Irish Whiskey Types Explained: Pot Still, Malt, Grain and Blends

The short answer: Irish whiskey is distilled and aged for at least three years on the island of Ireland, and it comes in four styles: single pot still, single malt, single grain and blended.

Single pot still

Ireland's signature style. It is made at one distillery from a mash of malted and unmalted barley and distilled in copper pot stills, which gives a full, often spicy texture. Redbreast 21 Year Old is a single pot still whiskey matured in bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks.

Single malt

Made only from malted barley at one distillery, in pot stills. Bushmills 10 Year Old is a good example.

Single grain

Distilled in column stills, usually from a mash that includes maize or wheat, for a lighter style. Try Method and Madness Single Grain.

Blended

A blend of two or more of the styles above, and the most popular kind of Irish whiskey. Jameson and Bushmills Black Bush are blends; Midleton Very Rare is a premium blend released each year.

Is Irish whiskey triple distilled?

Often, but not always. Triple distillation is a common Irish practice and contributes to the lighter style many people expect, but the rules do not require it.

Whiskey or whisky?

Irish producers usually spell it whiskey. The spelling is a convention, not a legal category.

Shop the full range in our Irish whiskey collection. Delivered Australia-wide. Standard delivery is $9.99 in NSW and $15 to the rest of Australia, free on orders of $200 or more with the code FREEDELIVERY, and Express is $20. Over 18s only.