Deepest, darkest Irish whiskey?

[Chuck Dye]

I wandered through a liquor store I'd not been in before and found Knappogue Castle 1995, a 13 year old single malt Irish whiskey that is nice enough stuff but is far too lightly flavored for me to buy again as, in a side-by-side comparison, I found I much preferred the ordinary Jameson's.  This has led me to look for the most strongly flavored Irish whiskey I can find and afford ($1300+ for the Knappogue Castle 1951, just for the taste test, is a bit beyond my budget.  :D)

Any suggestions?  I'm seeking the Irish equivalent to the black rums or at least the Islay single malt Scotches.

[Gewehr98]

Have you tried Red Breast?  (My favorite)

[Chuck Dye]

Have you tried Red Breast?  (My favorite)

Yes,  and enjoyed it a lot.  Red Breast, though, is not as flavorful as what I think I am seeking.  As I understand the process, blended malt whiskeys, Scotch and Irish, are blended from pot still whiskeys, often cottage industries product, and column distilled whiskeys.  The column distilled product is said to be so highly refined as to be nearly flavorless, so blends such as the standard Jameson's, Bushmill's, Powers, et al, get their color and flavor almost entirely from the pot distilled components.  Thus the flavor the Jameson's I like is the result of stronger flavored pot still whiskey diluted by nearly flavorless column still whiskey.  I would like to get into those richer, darker, undiluted pot still whiskeys.  This may well require touring Ireland and finding whiskeys not distributed internationally (or even nationally, if I have been informed correctly.)  Unfortunately, my current finances are as likely to buy me that Knappogue Castle 1951 as to get me an extended tour of rural Ireland. *sigh*

[sanglant]

link 

[Chuck Dye]

Thanks for the link, sanglant.  I am having no difficulty finding the rich, dark end of the Scotch spectrum.  Do you have a similar link for Irish whiskeys?

[Jim147]

I think the Irish get the dark color and flavor from filtering it through some dirty peat.

And I'll also say this,

Cò an caora sin còmhla riut a chunnaic mi an-raoir?

And to be serious I can't think of an Irish whiskey meeting your criteria. But I'm waiting for answers.

jim

[sanglant]

there are some there, you click on the names on the right i stick to the canadians there cheaper

[Jim147]

there are some there, you click on the names on the right i stick to the canadians there cheaper

I'm enjoying my Mist right now. It doesn't taste like dirt.

jim

[charby]

Yes,  and enjoyed it a lot.  Red Breast, though, is not as flavorful as what I think I am seeking.  As I understand the process, blended malt whiskeys, Scotch and Irish, are blended from pot still whiskeys, often cottage industries product, and column distilled whiskeys.  The column distilled product is said to be so highly refined as to be nearly flavorless, so blends such as the standard Jameson's, Bushmill's, Powers, et al, get their color and flavor almost entirely from the pot distilled components.  Thus the flavor the Jameson's I like is the result of stronger flavored pot still whiskey diluted by nearly flavorless column still whiskey.  I would like to get into those richer, darker, undiluted pot still whiskeys.  This may well require touring Ireland and finding whiskeys not distributed internationally (or even nationally, if I have been informed correctly.)  Unfortunately, my current finances are as likely to buy me that Knappogue Castle 1951 as to get me an extended tour of rural Ireland. *sigh*

I don't know much about Irish whiskey except I haven't met one I didn't like. You may want to see if you can find any cask strength Irish whiskey. That way it hasn't been cut with water to reduce the alcohol content.

[Tallpine]

Cò an caora sin còmhla riut a chunnaic mi an-raoir?

Ewe know about that? 

Bha ise uan air chall 

Bha mi ise a ghabhail dhan dhachaigh. 

[Gewehr98]

 I threw Red Breast your direction because it's a Pure Pot Still whiskey.  Looks like you're trying to find the Guinness Extra Stout of Irish whiskey.   

(Besides Red Breast, there are Green Spot, and a couple Jameson Pure Pot Still varieties)

[Chuck Dye]

No, not the Guinness, the Russian Imperial Stout of Irish whiskeys.  

If Redbreast compares to gold rums, I am seeking the equivalent to Myer's, Cruzan Black Strap, Old Monk, Lemon Hart, etc.  Better yet, I will find an equivalent to Rhum Negrita or Barbancourt Five Star.  Given that almost all Irish whiskey is triple distilled and that even the richest, most flavorful, grain liquors scarcely compare to such rums, there very probably is no such thing.  I expect to enjoy the search, though.

[grampster]

Thank you guys.  Now I'm going to have to launder my shirt because of all the slobber down the front of it after all this talk about Irish Whiskey.

Jameson and RedBreast are my favs.  I rather enjoy the light, sweetness of those whiskeys. 

[wuluf]

I dunno if this is the kind of thing you mean, but one year for my b-day my wife bought a bottle of 18 yo single malt bushmills.  It was quite a bit more tasty than the regular blend...

[SADShooter]

I haven't tried it, but the Bushmills 1608 (I think) might be closest to what you're seeking.

[Jim147]

Ewe know about that? 

Bha ise uan air chall 

Bha mi ise a ghabhail dhan dhachaigh. 

Ewer much better then I am. I just know enough to get in trouble.

I've had about three hours sleep the last two nights and I just can't seem to get little bo peep lost her sheep out of my head.
I need Great grandpa. He came over by ship and his wagon broke down in Independence, MO. He spoke it for a reason.

jim

[Tallpine]

I need Great grandpa. He came over by ship and his wagon broke down in Independence, MO. He spoke it for a reason.

Fascinating! 

All my ancestors seem to have been on the west side (an taobh iar) of the pond since before 1800.  I don't know what they spoke coming over here, but one g-g-g-gfather was born in Derry.  Gaelic origin names on both sides of the family.

It's a tough one to learn.  I do better after drinking some uisge-beatha 

[sanglant]

I'm enjoying my Mist right now. It doesn't taste like dirt.

jim

if that's Canadian Mist, you might want to buy a 50ml bottle of crown royal. o know it's high, but if you can afford it.(and are drinking it straight) it's worth the difference. (i just wish i could afford it)

[Jim147]

if that's Canadian Mist, you might want to buy a 50ml bottle of crown royal. o know it's high, but if you can afford it.(and are drinking it straight) it's worth the difference. (i just wish i could afford it)

I do like Crown Royal. Maybe a little too much.

It's much cheaper if you buy it north or south of our borders. Three bottles cost the same in Mexico as one bottle here last time I was there. My memory may be a little fuzzy on that for some reason.

jim

[sanglant]

now that's just depressing, bloody revenuers.

[Chuck Dye]

Getting closer:  I found a bottle of Bushmill's 16 year old single malt (brown label) at $69.  The label says it is aged in a succession of first American Bourbon, then olorosso sherry, then old port barrels.  I am only a couple of ounces into it, but this is yummy stuff, richer and more complex than any Irish whiskey I have tried in the past.

[French G.]

Here's something different, Wasmund's, an American pot still whisky. I got into some of this on new years and I swear it's like they figured out how to bottle smoked peat and cultural misery.   Actually quite good, but I was shocked that someone 10 miles from where I grew up was making anything other than untaxed corn liquor. http://www.copperfox.biz/index/

I got bourbon bored temporarily and got a bottle of Glenmorangie, pretty tasty.

[grampster]

For you Crown Royal drinkers.  Try a bottle of Black Velvet.  Much cheaper, tastes nearly the same.  I don't care for blended whiskey's any more, though.  I likes me M & M bourbon. (sweet and cheap)

'Course I likes me Pyrat rum too, me hearties.  I bought a bottle of Feckin' Irish Whiskey when we were in KW this winter.  Pretty good stuff.

[wuluf]

Getting closer:  I found a bottle of Bushmill's 16 year old single malt (brown label) at $69. 

if you like this, try 18yo  Jamesons Limited Reserve..