If Scotch is the first thing that pops into your head when you hear whisky, it’s time you broadened your horizons.
A whole new range of whiskies are not just giving Scotch whiskies a serious run for their money – but are helping broaden the appeal of the spirit to a younger, newer 2010s audience. Leading the way is Irish ‘Whiskey’ and there’s more to this historic spirit than the extra ‘e’.
Backdrop
Mention whiskey to any Irishman (or woman) and you will almost always hear about how Irish whiskey outsold Scotch till the late 19th century. A series of blows kept striking at the very heart of the industry.
First, the famine that devastated Ireland in the 1840s and 50s. Then, high taxation imposed by the then British government (The Irish still haven’t forgiven them for that) and a massive fire that swept through the streets of Dublin in 1875 triggered in a whiskey warehouse. Dublin was then the world’s whiskey hub.
Whiskey vs Whisky
For all of you who’ve always been confounded by the extra ‘e’ and wondered if one was really all that different from the other, here’s listing some basic differences that’ll make you a pro.
Almost all Irish whiskey is distilled thrice in pot stills; by contrast, most Scotch whisky is distilled twice.
Most Scotch whiskeys use malted barley; the Irish use malted barley but may add other grains in the mix.
All of this lends relatively smoother, softer and fruitier tones to the Irish whiskey.
The Irish Whiskey Trail:
There’s no better place to begin your Irish whiskey initiation than where it all began. Here are five must do stops that make a fascinating trail:
Irish Whiskey Museum, Dublin
A museum dedicated to whiskey? This is probably the first of its kind in the world!
Situated right in the heart of the city, you need to visit this place for its immersive exhibits and its well-informed guides (who will occasionally pepper with you a generous dose of Irish humour).
If you have time for just one whiskey stop in Dublin, this is it.
Slane Castle
You may credit Ireland’s most famous band (U2) for putting this place on the map.
The band has given some incredibly spirited performances at the historic Slane Castle (a 45-minute drive from Dublin).
It’s also a great setting to learn about Irish whiskey: the castle organises tasting sessions in one of its many stately rooms with a whiskey expert. I was pumped to receive a certificate (a tad easier than most of my academic pursuits) for completing a quick education (and tasting) on Irish whiskeys.
Incidentally, this also included Slane’s own blend.
Duke of York Bar, Belfast
If I were to recommend ONE whiskey bar for your trail it would be this historic bar that was accidentally bombed in 1973 by an IRA unit.
It was rebuilt and then bought over by the present management who have crammed almost 200 labels of whiskey (mostly Irish) within its quaint interiors, in Belfast’s Half Bap area. The bar’s manager – Karen Sheppard – is a storehouse of information on Irish whiskey and her favourite Irish whiskey is also my ‘go to’ Irish whiskey – the Red Breast 12-year-old.
Old Bushmills Distillery
Game of Thrones fans will recognise some of the sights along Northern Ireland’s rugged and dramatic Antrim coast.
The area is also home to Bushmills (a 75-minute drive from Belfast), the world’s oldest existing distillery with a license from King James I that dates back to 1608. You can sample one Bushmills whiskey of your choice after an engaging tour (Hint: go for their 10-year old!).
Old Jameson’s Distillery, Dublin
One of Dublin’s most popular tourist spots (the Guinness brewery is actually the most visited spot in Dublin!), Jameson’s old distillery on Bow Street dates back to 1780. It was a busy distillery through the 19th century but fell into hard times as the Irish whiskey industry’s fortunes faded.
This historic distillery has been reimagined as a visitor centre with charming bars.
Getting There and Around
Dublin and Belfast are under an hour from London; there are frequent flights from London on British Airways and Air Lingus. You can hire a car within Ireland but it’s easier to use the train network to connect from Dublin to Belfast. Also? Dublin has one of the world’s most efficient cycle sharing systems (www.dublinbikes.ie) – perfect to explore the city.
Accommodation
Dublin’s Spencer Hotel (www.thespencerhotel.com) is located in the vibrant Dockland area with easy access to the city centre. The Malmaison (www.malmaison.com) in Belfast was an old seed warehouse that has been converted into one of the most fashionable hotels in the city.
(Ashwin Rajagopalan enjoys communicating across boundaries in his three distinct roles as a widely published lifestyle writer, one of India’s only cross cultural trainers and a consultant for a global brand services firm. Ashwin writes extensively on travel, food, technology and trends.)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)