Irish whiskey is incredibly popular not just in Ireland, but the world over. Distilled from grain, Irish whiskey has a smooth taste with subtle undertones that makes it different from other types of whiskeys. But exactly what is it that makes Irish whiskey special? What distinguishes it from Scotch or American whiskey?

Irish whiskey, simply put, is whiskey that is manufactured either in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland. The history of Irish whiskey and Irish whiskey distilleries goes back hundreds of years, and it is often said that Scotch whiskey was created with techniques learned from the Irish. Historically, Irish whiskey was known as "uisce beatha" or "water of life" in Gaelic. In modern Ireland, Irish whiskey is known as "The Craythur."

Irish whiskey is distilled three times, unlike its Scotch counterpart, which is distilled twice. Irish whiskey is considered a smoother option to Scotch whiskey, because peat is not used in the malting process. Instead, Irish whiskey often uses barley as a traditional base and is malted in ovens before it is fermented and distilled. The triple distillation can take as little as four years and as many as eight years. Many times, Irish whiskey contains notes of bourbon or sherry because the casks it is aged in were previously used to age these, or other, alcohols.

Irish whiskey production is governed by the Irish Whiskey Act of 1980, which outlines exactly what makes Irish whiskey, and what distinguishes it from Scotch or American whiskey. The first rule is that Irish whiskey must be distilled in one of two places: the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland. It must be aged for three years or more, and must be aged in wooden casks. Irish whiskey must be marked as blended Irish whiskey if it is blended to include two or more distillates. Finally, Irish whiskey must have an alcohol by volume of less than 94.8 percent.

There are a few different types of native Irish whiskey that are most well known. These are Single Malt and Single Grain as well as the aforementioned Blended Irish whiskey. The Irish Whiskey Act does not define these distinctions clearly, so there can sometimes be some confusion as to what qualifies as a Single Malt or Single Grain, and what comprises each usually varies from distiller to distiller.

Ireland has four main distilleries that are the best places to see this whiskey being manufactured. These are the New Midleton Distillery (which produces one of the most famous Irish whiskey, Jamesons), Old Bushmills Distillery, Cooley Distillery and Kilbeggan Distillery. There are also several independent Irish whiskey companies, including the well-known Tullamore Dew.

Irish whiskey's smooth taste and incredible history make it wildly popular with drinkers all over the world. Whether at the source in the picturesque hills of Ireland or at a local liquor or specialty store, sampling the different types of Irish whiskey is the best way to determine favorite malts and ages to complement any drinking experience.