Looking to treat yourself or just curious? Here are the top five most expensive Irish whiskies you can get on the island!
Ireland is a country that has a long history with alcohol. If you ask any American or non-Irish person what they know about Ireland, I am sure drinking a lot of alcohol or some sort of alcoholic beverage, like whiskey, will be one of the first things out of their mouth.
As a result, it is no surprise that Irish whiskey is now the fastest-growing spirits category Irish whiskey is being exported all over the world.
I am sure you are probably already familiar with some Irish whiskies such as Powers or Jameson, but here are five of the most expensive Irish whiskies which you might not have heard of.
5. Redbreast 15 Year Old – €100
Redbreast 15 Year Old is an Irish whiskey composed exclusively of pot still whiskeys that are matured in oak casks for at least 15 years.
Redbreast 15-year-old Irish whiskey is owned and manufactured by Irish Distillers who purchased the Redbreast brand back in the 1980s. The whiskey is 46% ABV and is aged in Olorosso sherry and bourbon casks.
In 2007, Redbreast 15 Year Old Irish Whiskey was named Irish whiskey of the year, and since then two other Redbreast whiskeys have also been named as Irish whiskey of the year.
Even though Redbreast 15 is one of the most expensive Irish whiskies, at €100, it is still a lot more affordable than the other whiskies on this list.
4. Jameson Bow Street 18 Year Old – €240
Jameson Bow Street 18 Year Old Irish whiskey is a blend between a rare pot still whiskey and an Irish grain whiskey, which are both produced by the Jameson Midleton distillery in County Cork.
After 18 years of ageing, these two whiskies are combined together and finished off back in the original Jameson distillery on Bow Street in Dublin.
Bow Street 18 is Jameson’s rarest release, and it is only bottled once per year. This whiskey is bottled at cask strength and is 55.3% ABV.
Jameson 18 Year Old was awarded best Irish blended whiskey of the year in 2018 and then again in 2019.
3. Midleton Very Rare Dair Ghaelach – €300
Midleton Very Rare Dair Ghaelach, which translates as ‘Irish Oak’, came about as a result of Midleton masters exploring the possibility of ageing an Irish whiskey in native Irish oak.
Midleton sourced the oak for their casks in a sustainable way from estates throughout Ireland. Each whiskey has its own subtleties in taste which can be traced back to the specific tree in which its cask was made from.
Midleton Very Rare Dair Ghaelach ranges in age from around 13 years to 26 years and is bottled at cask strength generally ranging from 56.1% to 56.6% ABV.
There are currently seven different varieties of Dair Ghaelach from seven different trees in Knockrath forest. You can purchase them either individually or in the full set of seven to get the whole experience.
2. Redbreast 27 Year Old – €495
Just like its younger brother Redbreast 15 Year Old, Redbreast 27 Year Old is owned and manufactured by Irish Distillers. It is also the oldest whiskey that is regularly manufactured by Redbreast.
As well as being matured in bourbon and sherry casks, the Redbreast 27 Year Old ageing process also includes ruby port casks to add even more depth and complexity to its flavour.
Unlike the rest of the Redbreast whiskey lineup, Redbreast 27 Year Old has a slightly higher alcohol content of 54.6% ABV.
While still quite expensive and definitely one of the most costly Irish whiskies, at €450 Redbreast 27 Year Old seems almost affordable compared with the most expensive whiskey on this list.
1. Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Chapter One – €35,000
Since its announcement earlier this year, Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Chapter One has been a very hot topic for one reason and one reason only, its price.
When most of us think of an expensive whiskey, we think of a few hundred euro, maybe even a few thousand if you are incredibly wealthy, but to most of us the idea of a bottle of alcohol costing €35,000 just seems downright bizarre.
There are only 44 bottles of this whiskey released and not only is it the most expensive Irish whiskey, but it is also the most expensive whiskey in the world.
This whiskey has been ageing in Midleton distillery in Cork since 1974 when it was first distilled. It is being released in a collection of six releases with one happening every year up until 2025.
There are only 44 being released, and when they’re gone, they’re gone.
There you have it, the top five most expensive Irish whiskies money can buy! Which would you like to try?
