Irish whiskey is in a fascinating place right now. The category has never been broader, better stocked, or more competitive, which also means some bottles carry reputations that no longer quite match what is in the glass. This article is not about calling “bad” whiskeys bad. Many of the names below are genuinely excellent and widely loved for good reason. Taste is subjective, and these views are very much my own.
What this list aims to do is highlight where I think value, flavour, and excitement have shifted. Some well-known Irish whiskeys feel a little overrated for what they currently offer, especially at today’s prices, while others fly under the radar and deliver more character, depth, or enjoyment for the money.
Writer’s Tears Irish Whiskey over Redbreast 12 Year Old
It pains me to write this. It really does. But Redbreast 12 just is not what it used to be. Gone are the days of affordable, buttery, sweet flavours. What we have now feels flatter and less interesting than it once was, even from the ever-reliable folks at Midleton. I suppose all good things eventually come to an end.
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Writer’s Tears is a stunning, affordable Irish whiskey made from Irish single malts and Irish single pot still whiskies. Created by Walsh Whiskey in Carlow, it almost feels effervescent in character. That works beautifully, as it is designed to echo the 1920s era of Irish whiskey, when it was often described as the Champagne of whiskey.
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Fruity, sweet, light, and full of charm, it captures everything great about accessible Irish stock.
Redbreast 15 Year Old over Bushmills 21 Year Old
This one is less painful to write, largely because Bushmills 21 never quite made sense to me as a product. On paper, Bushmills 21 sounds brilliant. An Irish single malt matured in bourbon, sherry, and Madeira casks should be a winner. In reality, it just falls flat. It feels too light for its age, with very little body and not enough ABV to properly showcase those casks. At this price point, it really needs a rethink.
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READ THE STORYBack to Redbreast, and within the current lineup, this is easily the standout release. Bottled at 46%, it is super creamy, sweet, and gently spicy. A single pot still whiskey that just keeps delivering flavour. It comes in at roughly half the price of the Bushmills 21 and manages to be bigger, more fun, and far tastier.
Boann Single Pot Still Madeira Cask over Yellow Spot Single Pot Still
Another Midleton release, and another whiskey that has always felt a little overpriced for what it delivers. Yellow Spot is a classic example of Irish whiskey meeting bourbon-style sweetness. It is very creamy and sweet, loaded with baked vanilla and caramel, but it never quite pulls itself together in a satisfying way for me. Especially when Green Spot offers a similar profile for significantly less money.
Boann Single Pot Still Madeira Cask is a pot still whiskey made with oats, rye, green barley, and malted barley, matured in excellent Justino ex-Madeira casks. Flavour-wise, it is packed with chewy fruits, candied nuts, spicy green barley notes, and a finish that goes on and on. A far more compelling alternative, and usually for less money too.
The Busker Single Malt Irish Whiskey over The Sexton Irish Single Malt
The Sexton whiskey has rubbed a lot of people up the wrong way. Not because it has committed any great sins, but because it simply does not deliver what it should. It is not expensive, but even at its price point, there are cheaper and far more interesting alternatives for me. In a crowded and often expensive category, taste matters more than anything.
Produced at Royal Oak Distillery, Busker is quickly becoming one of the most popular new Irish whiskey brands. They release a lot of interesting and well-made whiskies, but the single malt is exceptional for the money. Matured in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, it is full of stewed fruit, dark chocolate, and malted barley. Truly delicious.
Jameson Black Barrel over Jameson Irish Whiskey
This one is not too painful to admit. I will always love regular Jameson. It is an important whiskey to me, and to the world at large. That said, my buying habits have shifted slightly up the ladder in search of something with a bit more depth. Jameson still delivers caramel notes and plenty of sweet grain, but there is a better option that is not much more expensive.
Jameson Black Barrel. What a bottle. In the UK, this often goes on sale for close to the price of standard Jameson, and it offers a much bigger flavour profile. Outside of promotions, it is nearly double the price, but still worth it. Loaded with baked caramel, sweet spices, gentle oak, and a medium-length finish that keeps on delivering.
