The Best Irish Whiskeys to Drink on St Patrick's Day for Every Price Range | whiskey thief (2023)

The St. If you're planning on celebrating St. Patrick's Day this year, you better have Irish whiskey on deck. Whether you're looking to drink something solid on the cheap or want to go all out and enjoy a deliciously complex shot, we've got you covered with the best Irish whiskeys to drink this St. Patrick's Day, regardless of price. range.

For each price range, we'll give you two finalists, then our pick of the best Irish whiskey to buy.

The Best Irish Whiskeys for $30 or Less

Honorable Mention: Bushmills Red Bush ($25)

Buy now|read our review

Bushmills Red Bush is not a bottling that will blow you away with its complexity, but for the price it is quite solid, good on the rocks or in a cocktail. It is a light, pleasant, fruity and sweet whiskey that will beat Jameson's world classics at the same price.

Honorable Mention: Busker Single Grain ($30)

Buy now|read our review

Bottled at 44.3% abv, The Busker's Single Grain is aged in a combination of bourbon barrels and Marsala wine barrels. This is one of the main input expressions of the Irish brand. This whiskey is a significant step up from standard Irish whiskeys in its price range, offering flavor notes of roasted apple, cinnamon, honey and vanilla. This is a sweet and savory whiskey with a lot going for it.

The 44.3% ABV mark is considered a considerable increase over the Irish standard of 40%.

Honorable Mention 2: Roe & Co ($26)

Buy now|read our review

Sitting at 90 degrees, this is a blend of single malt and grain whiskey aged in bourbon barrels. For the price, this sweet whiskey is a home run. Sweet and smooth on the nose, Roe & Co. offers a very complex palate with hints of apple, cinnamon, caramel and freshly baked cakes.

In this price range, Roe & Co. it will be hard to beat. Like the Busker, the 10-point proof over standard 80 Irish whiskey is much appreciated, and there are several flavors here that are very well balanced.

Best Irish Whiskeys for $31-$60

Menção Honrosa: Bushmills Prohibition Recipe Peaky Blinders Irish Whiskey Limited Edition (US$ 31)

Buy now|read our review

This Bushmills release was a collaboration with the TV show "Peaky Blinders". If you're a fan of the show, this is a no-brainer to buy. If you're not, it's still a solid choice, sweet, creamy and nutty on the nose with moderate mouthfeel. This whiskey is sweet, creamy and fruity with a hint of pepper. Bottled at 92 proof it was a great choice, so kudos to Bushmills for that.

Honorable Mention: McConnell's ($33)

Buy now|read our review

With its green label and embossed gold cap, McConnell jumps out at you as a St. Patrick's Day-themed bottle, which might be reason enough to buy it. The juice isn't bad either. Bottled at 42% ABV after aging for five years in ex-bourbon barrels, this is a light, harmless dessert whiskey that is easy to drink. On the palate it offers a buttery texture and a lot of sweet dessert character.

McConnell's isn't the most complex Irish whiskey you'll find, but it's a solid choice, and its five year age statement elevates it above many competitors at the same price point.

Best Irish Whiskey $31-$60: Teeling's Small Batch ($37)

Buy now|read our review

Distilled by Teeling and finished in rum casks, Teeling Small Batch is our pick for best value buys across the entire Irish whiskey category. This bottling will consistently outperform Irish whiskeys at twice the price, and getting it for less than $40 seems like a steal. Depending on where you are, you might even be able to find this whiskey for as little as $27, which is absolutely ridiculous.

Teeling Small Batch is sweet and extremely complex for a whiskey of this price. Expect notes of sweet brown butter, caramel, cream, a hint of rum, brown sugar, light pepper and smooth oak.

As Whiskey Raiders spirits critic Jay West wrote in his review of Teeling Small Batch: "This is way too expensive - it should be the new gold standard for a real introduction to Irish whiskey, and it's not even here." close".

Best Irish Whiskeys for $61-$100

Menção de honra: Clonakilty Single Batch Irish Whiskey Double Oak Finish ($ 65)

Buy now|read our review

A blend of barrel finishes, Clonakilty Double Oak Finish combines whiskeys aged in ex-bourbon barrels with whiskeys aged in virgin American oak and charred and roasted wine barrels.

Bottled at 43.6% ABV, this whiskey has a moderate palate and hints of honey, almond, light oak, butterscotch, toffee and toffee.

This is a Clonakilty dynamite release. It has layers of complexity not normally found in Irish whiskeys of this era.

Honorable Mention: Egan's Conviction ($100)

Buy now|read our review

Now we are getting into the oldest whiskeys on the list. This whiskey has been aged for 10 years and finished in XO sherry casks. Bottled at 92 proof, Egan's Conviction has a smooth nose and silky palate. It has notes of buttercream, lavender, caramel, peach and orange, with an oak finish.

Although this whiskey has a suggested retail price of $100, in many markets you will be able to find it closer to $70.

Best Irish Whiskey for $61-$100: Redbreast 12 Year Old ($66)

Buy now|read our review

Redbreast 12 is a bottled Irish whiskey aged in a combination of bourbon and sherry casks.

Despite a low proof of 80, Redbreast 12 doesn't feel as watery, offering immense flavor. This whiskey is a great choice for any bar due to its universal approval rating. Whiskey lovers love this shot, but it is also extremely accessible for whiskey beginners due to its sweet profile and low alcohol content.

Redbreast 12 offers notes of caramel, honey, currants, raisins, fresh bread and caramel.

Best Irish Whiskeys Over $100

Mention of Honor: Waterford Ballybannon ($109)

Buy now|read our review

Distilled by Waterford Distillery in Ireland, this release is one of the Irish whiskey brand's few peaty releases.

Pungent and greyish, this whiskey is reminiscent of an Islay Scotch on the nose, which makes perfect sense as Islay is known for its heavy use of peat. On the palate, this whiskey features notes of cream, honey, straw, peach, mango and crème brûlée.

This is a great success from Waterford, as the distillery's sweet and fruity spirit interacts splendidly with the smoked peat.

Honorable Mention: Redbreast 21 Years Old ($250)

Buy now|read our review

An update on Redbreast 12 Year Old (21 vs. 12) and Proof (92 over 80), this bottling is pricey, but for good reason. A delicious whiskey with notes of brown butter, caramel, yeast, apple, brown sugar, maple, cinnamon and caramel, Redbreast 21 is a delicious, rich, dessert release.

Best Irish Whiskey Over $100: Gold Spot ($284)

Buy now|read our review

This whiskey is not the easiest to find (and its price is quite variable; it can be found for as little as $125), but if you get your hands on it, you won't regret the purchase.

Bottled at 51.4% ABV and aged for nine years, this premium expression comes from Mitchell & Son's line of Spot Irish whiskeys. This is a well-proven, incredibly rich and syrupy whiskey with superb complexity. Expect a sweet nose stuffed with cream, buttercream, icing sugar, crème brûlée, coconut and orange zest; a goofy palate with honey, berries, cherry, orange peel, vanilla cream and a rich tannic spice; and a long, rich finish that balances the spice and sweetness.

Here at WhiskeyRaiders, we do more than write about current whiskey events. We are the only media property that reviews whiskeys andadding the scoresand reviews from other leading voices in the whiskey world all in one place. If you're interested in getting a shot of whiskey in your morning email,Subscribe to our daily Dram Gram