10 Essential Irish Whiskeys to Sip This St. Patrick’s Day

Looking for the perfect Irish whiskey to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? Whether you prefer smooth and sweet or bold and peaty, this guide highlights the best bottles to raise a glass with this year. From classic distilleries to innovative newcomers, here are 10 must-try Irish whiskeys.

These whiskeys are ranked from worst to best, based on reviews from trusted critics, which Bottle Raiders aggregates and averages to determine a holistic Raided Score®. Ties are broken by the house scores by our in-house spirits critics. In any case of a tie still at that point, it’s determined by which whiskeys have the most aggregated reviews.

10. Clonakilty Single Batch Irish Whiskey Double Oak Finish ($49)

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This double-oaked whiskey is packed with complexity beyond its age. Bold honey and toffee aromas greet the nose, with subtle hints of cocoa and coffee. The palate leans into sweet butterscotch, almonds, and a pinch of pepper, complemented by light oak and caramel. The finish is moderate to long, carrying lingering notes of toffee and oak that make for a smooth and satisfying sip.

9. The Muff Irish Whiskey ($38)

(Photo: The Muff Liquor Company)

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This blend of five malt and grain whiskeys stands out with a touch of peat. On the nose, it offers sweet honey and graham cracker notes, underscored by a smoky depth with a hint of rubber. The palate follows through with a balanced mix of peat, honey, straw, and cinnamon, with a slight menthol touch adding freshness. A long finish carries lingering smoke, subtle sherry character, vanilla, and burnt sugar, making this an affordable yet complex sipper.

8. The Legendary Midnight Silkie Irish Whiskey

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A blend of five single malts, including a peated variety, finished in stout and red wine casks, Midnight is the smokiest of Sliabh Liag Distillers’ Legendary Silkie range. Its nose offers a gentle introduction of peat and ash, intertwined with notes of apples, pears and caramel. The palate is balanced with light barrel char, a hint of salinity and citrus zest, followed by a long and complex finish where creamy sweetness, honey, almonds, peaches and pears meld seamlessly with a touch of char and peat. This bottle is an excellent choice for those seeking an Irish whiskey with added smoky intrigue.

7. Redbreast 12 Year Old ($71)

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A beloved pot still whiskey with sherry cask influence, Redbreast 12 delivers a rich and inviting aroma of toffee, leather, honey and fresh-baked bread, complemented by warming spices. The palate continues the theme with honey, currants, raisins and toffee, all wrapped in a medium-bodied mouthfeel with mild heat. The long, well-rounded finish is layered with caramel, figs and spice, making this one of the most approachable yet flavorful Irish whiskeys available.

6. Keeper’s Heart Irish + Bourbon Cask Strength ($51)

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A high-proof blend of Irish and American whiskey from a Minnesota-based distillery that made waves when it hired former Jameson Master Distiller Brian Nation to be take the same position at Keeper’s Heart, this whiskey balances bold flavors with remarkable smoothness. It has earned a Raided Score® of 90, appealing to those who enjoy the strength of bourbon with the refinement of Irish whiskey.

5. Teeling Blackpitts ($69)

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A rare peated Irish whiskey, triple-distilled and aged in bourbon and Sauternes casks, Teeling Blackpitts brings a gentle smoky character that is well-integrated into its layered profile. With a Raided Score® of 91, it offers a smooth yet intriguing drinking experience. If you’d like a little smoke in your Irish whiskey this St. Paddy’s, pick up this bottle.

4. Green Spot ($66)

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A Midleton Distillery classic aged 7–10 years in bourbon and sherry casks, Green Spot masterfully balances sweet and savory notes. Its reputation among whiskey lovers is solidified by a Raided Score® of 91, making it a top choice for those who appreciate depth and complexity.

3. Natterjack The Mistake ($70)

(Photo: Natterjack Irish Whiskey)

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A limited-release Irish whiskey, Natterjack’s “The Mistake” was supposed to be finished for a year in virgin American oak — but was accidentally finished for two years. This whiskey leans toward bourbon lovers thanks to that extended time in new charred oak, and it has a nutty and toasty profile.

Toasted walnuts and chestnut appear on the nose, while the palate offers a sweet and nutty combination of chestnut, almond, and cinnamon, rounded out by hints of sourdough rolls and toasted oak. A smooth finish highlights vanilla, oak, and banana pudding, making this a standout for those who appreciate a richer, slightly tannic whiskey.

2. Four Walls Irish American Whiskey ($35)

(Photo: Four Walls Whiskey)

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Founded by three stars of the hits series, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” this blend of Irish whiskey and American rye delivers a unique tasting experience.

The nose presents the fruity brightness typical of Irish whiskey, while the palate introduces an American-influenced sweetness with layers of grain and rye spice. Praised by Wine Enthusiast with a 92 rating, this whiskey offers a delightful mix of Irish tradition and American boldness.

1. Bushmills Private Reserve 10 Year Old Moscatel Cask Finish ($65)

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Our favorite of Bushmills’ recently released new four-whiskey Private Reserve Collection, this refined single malt is aged in bourbon and oloroso sherry casks before finishing in Portuguese moscatel hogsheads.

This whiskey greets you with a buttery, wine-forward aroma layered with cinnamon, sourdough, and blueberry. The palate delivers a delightful combination of oak, tobacco, cinnamon, and ginger, with honeyed sweetness and umami mushroom notes rounding out the experience. The finish is impressively long, with an initial clean exit followed by an eruption of tobacco, grape skin, and umami richness. Deeply complex and well-balanced, this bottle is a must-try that delivers impressive quality at a reasonable price point.

This St. Patrick’s Day, explore these standout Irish whiskeys to find your perfect sip. Whether you love peat, sweetness or oak, there’s a bottle here for everyone. Sláinte!