Irish whiskey is one of Ireland’s most famous exports, loved around the world. And, as its long history might imply already, there’s a lot to know about the spirit. Some information is just interesting, some really entertaining. That is why we collected ten fun facts about Irish whiskey that you can impress your friends with.
Angels are fans of Irish whiskey
During maturation, a bit of the whiskey evaporates from the barrel. This loss is called the “angel’s share” by distillers. In the Irish climate, the angel’s share can make up about 1 to 3% each year the whiskey is stored in the barrel. That’s a lot of whiskey for the angels if you think about the amount that is produced and matured in the country.
Irish Whiskey must age for at least three years – and one day
To earn the name Irish whiskey, the spirit has to mature in a wooden cask on Irish ground for at least three years. The same amount of time that the Scottish expect from their Scotch. Some say this is the reason that Irish distillers make sure to mature their whiskey for at least three years and one day. Another, a bit less fun reason, might just be to ensure respecting the three-year rule.
Many Irish whiskeys are also matured far longer, developing deeper flavours over time.
Irish whiskey is one of the oldest spirits in the world
This is also a battle between the Irish and the Scottish: who invented whiskey? While the debate might never really be settled – you can read more about it in this blog post – it is certain that Irish whiskey is one of the oldest spirits in the world.
Irish monks are believed to have brought the art of distillation to Ireland as early as the 12th century. Back then its main purpose was medicinal, which also explains the origin of the name: The word whiskey comes from the Irish uisce beatha, meaning “water of life.”
The oldest licensed whiskey distillery is in Ireland
Supporting the claim that Irish whiskey is older than Scotch is this fact: The oldest licensed whiskey distillery is in Ireland. The Old Bushmills Distillery, located in County Antrim, was granted a royal license to distill whiskey in 1608.
Irish Whiskey is the fastest-growing spirit in the world
The Old Bushmills Distillery is also one of the only two being active in Ireland since their foundation – the other one being Old Middleton. After years of having the monopoly around the world, prohibition took a toll on Irish Whiskey and of at least 28 distilleries active in the 1890s, only these two remained.
Luckily, however, Irish whiskey has experienced a renaissance since the 1990s and has been the fastest-growing spirit in the world for years. Today, there are more than 40 distilleries in the country.
More fun facts about Irish whiskey:
- Irish whiskey is written with an e, Scottish whisky without it. This was mainly decided for a better differentiation.
- Most Irish whiskey is triple distilled, creating the smooth, light style the spirit is famous for. And again, of course, separating the spirit from Scottish whisky. Scotch is mostly double distilled.
- Single pot still whiskey is uniquely Irish. This version of Irish whiskey is a mixed mash of malted and unmalted barley distilled in a pot still in a single distillery. It is said to have a thicker texture than other malt whiskeys.
- The climate matters a lot during the maturation process. How does it influence the whiskey? Find out in this blog post on regional influences on Irish whiskey.
- Dublin was once the whiskey capital of the world, housing famous distilleries like Jameson, Powers, and Roe. Especially the so-called Golden Triangle in the Liberties was famous for its whiskey production. Then, most distilleries in the country closed. Today, the area is again home to several modern distilleries.
source header image: Sam Barber on Unsplash
