Irish whiskey (spelled with, or without, the "e") applies to any whiskey that is made in Ireland, has been aged in barrels for at least three years, and can only have water and plain caramel coloring as additives.

 

It does not have the same restrictions that terms like Scotch or Bourbon do, although most of the Irish whiskeys on the market are made from either malted or unmalted barley and are generally considered to be very approachable.

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Lighter bodied than bourbons and generally without the earthy peat notes of Scotch, Irish whiskeys are an excellent go-to choice for an easy-drinking spirit that delivers a fine balance between grain character and barrel character, retaining enough the grain sweetness without sacrificing the flavors of the wood.