Bloomberg Businessweek - USA (2020-04-20)

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DRINKS Bloomberg Pursuits April 20, 2020

The latest Irish

whiskeys are like

a warm, sophisticated

hug. By Brad Japhe

Photograph by

Hannah Whitaker

Thiswasanunderwhelmingyearfor

St.Patrick’sDay,butit remainsa spec-

taculartimeforIrishwhiskeyfans.The

categoryisoneofthefastest-growing

spirits segments in the U.S., with a com-

pound annual growth rate of 13.4% over

the past five years, according to IWSR

Drinks Market Analysis; domestic whis-

key has grown 5.5%, Scotch 0.2%.

Much of that expansion is driven by

sales in the superpremium range, bot-

tles that cost over $30. Americans are not

only drinking more Irish whiskey, they’re

drinking better Irish whiskey. Generally

soft and rounded, it’s unpeated, with

hintsofcarameloakiness and a light

fruitiness against a cereal backbone.

In its finest expressions, the country

deftly demonstrates a primary selling

point: the sophistication and structure

of Scottish single malt bound by the

sweeter approachability of bourbon.

And in this especially boozy

moment—Nielsen reports online liquor

sales surged 234% in March—Irish whis-

key still stands as a bargain compared

with its counterparts in Scotland and

Japan, making it a sensible alternative

for stocking the home bar with high-

end product.

THE DEAD RABBIT

IRISH WHISKEY

Dublin Liberties

Distillery makes this

whiskey in conjunction

with New York’s Dead

Rabbit Grocery &

Grog—named world’s

best bar in 2016. It

was first released

on the tavern’s fifth

anniversary in February

2018 and is an easy

bridge for fans of the

American stuff. After a

half-decade of slumber

in bourbon casks, the

spiritis finishedin virgin

oak,leavinga whisper

ofnutmeg-cinnamon

barrel spice in each sip.

Consider subbing it for

bourbon or rye in an

Emerald Isle-themed

Manhattan. $40

Bestfor

cocktails

Finestfinish