Whiskey Blog

The word “whiskey” is derived from the Gaelic phrase “uisce beatha”, meaning “water of life.” Grain whiskey made in Ireland is called Irish whiskey. There are a few varieties of Irish whiskey. The categories depend on the ingredients. Whiskey made only from malted barley is called single malt Irish whiskey. If it is made from a mix of malted and un-malted barley, it is called Pure Pot Still Whiskey. Blended whiskey is made from a mixture of malted barley and un-malted grains like corn or wheat.

Malted barley is barley that is soaked in water until it reaches the point of germination. It is then dried with smoke. Unlike Scotch whiskey, peat is not added to the fire that is used to dry the barley for most malt Irish whiskey. This causes Irish whiskey to have a smoother, sweeter flavor.

Irish whiskey is usually distilled three times. There are two different kinds of still used to distill Irish whiskey, pot stills and column stills. Single malt whiskey is distilled in a pot still. After the malted barley is dried, it is ground into grist. The grist is then mixed with water in a mash tun. The sugar solution this produces is called wort. The wort is mixed with yeast and allowed to ferment until it becomes a liquid called wash. The wash is then distilled in large copper pots.

Grain Irish Whiskey is distilled in a column still. Column stills have two columns. Steam rises and wash descends several levels in the first column. The second column removes the alcohol from the wash. The alcohol then circulates until it is at the correct level. Then the alcohol is allowed to condense. A column still can achieve a higher level of alcohol than a pot still.