Irish Whiskey Reviews

World Rum Day on July 12th inspired this review of Killowen Rum & Raisin Single Malt. Killowen distills its own Dark Rum and then uses its rum casks when finishing this single malt sourced from Great Northern Distillery.  Killowen is one of the smallest Irish distilleries, located in the Mourne Mountains of County Down. Despite its small stature, the artisinal methods of bonding, blending, and distilling have amassed a huge following of enthusiasts known as the Killowen Kult. Killowen's Dark Rum is made from sugar and blackstrap molasses distilled in a thumper keg, a type of mini still that makes a...

The Writers' Tears Irish Whiskey brand, the brainchild of Walsh Whiskey, pays tribute to the famous Irish literary giants like Shaw, Joyce, and Wilde who sought writing inspiration in whiskey. Our review of the Double Oak expression is inspired by the month of June, particularly Bloomsday (in honor of James Joyce Ulysses) and National Cognac Day (to highlight the whiskey's finish).  The original Writers' Tears launched in 2009 at a time when the Irish Whiskey had yet to re-emerge into the new renaissance we know now. The significance of the brand (and its cousin The Irishman) was its unique style....

Foxes Bow started in late 2021 as an independent bottler. The brand is named for the little street in Limerick between William and Thomas streets. The street has an unusual distinction of different spellings all within meters of one another (and Google maps): Foxes, Foxe's, Foxs, and Fox's.  You can read more about the history of the location and name here .  Foxes Bow launched in the USA in 2023, starting with Texas. The brand's initial release was a 43% abv blend sourced from Great Northern Distillery with no caramel color added. The non-age statement blend is non-chill filtered and...

  The Shed Distillery in Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim is home to a range of innovative spirits derived from "the curious mind" of owner/founder P.J. Rigney. Launched in late 2014, the Shed Distillery produces the popular Drumshanbo Gunpowder Gin (using Chinese tea and Irish botanicals), Sausage Tree Vodka (distilled with African sausage tree fruit), and a range of single pot still and single malt Irish Whiskeys. The brand logo features the mythical creature, 'jackalope', a jackrabbit with antler horns. In this context, I like to think of Drumshanbo's brand mascot like the Irish Easter bunny bringing whiskey to of age drinkers...

  Jameson Original blend is the biggest selling Irish Whiskey in the world. The popular brand is a blend of single pot still and grain aged in bourbon and sherry casks. The Jameson range has varied over the years with now discontinued 12yr and Gold varieties replaced with Black Barrel and beer finished expressions. In the last few years the range has expanded with the release of several 3 cask aged offerings under the Triple Triple moniker. The Triple Triple range of Jameson blends consists of the traditional bourbon/sherry maturation with a third cask finishing. The first release utilized a...