7 Irish American Whiskeys You Should Know About, According To A Whiskey Enthusiast

Ireland and the United States are two countries with a deeply intertwined history and heritage. Over the centuries, millions of Irish citizens have crossed the Atlantic, some not by choice, some fleeing famine and poverty, and others simply looking for opportunities. Despite the move, those people and their descendants' links to the Emerald Isle have remained strong — which can be clearly seen in cities like Boston, New York, and Chicago.

Naturally, St. Patrick's Day is a major occasion, both for Irish Americans and others who enjoy Irish culture or just like a good drink. What better way to celebrate than with an Irish American whiskey? The relatively new but rapidly growing concept is simple: Take the traditional spirit and add an American twist somehow. The twist in question can be added by blending distillation methods, aging a traditional whiskey in a New World way, or just throwing a liberal amount of American spirit into the mix.

Drinking whiskey is a long-standing hobby of mine. I've sampled many a dram from both Ireland and the United States. I've also written about the magical liquid, read even more about it, and never need an excuse to go on a distillery tour. Here's a selection of unique Irish American whiskeys I've highlighted, along with how each distillery has managed to celebrate Irish American culture and history with its product. So whip up some Irish cuisine, slap "Thousands are Sailing" by The Pogues on, and raise a glass of something distinctly Irish American this St. Paddy's Day.

Talnua isn't the only American distillery producing traditional Irish single pot still whiskey these days. New York's Finger Lakes Distilling, which is arguably better known for its bourbon, has its own take on the traditional Irish tipple. The distillery's single pot still effort carries the same McKenzie label as its bourbon but should be distinct from the traditional corn-based American drink.

As for Finger Lakes Distilling and Talnua, if you want some kind of distinction between the two single pot still options, McKenzie is by far the more American. So if you're a touch more Stars and Stripes than Tricolor, then this is the obvious choice for you. It doesn't just use the traditional 50/50 mix of malted and unmalted barley in its mashbill. Instead, the distillery also adds oats, creating a unique and complex take on a long-established tradition, with notes of vanilla, caramel, and fruit. The company is also registered as a farm distillery in New York — a status that obliges it to use a large number of locally sourced ingredients in its products.

As with many Irish American whiskeys, Four Walls is a blend of Irish whiskeys that has received a decent dose of rye. The rye provides the American component, with rye whiskey being a very traditional American spirit. According to its website, you can enjoy Four Walls "on its own, in a cocktail, or with your favorite beer," which presumably means you're meant to chase it down with a Yuengling or some other traditional American lager.

In addition to its flavors and the fact that it gets you in the Irish American mood on a day like St Patrick's Day, Four Walls has a bit of a pop culture tie-in that some people may find interesting. This whiskey is backed and partially developed by the stars of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia." The hilarious trio of Glenn Howerton, Rob McElhenney, and Charlie Day is aiming to recreate the spirit of the show's Irish Bar — Paddy's Pub — in an actual spirit you can drink. While you might expect notes of chaos, inappropriate humor, and episodes that aren't allowed to be aired anymore, you'll actually get a mix of sweet, toasty, fruity, and earthy flavors.

As far as we can tell, this venture probably wasn't bankrolled with Danny DeVito's character, Frank, particularly in mind. Though Frank would probably still be overleveraged on Wolf Cola anyway, and DeVito's already staked his claim in the limoncello business.

Almost all of the entries on this list involve Irish whiskeys being imported to the United States and combined with a local drink or an American distiller putting its own stamp on a traditional Irish distilling method. Natterjack Irish Whiskey isn't like that; in fact, it's quite the opposite. The spirit definitely ticks the Irish American box, as it combines aspects of both nations' spirit-crafting histories. It's an Irish whiskey produced in Ireland that uses a selection of what it dubs "American techniques" to set itself apart from the green-bottled pack.

For a start, the mashbill is very American, with only 20% barley and 80% corn. The triple-distilled spirit is then aged in ex-bourbon barrels before being moved to virgin oak casks for finishing. Flavor-wise, it may be more akin to a bourbon than an Irish whiskey, though the barley component in the mashbill will certainly give it some grounding in the Emerald Isle. According to the distillers, you're likely to experience fruit, cinnamon, and vanilla on the nose, and cedar, citrus, spice, and tobacco on the palate.