It’s hard to believe that Irish whiskey was a declining category at one time and rarely used in cocktails besides an Irish Coffee. Irish whiskey is now the fastest-growing distilled spirit category in the U.S., showing double-digit growth for more than 10 years.

It was once thought that all we needed to know about Irish whiskey could be summed up in wee dram to accompany a pint of Guinness. But there’s much more to understand about the spirit. These are the basic styles of Irish whiskey.

Blended: Two or more different malted-barley whiskies blended together, often combining milder, column-distilled grain whiskey with more intense pot-still whiskey.

Single pot still: A single whiskey made from both malted barley and unmalted barley, distilled in a pot still.

Single malt: A single malted-barley whiskey distilled in a pot still.

Single grain: A single whiskey made from just one grain, as opposed to a blend of grains.

Distilleries today are turning out beautifully produced blends, single malts, single-pot-still and single-grain whiskies. As you can see from the samples tasted below, the Irish whiskey category is diverse in its many offerings: all unique and wonderful—and all terrific in an Irish Coffee. Sláinte!

CONNEMARA
Peated Single Malt
Cooley Distillery
Double distilled
Ireland’s only peated Irish whiskey is a blend of 4, 6 and 8 year old whiskies.

Nose: Initial smokiness giving way to a heather, floral quality, leading to a honey and toffee sweetness with notes of dark chocolate.

Palate: The smoke (peat) is there up front, with a slight brine/sea/medicinal character revealing a caramel, vanilla—crème brûlée—rich sweetness.

Finish: Long and memorable; when the smoke clears, you are left with this beautiful honey, chocolate, pot-de-crème reminder that goes on and on.

GREEN SPOT
Single pot still
Malted and unmalted barley
Midleton Distillery
Triple distilled

Nose: Spice—sweet vanilla and allspice, herbaceous, dried mint—ripe tropical fruits, barley malt, confectionary sweetness, baked apple and toasted oak.

Palate: Rich, viscous mouthfeel, revealing caramel and toffee sweetness, baking spices—vanilla, clove and cinnamon—baked green apple and toasted oak.

Finish: Long with lingering notes of spice, grain and oak.

GREENMORE
Single Grain
8 Year Old
Cooley Distillery
Made predominantly from corn

Nose: Corn mash—corn bread, vanilla and honey, melting into caramel, toasted oak and tropical fruits, with a nod of lemon citrus.

Palate: Here the corn shows sweetness that is somewhat bourbon-like, with big vanilla, caramel, butterscotch and toasted oak with notes of ripe peaches and tropical fruits—coconut and Bananas Foster.

Finish: Medium in length, with a passing reminder of vanilla, milk chocolate and candied pecans.

JAMESON BLACK BARREL
Blended, pot-still and grain whiskies
Midleton Distillery
Triple distilled
Sherry and specially selected toasted and charred used bourbon barrels.

Nose: Rich floral notes —honeysuckle, fresh-cut grass—orange marmalade, light spice, toasted oak, stewed fruits—nectarines, apricots and tropical fruits such as papaya.

Palate: Nice texture, well-balanced, ripe tree fruits—peach and apricot, toasted nuts, sweet sherry, caramel sweetness and a touch of vanilla followed by toasty oak and malty grain.

Finish: Long in length with a pleasant spice, toasted oak and fruit reminder and a touch of honey sweetness.

KILBEGGAN
Blended, malt and grain whiskies
Cooley Distillery
Double distilled

Nose: An earthy, green vegetal note, followed closely by sweet sherry, stewed prunes, lemon zest, toasted oak and malty grain.

Palate: Big vanilla, custard, cocoa and caramel sweetness, followed by ripe peaches and an almond nuttiness.

Finish: Medium in length, dry with a sweet nougat and oak reminder.

MIDLETON VERY RARE
Blended
Midleton Distillery
Triple distilled
Whiskies range from 12 to 25 years in age; just 50 casks are released each year.

Nose: Big and complex, notes of spice, bright citrus—lemon and lemon zest—floral, herbal, toasted oak, grainy cereal mash.

Palate: Rich, full and creamy revealing honey, toffee, butterscotch sweetness, lush, ripe summer tree fruits, white pepper spice, with a hint of vanilla and toasted almonds.

Finish: Very long, with a sweet/spicy reminder.

REDBREAST
Single Pot Still
Malted and unmalted barley
12 Years
Midleton Distillery
Triple distilled

Nose: Complex with fruity aromas of stewed cherries and plums, citrus peels, sweet orange, big spice—clove and white pepper—toasted oak, sweet sherry.

Palate: Lovely, creamy texture, rich honey sweetness, ripe tree fruit—peaches, bright orange citrus notes, raisins, custard, toasted nuts and marzipan.

Finish: Long, with all of the flavors continuing to linger in beautiful harmony.

TEELING
Small batch, blend of malt and grain whiskies
Teeling Distillery
Malt is double distilled; grain is triple distilled
Finished in used rum casks for 6 months and bottled at 46%.

Nose: A slight malty note, followed by baked apple, vanilla, baking spices, sweet rum and a floral bouquet of orange blossom.

Palate: Medium bodied with a pleasant blast of spice—ground cinnamon and vanilla—lemon curd, blackberries, toasted wood and dried fruits.

Finish: Medium in length, with a sweet caramel and dried herbal reminder.

TULLAMORE D.E.W.
Triple blend of grain, pot and malt whiskies
Tullamore Distillery
Triple distilled

Nose: Nose: Fresh-baked biscuits and malted grain leading to big citrus peel of both lemon and orange, ripe tree fruit—apricot and peach—and toffee sweetness.

Palate: A rich mouthfeel, honey sweetness, vanilla, sweet sherry, toasted grains and cream soda.

Finish: Medium to long with a lingering memory of toasted nuts and caramel sweetness.

TYRCONNELL
Single Malt
Cooley Distillery
Double distilled

Nose: A nice balance of malted grain, ripe tree fruits, bright citrus and bold spice, with just the slightest waft of brine.

Palate: Rich, almost oily, malty grain, citrus zest— orange and lemon—slight note of pipe tobacco, toasted hazelnuts and burnt-sugar sweetness.

Finish: Medium in length with a lingering of malted grains, toasted oak and honey.

Tony Abou-Ganim is the founder of Las Vegas-based cocktail consultancy The Modern Mixologist and the author of The Modern Mixologist—Contemporary Classic Cocktails and Vodka Distilled.