5. Drumshanbo
Founded in 2014 in County Leitrim, The Shed Distillery debuted with a memorably delicious gin—but its single pot still whiskey, launched in 2020, has eclipsed its unaged sibling. A mere 3 years old, Drumshanbo single pot still is triple-distilled and includes Barra oats in its grain bill. It’s aged in both ex-bourbon and oloroso sherry casks and bottled at a soft 43 percent ABV, the ideal proof to showcase its dried fruit, toasted oak, and signature spice flavors.
[$64; drizly.com]
Powers Three Swallow Courtesy Image
6. Powers Three Swallow
According to brand owner Irish Distillers, the name is a bit of wordplay, referring to a small flask of whiskey carried by Power family coachmen, as well as to the Irish swallow, used by the distillery as a symbol of the age, quality, and purity of its products. Triple-distilled from malted and unmalted barley, Powers takes a narrower cut on the second and third distillations, and is matured in second- and third-fill ex-bourbon casks to allow the distillate to take center stage. After its initial maturation, Three Swallow is then finished in oloroso sherry casks.
[$50; drizly.com]
Glendalough Pot Still Irish Whiskey Courtesy Image
7. Glendalough
Though Glendalough has been distilling whiskey for a few years, it contracted with West Cork Distillers to produce this single pot still, matured in ex-bourbon barrels and finished in virgin Irish oak casks. The use of native oak is uncommon in Ireland, mainly seen in Midleton Very Rare’s Dair Ghaelach series (see below), which makes this Glendalough a special pour indeed. Bottled as a single cask, the whiskey’s label even specifies the very tree used to make the barrel.