"The 4 Different Types of Irish Whiskey that Define Ireland\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The 4 Different Types of Irish Whiskey<\/h1>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t
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Whether <\/span>you\u2019re<\/span> just getting into whiskey or <\/span>you\u2019re<\/span> a master at knowing your <\/span>S<\/span>ingle <\/span>P<\/span>ot <\/span>S<\/span>till from your blended, the specifics of different whiskeys on the market can often stump even the best of them. <\/span>That\u2019s<\/span> why Jameson is here with a go-to guide for understanding each whiskey, so you can know the best Irish whiskey to drink straight, the best Irish whiskey for hot whiskey and what to mix with Irish whiskey, because <\/span>it\u2019s<\/span> the subtleties that help you <\/span>truly enjoy<\/span> your serve. You ready? <\/span>Let\u2019s<\/span> get started.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

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What Defines Irish Whiskey? <\/h2>\n <\/div>\n\n \n
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What defines Irish whiskey and makes <\/span>whiskey<\/span> distinctly Irish? <\/span>Depending who you ask, you might get<\/span> different answers to this question, but if <\/span>we\u2019re<\/span> sticking to the <\/span>facts,<\/span> Irish whiskey, by law, must spend a minimum of three years maturing on the island of Ireland <\/span><\/span>to be classed as an \u2018Irish Whiskey\u2019<\/span><\/span><\/a>. Now <\/span>we\u2019ve<\/span> got the legalities out of the way,<\/span> there\u2019s<\/span> so much more to Irish whiskey than just the legal definition, and that\u2019s why Jameson has been crafting whiskey with courage and a collect<\/span>ive<\/span> appreciation for taste for <\/span><\/span>over 200 years<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u2014<\/span>let\u2019s<\/span> just say <\/span>we\u2019ve<\/span> learned a thing or two in our time. <\/span>So<\/span> if you want to tell your <\/span>Si<\/span>ngle <\/span>G<\/span>rain from your <\/span>S<\/span>ingle <\/span>P<\/span>ot <\/span>S<\/span>till, read on<\/span> to find out <\/span>different types<\/span> of Irish whiskey and what the names <\/span><\/span>really<\/span><\/span> mean<\/span>\u2026\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n\n\n

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Blended Irish Whiskey <\/h2>\n <\/div>\n\n \n
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Now we\u2019ll kick off our overview of the whiskeys worth talking about with Jameson\u2019s personal favourite\u2014and our way of making whiskey\u2014Blended Irish whiskey. Blended Irish whiskey is one of Ireland\u2019s most popular exports, so we may be biased, but we think that means it\u2019s the best\u2026 right?\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Blended Irish whiskey means that blends of a Single Grain and Single Malt whiskeys, as well as Single Pot Still Irish whiskey with its two distinctive components, malted and unmalted barely, are blended to make a whiskey which contains its own unique palette, nose and aroma. The definition for Blended Irish whiskey was coined way back in the 19<\/span>th<\/span> century by Dublin Distillers to make a lighter, more approachable whiskey\u2014and their innovation worked, Blended whiskeys are a fan favourite across the world for the base of <\/span>whiskey cocktails<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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After 200 years of honing our craft, we\u2019ve found that perfect blend from grain to glass. While every Blended whiskey will have its own edge, Billy Leighton, Head Blender at Jameson, only uses whiskeys that were reared on the grounds of the distillery,<\/a> as a result we\u2019re able to produce a wide variety of different whiskeys without having to knock on any other distilleries doors. Now, it goes without saying that to get that Blended Irish whiskey you need to first create those Single Grain and Single Malt whiskies. Let\u2019s dive into them next.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n

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Single Malt Irish Whiskey <\/h2>\n <\/div>\n\n \n
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First up is Single Malt Irish <\/span>w<\/span>hiskey, which gets its name from being made entirely from malted barley that is produced in one single distillery. While<\/span> this aspect <\/span>of\u00a0<\/span> a<\/span> \u2018<\/span>S<\/span>ingle <\/span>M<\/span>alt\u2019 might be self-explanatory, another side of the \u2018must dos\u2019 include aging the whiskey for at least three years in oak barrels and a bottling of 40% ABV or higher. <\/span>One more \u2018must do\u2019 to add to the list is that <\/span>S<\/span>ingle <\/span>M<\/span>alt whiskey is double distilled as opposed to the <\/span>quintessential style of making Irish whiskey with triple distillation.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n\n\n

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Single Grain Irish Whiskey <\/h2>\n <\/div>\n\n \n
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Now you know what\u2019s what with Single Malt Irish whiskey, now it\u2019s time to take a look at Single Grain Irish whiskey. Single Grain Irish whiskey, while made from any combination of cereal grains\u2014like whole grains or cereals\u2014is distilled in a column still in a single distillery, there can be no more than 30% malted barley in the mixture. If this sounds familiar, it\u2019s because this is a style of Irish whiskey which is quite similar to how whiskey distilleries in the United States craft their offerings.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n

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Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey <\/h2>\n <\/div>\n\n \n
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Last but not least<\/span> is Single Pot Still Irish <\/span>w<\/span>hiskey,<\/span> the <\/span><\/span>only uniquely Irish style of whiskey<\/span><\/span><\/a>. <\/span>Single Pot Still is created when malted and <\/span>unmalted<\/span> barely is triple distilled for a rich, unmistakable silkiness with distinctive pot still spices. Just like the other whiskey offerings, Single Pot Still <\/span>has to<\/span> be created with specified minimums: a minimum of 30% malted barley and 30% <\/span>unmalted<\/span> barely. This mixture of malted and <\/span>unmalted<\/span> barley is what gives the whiskey its distinctive spiciness known in the <\/span>biz<\/span> as \u2018pot still character<\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n\n\n

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Irish Whiskey FAQs <\/h2>\n <\/div>\n\n
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\n \n What is the best Irish whiskey to drink straight? <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/summary>\n
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Now <\/span>we\u2019ve<\/span> said it before and <\/span>we\u2019ll<\/span> say it again, drinking whiskey straight is all about <\/span><\/span>finding something to suit your own personal tastes<\/span><\/span><\/a>. While <\/span>we\u2019d<\/span> recommend <\/span><\/span>Jameson Original<\/span><\/span><\/a> for <\/span>your cocktails, <\/span>we\u2019d<\/span> have to go with <\/span><\/span>Jameson 18 <\/span><\/span><\/a>to mark any special occasion or to sip by the fire.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n <\/section>\n <\/details>\n

\n \n What is the best Irish whiskey for a hot whiskey? <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/summary>\n
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<\/span><\/span>Remember when we said Blended whiskeys are the best for cocktails? Well, that goes for the hot ones too. You can\u2019t go wrong with a <\/span>Jameson Original<\/span><\/a> for your <\/span>Hot Toddy<\/span><\/a> or <\/span>Irish Coffee<\/span><\/a>.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n <\/section>\n <\/details>\n

\n \n Is Irish whiskey gluten free? <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/summary>\n
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The good news is that Irish whiskey<\/span><\/span> is <\/span><\/span>gluten free. While whiskey is made from grains that <\/span>contain<\/span> gluten, it is safe for coeliacs as the protein <\/span>containing<\/span> gluten is not carried through the distillation process.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n <\/section>\n <\/details>\n

\n \n What to mix with Irish whiskey? <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/summary>\n
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Whether you\u2019re a fan of a Single Malt, or a Blended Irish whiskey is more your style, whatever way you prefer to sip, savour and enjoy your whiskey, we have a guide for that. Whether you\u2019re wondering if a ginger ale, soda water or cola is the best match for your chosen serve, you can find more details on the <\/span>best whiskey mixers here<\/span><\/a>. For those of you who prefer a classic to remain as such, then we have <\/span>a handy guide for how to enjoy your whiskey neat or on the rocks<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Now you know what\u2019s what and how to tell your blends from your Single Malt, are you ready to taste the best of Irish whiskey? Go on so, grab a glass, pour yourself a <\/span>Jameson Irish Whiskey<\/span><\/a>, and let’s raise a toast to the rich heritage and flavours of Irish whiskey. Sl\u00e1inte!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We\u2019ve explored the four different types of Irish Whiskey, it\u2019s time to explore the wider <\/span>types of whiskey<\/span><\/a> available worldwide.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n <\/section>\n <\/details>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":78,"featured_media":1889722,"parent":485849,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"Discover the history and distinct flavours of the different types of Irish whiskey. Explore the unique characteristics and traditions of each variety.","_seopress_robots_index":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[2025,2018,2012,2028,2020,2013,2015,2030,2026,2027,1626,2023,2024,2016,2022,2021,2014,2019,2029,2017],"our-world-category":[],"class_list":["post-2583759","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-20th-century","tag-best-irish-whiskey","tag-best-irish-whiskey-for-hot-whiskey","tag-best-irish-whiskey-to-drink-straight","tag-blended-irish-whiskey","tag-different-types-of-irish-whiskey","tag-grain-whiskey","tag-irish-whiskey-brand","tag-malted-and-unmalted-barley","tag-northern-ireland","tag-our-whiskey","tag-republic-of-ireland","tag-scotch-whisky","tag-single-grain","tag-single-malt-irish-whiskey","tag-triple-distillation","tag-united-states","tag-water-of-life","tag-what-to-mix-with-irish-whiskey","tag-whiskey-distilleries"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2583759","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/78"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2583759"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2583759\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3217719,"href":"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2583759\/revisions\/3217719"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/485849"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1889722"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2583759"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2583759"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2583759"},{"taxonomy":"our-world-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/our-world-category?post=2583759"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}