We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
Raise a glass this St. Patrick's Day: 12 of the best Irish whiskeys
Try these expert-approved whiskeys neat, over ice or mixed into an Old Fashioned or Irish coffee
Tested by Callum BlackFood and Drink Testing Manager
With one of the longest whiskey-making traditions in the world, Irish whiskey is known for its lighter, fruity style.
Most, though not all, Irish whiskey is triple distilled, giving the liquid its distinctive and characteristic smoothness. You will find a smaller number of double distilled Irish whiskeys, and even a few peated options for those that like a smokey dram.
And with new distilleries constantly emerging, the Good Housekeeping Institute thought it was high time to put Irish whiskey to the test.
Best Irish Whiskey 2025
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Read on for more whisky reviews: Best world whisky | Best Japanese whisky | Best single malt Scotch whisky | Best whisky gifts
What makes a good Irish whiskey?
There are a few distinct styles within Irish whiskey to look out for. Irish malt whiskey is made from malted barley, while single malt must be produced by a single distillery. Grain whiskey — much lighter in taste and often with some floral notes — is made using a mix of malted barley and other grains and produced using a column still.
Unique to Ireland, Irish pot still whiskey uses a mix of both malted and unmalted barley, while distillers can also add a limited amount of other grains. Rich and bold, as the name suggests, they must be produced in a pot still. And finally blended – which accounts for the vast majority of Irish whiskey – combines at least two of these styles.
All must be aged for a minimum of three years in wood, and of course, must be produced in Ireland. Though ageing in bourbon barrels is common, look out for sherry and rum casks among others, as well as double-charred casks.
Taste-wise, characteristics to look out for include, yes, that trademark smoothness. But you’ll also find bright, fruity and sometimes floral notes – particularly with grain whiskies – while the barrel ageing helps impart a little caramel or butterscotch, and of course, a little wood. Look for longer aged whiskies if you particularly love those qualities.
How should I drink Irish whiskey?
With its smooth, light style, Irish whiskey is incredibly versatile. Sipping neat is a great way to discover the different flavours within each liquid; add a little ice to open up the flavour.
Irish whiskey also works fantastically well in cocktails; think an Old Fashioned, or even something simple, such as a Highball. Or opt for a straightforward mixer; we recommend a ginger ale with a squeeze of lime.
And you can’t beat Irish whiskey if you’re making one of our personal favourites, a decadent Irish coffee, with one of our best liqueurs. Sláinte!
How we test Irish whiskey
Our panel of WSET-qualified testers and consumers tested each whiskey neat, followed by some water to dilute and soften the alcohol, to bring out the core flavours more.
Score: 94/100
Capturing the aroma of sweet chestnuts, and a forest floor after the rain, this evocative dram from Method & Madness intrigues from the off.
Full of woody flavours — and even a hint of rum and raisin — this spirit has a smoothness that belies its strength. It’s great sipped on its own, paired with fruit cake, or even alongside a cheeseboard.
Key specifications
| Volume | 70cl |
|---|---|
| ABV | 46% |
Score: 83/100
This Dublin-based brand rests its small-batch whiskey in rum casks for 12 months, giving the liquid a whole load of spice.
Our panel loved its honey-caramel aroma and notes of butterscotch, toffee and rich dried fruit, and as such, think it would be perfect in an Irish coffee.
Key specifications
| Volume | 70cl |
|---|---|
| ABV | 46% |
Score: 81/100
Smelling like a fresh spring day, Green Spot’s single still whiskey has a sweet, floral aroma, with red apple and orange zest coming through on the palate.
Great for sipping, there’s just a touch of heat on the finish, so add an ice cube for a more mellow experience.
Key specifications
| Volume | 70cl |
|---|---|
| ABV | 40% |
Score: 81/100
A brilliant blend for using in cocktails, this Belfast-based whiskey has a sweet, light nose and a pleasant honey-flecked orange note on the palate. The citrus and cinnamon spice means it would pair well with ginger ale, as well as being a tasty chaser.
It's not overly complex, but at this price it's a great easy drinking option for every day.
Key specifications
| Volume | 70cl |
|---|---|
| ABV | 43% |
Score: 80/100
Created by one of the few female master blenders in the industry, Alex Thomas, The Sexton exclusively uses unpeated Irish malted barley, resulting in a pure nutty character.
Copper pot distilled for smoothness, and aged in former Oloroso sherry casks from Jerez, Spain, you’ll also find dried pineapple, candied orange and lemon peel, some cloves and nutmeg, and a little burnt sugar.
Key specifications
| Volume | 70cl |
|---|---|
| ABV | 40% |
Score: 79/100
The delicate fruit flavours of this crowd-pleasing whiskey really opens up with a dash of water. You’ll find a little vanilla, some citrus and warming spice, as well as oak and ripe apple.
Key specifications
| Volume | 70cl |
|---|---|
| ABV | 40% |
Score: 78/100
Make yourself a delectable nightcap with this complex but smooth dram. Matured in a combination of Pedro Ximénez sherry and bourbon casks, and non-chill filtered, it’s certainly flavourful. Testers enjoyed the combination of raisins, figs, a little sherry and savoury burnt almond.
You’ll find a subtle smokiness too, alongside rich woody flavours, all of which work fantastically well in an Old Fashioned.
Key specifications
| Volume | 70cl |
|---|---|
| ABV | 46% |
Score: 77/100
Sweet and light, if you’re new to Irish whiskey, then this would make a good starting point.
There's dried pineapple and papaya on the nose, and a subtle pepperiness on the palate. Though there’s not a long-lasting finish here, there is an enjoyable burst of sweet vanilla. Sip neat or add a little water to open up the flavours.
Key specifications
| Volume | 70cl |
|---|---|
| ABV | 40% |
Score: 77/100
Sherry casks can add a beautiful nutty, fruity and saline quality to whiskey. And this dram is no different.
Made with a high proportion of pot still and malt whiskeys, matured in a combination of bourbon and sherry casks for 12 to 15 years, you’ll find lots of spice, alongside notes of dried apple and pear on the nose.
Key specifications
| Volume | 70cl |
|---|---|
| ABV | 40% |
Score: 74/100
This powerful whiskey is not for the faint-hearted. American oak casks, and Oloroso sherry butts help give this whiskey its punchy, woody flavour.
There’s plenty of dried fruit, and of course, a little spice. In fact, it divided our panel, with half loving its vibrant flavour and mouthfeel, and others finding it over-powering.
Key specifications
| Volume | 70cl |
|---|---|
| ABV | 40% |
Score: 73/100
Just like the Jameson you know and love, but better. Triple distilled, and aged in twice charred bourbon barrels, this whiskey has an intense smokey flavour, followed by vanilla, nuts and a little butterscotch and fudge.
Harness its powerful punch by adding soda to make the classic Highball serve; you’ll still get all that delicious flavour, just in a longer drink.
Key specifications
| Volume | 70cl |
|---|---|
| ABV | 40% |
Score: 73/100
Previously known as Founder's Reserve, The Irishman is a spicy whiskey, with notes of toffee apple, menthol and grass. Like the Jameson above, testers thought it would be best served in a Highball.
13 March 2025: This article was updated to reflect the latest prices and stock levels. We also updated the headline and added links to related Good Housekeeping content.
Stacey looks after all food and drink reviews — from coffee pods and veg boxes, to natural wine and tequila. Stacey is also founder of Crummbs, where she’s written nearly 2,000 restaurant and hotel reviews since 2013. Prior to this, Stacey wrote hundreds of in-depth buying guides for the Independent, i newspaper and BBC Good Food, as well as reviewing restaurants and interviewing celebrities in her column at Balance Magazine. Stacey has also appeared in BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Blood, Sweat & Takeaways, where she investigated South East Asia's food production industry, appearing on both Newsnight and BBC World Service to share her findings. Regularly checking out the latest restaurants, bars and product launches, Stacey also loves experimenting with recipes at home, and is a WSET-certified wine and spirits expert, with over 10 years of experience in the business. You can follow Stacey on Instagram @crummbs_uk
Callum is our Food and Drink Testing Manager and has been part of the world of professional catering for 10 years, from cheffing to food manufacturing. While working in manufacturing he specialised in bespoke product and menu development for several start-ups and well-known brands such as Wrap It Up! and HOP Vietnamese. He holds the WSET Level 2 in wine, a Level 3 in spirits and has a particular interest in agave spirits.
Best beauty advent calendars 2025
12 best flavoured gins, expert tested
The best afternoon tea deliveries to order now
The best dry gins to try in 2025
