Blended Irish Whiskey
Blended Irish Whiskey is a type of Whiskey that combines two or more types of whiskeys. Blended Irish Whiskey is often smoother and more accessible than single malt or straight bourbon whiskey. This is because the different types of whiskeys used in the blend tend to cancel out each other’s strengths and weaknesses, resulting in a well-rounded flavour profile.
This initial release from the McCarthy’s range is our Premium Blend (non-chill filtered) with a triple distilled and double-casked maturation process.
Single Malt Irish Whiskeys
Single malt whiskeys are made from a single grain type, barley.
The grain is malted, which means it is germinated and dried in a kiln. The germination process releases enzymes that convert the starch in the barley into sugar. The sugar is then converted into alcohol by the yeast.
The alcohol is distilled in pot stills and then aged in oak barrels for at least three years.
Single malt whiskeys are known for their distinct flavours, which vary depending on the type of grain used, the distillation process, and the ageing process.
Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
Single Pot Still whiskey is the quintessential whiskey unique only to Ireland. It first appeared in the early 1700s when the British, who governed Ireland then, introduced a new tax on malted barley used in distillation. To reduce exposure to this tax, Irish distillers began to use unmalted barley and malted barley, with the mash distilled in a pot still, and thus Pot Still Irish Whiskey was born.
Irish Pot Still Whiskey must be made from a mash containing a minimum of 30% malted barley and 30% unmalted barley, with up to 5% of other cereals such as oats and rye added if required. McCarthy’s Irish Whiskey will release our first pot still whiskey in 2023.
Single Grain Irish Whiskey
Single-grain Irish whiskey is made with malted barley, but not more than 30% of the mash bill. The remainder of the mash bill can be other grains such as corn, maize, wheat, rye, or a combination of grains. Single-grain Irish whiskey is distilled using a Column Still rather than the more traditional pot still.
