Food & Drink
Irish Whiskey Deep Dive Quiz
Pot stills, triple distillation, 40+ distilleries — how deep is your Irish whiskey knowledge?
Pot stills, triple distillation, 40+ distilleries — how deep is your Irish whiskey knowledge?
Irish whiskey went from over 80 distilleries in the 19th century to just 2 by the 1980s — and has since roared back to more than 40 operating distilleries today. This 50-question quiz covers the full story: from Bushmills' 1608 license to the unique single pot still style, the renaissance led by Cooley and Teeling, and everything from triple distillation to poitin legalization.
Triple distillation produces a smoother, lighter spirit compared to the double distillation typical of Scotch. The extra distillation run removes more congeners (flavor compounds), resulting in the characteristically approachable, clean taste Irish whiskey is known for.
Single pot still whiskey is a style unique to Ireland, made from a mix of malted and unmalted barley distilled in copper pot stills at a single distillery. This style originated partly to avoid a British tax on malted barley and produces a distinctively creamy, spicy character.
Old Bushmills Distillery in County Antrim holds a license to distill granted by King James I in 1608, making it one of the oldest licensed distilleries in the world. However, whiskey production in Ireland likely predates this license by centuries.