I’m a Whiskey Expert. These Are My 5 Favorite Irish Whiskeys that Cost $50 or Less
One of the secrets to Irish whiskey's recent popularity is that it’s delicious and you don’t have to break the bank to find a wonderful dram. In fact, I would argue that overall as a category Irish whiskey is still incredibly undervalued, especially compared to Scotch or bourbon. As a result there are a number of excellent Irish whiskeys that cost less than $50—some even cost less than $40.
These are my five favorite Irish whiskey bargains that you should pick up for your home bar. Sláinte!
Bushmills Black Bush ($42)
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I always have at least one bottle of Bushmills Black Bush on hand in my home bar. The whiskey is aged in both American oak barrels that previously held bourbon and casks that were seasoned with oloroso sherry. Thanks to this combination of barrels, the whiskey has an incredibly rich flavor, so much so that I like to serve it after a meal as an almost digestif. The heart of the whiskey is Bushmills famous single malt, which is blended with column still whiskey. If you didn’t know, you’d assume that Black Bush cost well over a hundred dollars a bottle.
Related: Distillers Have Rediscovered an Age-Old Secret to Unlocking Whiskey Flavor
Jameson Black Barrel ($37)
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When I first started writing about Irish whiskey, the common wisdom about the spirit was that it was generally smooth and honeyed. What I later realized was that description was actually for just the most widely available Irish whiskey: Jameson. As it turns out, there is actually a wide spectrum of Irish whiskey flavor profiles.
While the regular and ubiquitous Jameson blend is still wildly popular, you should also consider Black Barrel, which is aged in heavily charred barrels and has a bigger flavor, which is a departure from the brand's house style. It’s perfect for making highballs and other cocktails. Black Barrel also has more pot still whiskey in its blend than the regular Jameson recipe, which adds depth and complexity.
Slane Triple Casked ($31)
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Over the last 20 years, the number of distilleries in Ireland has just exploded–last count there were 50 of them. One of the most successful of these new ventures is Slane, which is located on the grounds of famous music venue Slane Castle. The brand’s Triple Casked Whisky is, you guessed it, aged in three different kinds of barrels (virgin oak, Tennessee whiskey barrels and sherry seasoned). The impressed us so much that it was named the Best Irish Whiskey for Irish Coffee in our recent Men’s Journal Spirits Awards.
Tullamore D.E.W. XO Caribbean Rum Cask Finish ($36)
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Tullamore DEW dates back to 1829 but is often now overshadowed by the biggest Irish whiskey brands. However, its XO Caribbean Rum Cask Finish definitely deserves your consideration. The brand ages some of its mature whiskey a second time in a barrel that previously held demerara rum. Thanks to this so-called finish you get a bit of fruity rum notes in the whiskey. It works particularly well in a whiskey sour!
Lost Irish ($40)
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Lost Irish may have the catchiest name but it’s no novelty. It’s a blend of Irish grain, single malt and pot still whiskeys that is then aged in six different kinds of barrels from around the world, including ones that previously held bourbon, South African brandy, Japanese whisky and Colombian rum. It is a great all-round whiskey, which is perfect for cocktails, Irish Coffee or just served on the rocks.