Now that the nights are drawing in and the weather is turning decidedly chilly, it is the perfect time to enjoy something that Ireland has long been famous for – its array of alcoholic drinks that are designed to warm the soul and keep the cold at bay.
From whiskey to brandy; ale to stout, there is something for everyone’s taste in the Emerald Isle.
Not to mention plenty of places to delve into the history and culture of some of Ireland’s most popular tipples, aperitifs and chasers.
Here are four of Ireland’s favourite drinks and ways to enjoy them over the coming weeks, in the run up to the festive season……
Whiskey
Irish whiskey was one of Europe’s earliest distilled drinks, once crafted by monks in the 11th Century.
The drink cannot officially be called Irish whiskey until it has spent a minimum of three years maturing on the island of Ireland. Unlike Scottish whisky (note the spelling difference), the Irish beverage is made from a mix of malted and unmalted barley that gives it a smoother, more neutral taste (Scottish whisky only contains malted barley).
There are four main types of Irish whiskey – single malt, single grain, blended and single pot still. Whiskey distilleries are situated all over Ireland and can offer a great day out for fans of the beverage, who can be treated to free tastings, given the chance to tour the distillery and invited to buy bottles of whiskey made on the premises.
Irish coffee
This warming mix of Irish whiskey and coffee was first served to a group of weary American travellers delayed by bad weather at Shannon airport in the 1940s by a chef from Northern Ireland.
They appreciated the dual effects of this powerful pick-me-up.
The drink quickly made it across the Atlantic, where it remains popular to this day.
The iconic hot whiskey cocktail is also served in bars and restaurants across Ireland and offers a wonderful way to end a delicious meal.
Irish Coffee can be served with brown sugar, cinnamon and whipped cream on top for added decadence.
National Irish Coffee Day happens annually on 25 January.
Guinness
From its iconic TV advertisements to its familiar rich, dark colour and creamy head, Guinness stout is for many people, the essence of Ireland poured into a pint glass.
The Guiness harp trademark was registered in 1876 and was inspired by Ireland’s national symbol – the only difference is that the Guinness harp has its soundboard on the left, while the Republic of Ireland’s harp sports it on the right. Guiness (or stout) is the base for many cocktails, including Black Velvet (made from stout and Champagne, or sparkling white wine) and Guinness Martini (Guinness, dark rum, cold espresso coffee, crème de cacao, vodka and ice).
Mulled Irish cider
If you are looking for something different for your festive drink of choice this Christmas, why not sample some warm mulled Irish cider?
This is a richly flavoured drink made from warmed cider and a blend of spices, including cloves, cinnamon and allspice.
You can also add brown sugar, orange zest and apple juice to sweeten it if desired.
It tastes wonderfully of Christmas in Ireland and adds a comforting, warm glow to what is seen by many as a lighter, summery drink.
Mulled Irish cider always goes down well at parties and helps get the holiday spirit started, especially at this time of year.
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