Whiskey from Ireland

Whiskey from Ireland

It was the Scots and Irish who brought whiskey to America. During the great wave of immigration in the second half of the 18th century, they found the best conditions to bring a piece of home to the land. However, since barley did not thrive, they had to resort to rye and wheat. This led to the creation of rye whiskey, which was also used for trading goods at the time.

In 1794, George Washington imposed a tax on whiskey. The settlers did not accept this. In Pennsylvania, there was a rebellion, which was suppressed by a 13,000-strong army. As a result, they moved westward to the states of Kentucky and Tennessee, which are still the strongholds of American whiskey today.

The most well-known variant is Bourbon Whiskey, which consists of at least 51% and up to 80% corn. It matures for about two years in charred oak barrels. The most famous distilleries are Buffalo Trace and Jim Beam.

Similar to Bourbon is Tennessee Whiskey, with the difference lying in the filtering process. It is filtered through a thick layer of charcoal made from sugar maple, which gives it its mild flavor. Brands such as George Dickel or Jack Daniels produce it.

Another well-known type is Rye Whiskey, which is mixed with at least 51% rye. The low content of natural sugar gives it its robust flavor. Typical American ryes include Knob Creek or Bulleit Rye.