Whiskey Raiders suggests the top Irish whiskeys to enjoy on St. Patrick’s Day, regardless of your budget.

Saint Patrick's Day

St. Patrick’s Day is fast approaching, and we have the perfect guide to help you choose the ideal Irish whiskey for your budget.

St. Patrick's Day is a really fun holiday, and it's extra special this year because it falls on a Friday. That means people can party without worrying about waking up early for work the next day. If you want to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, you should definitely have some Irish whiskey on hand. It doesn't matter if you want something cheap or something fancy, we have suggestions for the best Irish whiskeys to drink on St. Patrick's Day no matter what your budget is.

We will present you with two alternative options and our top choice for the best Irish whiskey based on different price ranges.

Top Irish Whiskeys You Can Buy for $30 or Less

A Recognition for Excellence: Bushmills Red Bush Whiskey ($25)

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The Red Bush whiskey made by Bushmills may not be exceedingly intricate, but it is a sound choice for its cost. This whiskey is ideal for drinking over ice or in a mixed drink due to its agreeable flavor profile that is both fruity and sweet. It is a preferable option to the well-known Jameson whiskey, and can be purchased for a comparable price. Overall, Red Bush is a pleasant and easy-to-drink whiskey.

Notable Mention: Busker Single Grain Whiskey ($30)

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The Busker's Single Grain whiskey has a potent alcohol content of 44.3% and is matured in a mix of bourbon barrels and Marsala wine casks. This is one of the main products of the Irish brand. Compared to other Irish whiskeys in the same price range, this whiskey offers a more impressive taste experience, with discernible flavors of baked apple, cinnamon, honey, and vanilla bean. It's overall a delectable and richly flavored whiskey that's sure to please even the most discerning whiskey connoisseur.

Many people recognize the 44.3% ABV level as a significant increase from the typical 40% ABV standard in Ireland.

Second Place Honorable Mention: Roe & Co Whiskey ($26)

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At its strength of 45% alcohol, Roe & Co. whiskey is a mixture of malt and grain that has been matured in barrels that once held bourbon. It is a great value for its price as it offers a pleasant taste. On the nose, it has a sweet scent with prominent honey notes. Upon tasting, Roe & Co. reveals a moderately intricate flavor profile that includes hints of apples, cinnamon, toffee, and newly baked pastries.

It's going to be difficult to find a better whiskey than Roe & Co. in this price range. Similar to Busker, it has a higher alcohol level than the Irish whiskey norm of 80, which makes it stand out. Plus, the different flavors in Roe & Co. are well-balanced.

Top Picks of Irish Whiskeys within $31-$60 Price Range

"Recognizing Excellence: Bushmills Prohibition Recipe Irish Whiskey Peaky Blinders Limited Edition ($31)"

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Bushmills has recently teamed up with the popular television program "Peaky Blinders" to produce a brand new release. If you enjoy the show, it is a must-have item for your collection. Even if you are not a fan, it still makes for a great purchase as it is sweet, creamy, nutty, and has a decently thick texture. The whiskey has fruity notes and is also slightly peppery, providing a unique taste. Bottling it at 92 proof was a smart decision made by Bushmills, so congratulations to them.

An honorable mention goes to McConnell's for their $33 product.

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When you come across McConnell's, you'll immediately notice its green label, gold cap and embossing – a perfect match for St. Patrick's Day. This alone might be enough reason for you to consider buying it. But beyond the festive aesthetic, the actual whiskey is pretty decent. It's bottled at 42% ABV and aged for five years in ex-bourbon barrels, resulting in a light and non-offensive whiskey that's perfect for after dinner drinks. Upon sipping, you'll get a buttery texture and loads of sweet dessert flavors.

Although not the most intricate Irish whiskey available, McConnell's is a reliable option. What sets it apart from other similarly priced brands, however, is its five-year age statement.

Teeling Small Batch: The Top Choice of Irish Whiskey within the $31-$60 Price Range at $37.

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Teeling Small Batch is a top-notch Irish whiskey that has been distilled by Teeling and matured in rum casks. It offers a fantastic value for money and beats other Irish whiskeys that cost twice as much. It's a steal at under $40 and can be found for as low as $27 in some regions.

The Teeling Small Batch whiskey offers a unique combination of sweetness and complexity, considering its affordable price tag. Anticipate savoring flavors of rich, sugary butter, creamy caramel, a hint of spiced rum, sweet brown sugar, subtle pepper, and delicate oak notes.

According to the spirits critic Jay West from Whiskey Raiders, Teeling Small Batch is an exceptional Irish whiskey that exceeds expectations for its value. In fact, West believes it should be the benchmark for anyone interested in discovering Irish whiskey.

Top Picks of Irish Whiskeys in the $61-$100 Range

Noteworthy Recognition: Clonakilty Single Batch Irish Whiskey with Double Oak Finish ($65)

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The Clonakilty Double Oak Finish whiskey is a unique mix of cask finishes, combining whiskey that has been aged in ex-bourbon casks with whiskey that has been aged in virgin American oak and re-charred and toasted wine casks.

This whiskey was bottled at a strength of 43.6% alcohol by volume. It has a decent thickness on the palate and flavors of honey, almonds, a hint of oak, toffee, buttery caramel, and candy.

Clonakilty's latest release is truly exceptional. It boasts a unique complexity that sets it apart from other Irish whiskeys of its time.

Honourable Mention: Egan's Guilty Verdict ($100)

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Moving on to the older whiskeys on the list, we have Egan's Conviction. This particular whiskey underwent a ten-year aging process and was subsequently finished with XO sherry casks. Boasting an alcohol content of 92 proof, it has a subtle aroma and a smooth texture. This whiskey is rich in flavor, with hints of buttercream, lavender, toffee, peaches, and oranges, and concludes with a pleasant oak finish.

Even though the recommended cost for this particular type of whiskey is $100, in various locations, it can be obtained for approximately $70.

Top Irish Whiskey Choices between $61-$100: Redbreast 12-Year-Old Whiskey ($66)

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Redbreast 12 is an Irish whiskey created using a pot still and matured in a blend of sherry and bourbon barrels.

Even though it has a low alcohol content of 80, Redbreast 12 doesn't taste weak at all and has a strong delicious flavor. It's a great choice for any bar because everyone loves it. Whiskey enthusiasts adore this drink, but even those new to whiskey will enjoy it because of its sweet taste and low proof.

The Redbreast 12 whiskey has a flavor profile that includes sweet notes of toffee and honey, as well as the fruity taste of currants and raisins. Additionally, it has a pleasant aroma of fresh-baked bread and a hint of caramel taste.

Top-rated Irish Whiskeys over $100

Waterford Ballybannon Receives Honorable Mention at $109 Price Point.

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Produced by Waterford Distillery located in Ireland, this selection is one of the limited quantity of peated releases from the brand of Irish whiskey.

With a strong and smoky odor, this whiskey brings back memories of Islay scotch, which is expected since Islay is famous for using peat to give their whiskey its flavor. When tasting it, the flavors of cream, honey, straw, peach, mango, and crème brûlée all come through nicely.

Waterford has achieved a great victory with their latest creation, as the fruity and sweet distillate perfectly blends with the smoky peat to create an amazing flavor.

Redbreast 21 Year: A Worthy Contender for Top Honors ($250)

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Redbreast 21 is a more advanced version than Redbreast 12 both in terms of age and alcohol content, with 21 years of aging and 92 proof. Although it is a bit costly, the price is justified by its exceptional quality. This whiskey has a delectable taste with hints of brown butter, toffee, rising dough, apples, brown sugar, maple, cinnamon, and caramel. Redbreast 21 is a delightful and exquisite whiskey with a sweet, dessert-like taste.

The Top Irish Whiskey Over $100: Gold Spot ($284)

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It's quite challenging to find this particular whiskey, and the cost varies significantly, with some bottles being sold as low as $125. However, once you manage to acquire it, you will be pleased with your investment.

This high-quality Spot Irish whiskey by Mitchell & Son has been aged for nine years and is bottled at 51.4% ABV. It boasts a rich and viscous texture, along with a complex flavor profile. On the nose, you'll detect sweet notes of custard, buttercream, sugar, crème brûlée, coconut, and orange peel. The palate is equally delightful, featuring hints of honey, berries, cherry, orange peel, vanilla cream, and a flavorful, tannic spice. The finish is long-lasting and perfectly balanced, with just the right amount of sweetness and spiciness.

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