“Whisky is liquid sunshine”

George Bernard Shaw made the observation: “Whisky is liquid sunshine.” Being Irish, you know he meant Irish whiskey. And, today is International Irish Whiskey day. So, let’s all get some sunshine. Ironically, most Irish whiskey drinkers don’t see much sunshine, since they spend their time in dark pubs, or so the stereotype goes. However, statistics show that the Irish drink more Whiskey per person than any other country. Studies show they drink 14 liters per person per year. The USA comes in a distant second at a little over 3 liters. Despite efforts by the government to decrease alcohol consumption on the Emerald Isle, it actually went up over the past few years. But, on the positive side, the majority of Irish drinking takes place at home, as opposed to the pubs. Of course, the pub owners may not be thrilled about that.

So, what is so appealing about Irish Whiskey? There are plenty of Whiskeys out there: Scotch, Canadian, American, Rye, Bourbon, and more. The differences are relatively subtle. But, they do exist. Irish whiskey and scotch use similar ingredients. Barley is the main grain. Many scotches have a smoky Peat edge that Irish does not. The biggest difference, though, is in the distilling process. Scotch is distilled twice, while Irish whiskey is done 3 times. The result is a smoother drink. The difference between Irish and American Whiskeys is the type of grains used. The predominant ingredient in Irish Whiskey is barley. Americans use corn, wheat, or rye over barley. And, Canadian whiskey uses a multiple distillation process. Rye is the preferred grain, generally blended with other grains. They distill corn, rye, wheat, and barley separately, then blend them together, as a opposed to the Irish single pot method.

If Whisky is liquid sunshine, it’s time to get tanned

Getting a pub tan is an old adage remarking on the ruddy cheeks of people when they drink enough booze, especially whiskey. Unfortunately for some Irish, the extra flow of blood results in stereotypical behavior, like getting in fights. Something as simple as a letter can be the cause of unrest. Scotch is Whisky, while the Irish drink Whiskey. Both people have Gaelic ancestry, and are dogged persistent fighters. Plus, they both hate the Brits. So, why can’t they just get along?

They’re both Islands. And, Island people are generally happy, loving people. Whether it’s the Bahamas or a more temperate zone, all islands provide a sense of home. There’s something about being surrounded by water, even if you can’t see the sea from your particular vantage point. While the southern islands have the beaches, Northern Islanders can still work on their tan in their own way. So, put the fighting aside, and whip out the tanning butter (AKA whiskey). After all, Whisky is liquid sunshine.

Drink it Neat

Thanks to a huge advertising campaign, Jameson’s seems to be the most ubiquitous Irish Whiskey on the market. That doesn’t mean they’re the best or oldest. Bushmill’s claims to be the oldest licensed Irish whiskey producer in Ireland. But, that claim comes with a caveat. Kilbeggan got their license from King James in 1608. The distillery was out of commission for most of the 20th century. But, the license was paid for, even when not in use. Somehow, Bushmill’s laid claim to the License, even though there is no familial link to the original owners. Regardless, that sounds like politics. For real political strife, try pitting Bushmills and Jamesons against each other. Jameson’s is from the Catholic Part of Ireland, while Bushmill has protestant roots.

Trying to figure out who was first, who’s religion is best, substantiation vs consubstantiation and who has the better rugby team is enough to restart the troubles, and more reason to drink Irish whiskey. Luckily, there’s plenty of it around. And, if you’re going to drink like an Irish man (or woman), the best way to have it is neat. IF you prefer it a little colder, a couple ice cubes are okay. But, not too many. You don’t want to water it down.

Then again, the times they are a changing. So, why not experiment a little. Whiskey has a long history as a cocktail base. And, since “Whisky is liquid sunshine”, why not take it out in the light and experiment?

Can you really mix it if “Whisky is liquid sunshine”?

Irish whiskey popularity has its own ebbs and floe. While licensing dates back to 1608, the heyday for liquid sunshine was the 18th century. In the 1750’s, the government issued over 1200 licenses to irish whiskey distilleries. By the 1790’s, reforms in the law brought the number of distilleries down to around 200. In 1821, that number dropped to 32. By the 1860’s, there were around 100. And, the numbers really declined in the 20th century. By the 1980’s, there were only 2 distillers left using the single copper pot method that distinguished Irish whiskey (Green Spot and Redbreast). Today, there are about 40 licensed distilleries.

At one point, there were 4 major producers dominating the market. And, Irish whiskey was poised to be the most popular premium whiskey. Somehow, though, scotch ended up beating them in the marketplace. Given all the ups and downs, maybe it is time to rethink Irish whiskey. And, it shows in the production. Where purity, and triple distillation were once hallmarks, modern distillers take liberties. You can find versions closer to American Whiskeys. And, others closer to Scotch. So, guess what, given the variability of the product, it’s okay to mix it. This gives us a reason to give you some recipes here. Open bottle, then drink isn’t really much of a recipe is it?

What flavors are we talking about?

Given the unique flavors of Irish whiskey it can be fun to experiment. While Scotch is noted for its Smokiness, Irish whiskey is famous for being smooth. Irish Whiskey boasts flavors like Vanilla, Fruit, Citrus, and Leather. I’m not sure when the last time was that you enjoyed chewing a good piece of leather, but, that’s how some describe it. Remember, it’s Whiskey. So, it will be strong. To qualify, it has to be above 80 proof, with many coming in over 100. That amount of alcohol will mute any of the flowery sweet flavors. Thus, mixing it is not a crime (many would beg to differ, though). There is a trend of using different barrels for aging whiskeys in recent years. And, don’t forget, Irish whiskey ages for a minimum of 3 years. Port and Burgundy barrels impart a fruitiness, and dimension of flavors that are truly unique.

This brings us back to mixing. Talk about unique. We already know about Irish coffee (read more here). But, there’s so much more to do with Irish whiskey. We encourage you to play around. Think of the fruit, vanilla, Tobacco and other flavors, and, pair ingredients that accent them. One thinks of winter more often than not. But, mostly, it’s about sweet and sour. That’s why whiskey sour was an instant hit, even if Irish whiskey isn’t always available (as in Pisco sour). You’ll find citrus and some variation of a syrup complement the sweet and backroom flavors of whiskey. Plus citrus reminds one of the beach. And, Whisky is liquid sunshine. So, without further ado, here are some drink ideas for your perfect Irish Whiskey day:

Irish Whiskey Cocktails

Here are a few cocktail recipes created by world renowned bartenders:

• Psycho Killer (run run away): 2 Oz Irish Whiskey, 3/4 oz Campari, 1/2 oz, creme de Cacao, 1/2 oz Creme de banana, 1/4 oz Absinthe, Cocoa Nibs for garnish
• Brotherhood: 1 1/2 Oz Irish Whiskey, 3/4 oz benedictine, 3/4 oz Grand Marnier, 3/4 oz Lemon Juice, Lemon twist to season the glass and garnish
• Tipperary: 1 1/2 oz Irish Whiskey, 1 oz Sweet Vermouth, 1/2 oz Green Chartreuse, 2 dashes bitters, Orange twist to season the glass and garnish

And, here are a couple ideas we came up with for your pleasure:

• Lemon Pound cake: 1 1/2 oz Irish Whiskey, 1 oz Limoncello, 1/2 oz Irish Cream, 1/4 tsp vanilla extract, Mix well, and garnish with 1/2 tsp Graham cracker Crumbs, 1 dash Grated lemon Zest, Lemon twist to season glass and garnish
• The Goblin Fairy: 1 1/2 oz Irish Whiskey, 1/2 oz Absinthe, 3/4 oz, Creme De Menthe, 1/2 oz Simple Syrup, 1/2 oz Lime Juice, Lime wedges and Turbinado Sugar to garnish

So, start your St Patty’s day celebrations early this year, and every year, with Irish Whiskey.

Slainte!