Single Grain Irish Whiskey

Single Grain Irish Whiskey is one of the more straightforward whiskey classifications once its terms are unpacked. “Irish Whiskey” means that the spirit has been distilled and matured on the island of Ireland in accordance with the legal requirements for Irish whiskey. “Single” means that all of the whiskey in the bottle has been distilled at a single distillery. And “Grain” refers to a style of whiskey made from a mash of malted cereals with or without other whole cereal grains, rather than being limited to malted barley alone. Under the Irish Whiskey technical file, Single Grain Irish Whiskey must come entirely from one distillery and be produced in accordance with the rules for Grain Irish Whiskey.

Grain whiskey is most often distilled in continuous, or column, stills rather than in pot stills, and the resulting spirit is usually lighter, cleaner and more neutral in profile than malt or pot still whiskey. For that reason it has traditionally played an important role in blends. Yet when made with care and matured well, single grain whiskey can be much more than a supporting player, offering delicacy, sweetness, texture and considerable complexity in its own right.

Ireland has produced some excellent examples of the style, and single grain whiskey has become an increasingly visible part of the wider Irish whiskey revival. Bottlings such as Greenore

helped establish the category’s reputation, while newer releases have shown just how versatile and rewarding Irish grain whiskey can be when given the chance to stand on its own.