If you’re looking to kick back, relax, and unwind after a long day at work, what better way to relax than by pouring yourself a glass of your favourite Irish whiskey?

Whereas both Scotch and Irish whiskey are hugely popular in the UK, and indeed, all over the globe, Scotch whisky is, for some people at least, a little too harsh and has too much of a “burn”. If this sounds familiar to you, you may be better off with Irish whiskey instead.

Both these lovely wee drams have their own unique benefits and flavour profiles, yet they’re also both extremely different to each other. Irish whiskey is generally considered smoother, and less harsh on the throat than Scotch.

Because of its unique flavour profile, you may be surprised to learn that this particular tipple pairs incredibly well with a wide range of different foods, and not just dishes exclusive to Ireland either. If you want to take your dining experience to a whole other dimension entirely, here’s a look at the best foods to pair with Irish whiskey.

What is Irish Whiskey?

Usually made from unmalted barley, and with pale gold to golden amber colours, Irish whiskey is blended with grain whiskey to provide a slightly smoother, more mellow finish. Each distillery has their own unique recipes of course, but usually you can tell an Irish whiskey from a Scotch straight away.

Produced in Ireland, Irish whiskey used to be the most popular spirit in the entire world. In the late 19^th century however, the industry began to decline. Whereas there used to be 28 distilleries, that number dropped to just 2 by the 1960s. These two distilleries (Old Midleton and Bushmills) were soon owned by just the one company, Irish Distillers, by the 1970s.

In 1987 however, the Irish whiskey industry slowly began a resurgence when a new distillery, the Cooley Distillery, began operating. This was the catalyst needed to help remind the world just how amazing this whiskey really is. The 1990s saw Irish whiskey take off again at an astonishing rate.

By late 2019 there were 32 distilleries operating in Ireland, with a number of others in development.

Jameson Irish whiskey remains the most popular, though with Powers, Redbreast, Tullamore D.E.W, Dead Rabbit, and countless others to choose from, Irish whiskey fans are certainly not spoilt for choice.

Despite the whiskey received, shall we say “questionable” reviews, MMA star Conor ‘Notorious’ McGregor’s ‘Proper Twelve’ whiskey has also help to introduce more people to Irish whiskey, particularly younger drinkers. For that reason, and the fact he’s got a mean right hand on him, we can’t really complain about Proper Twelve at all.

Foods to Pair with Irish Whiskey

Right, we’ve had our little history lesson and have discovered a little more about Irish whiskey, so now it’s time to talk about food and whiskey pairings.

Here are several foods that go incredibly well with Irish whiskey.

Lamb or beef curry

When eating curry, it’s often customary to enjoy a beer. While certain curries do indeed go very well with certain beers, it isn’t just beer that gets all the fun.

If you’re tucking into a fairly spicy curry with a fatty cut of meat such as lamb, or beef, Irish whiskey can actually work very well.

A mature Irish whiskey will help to ease the burn of the spices while enhancing the flavour of the curry. The richness of the meat will work in harmony with the spices and of course, the whiskey itself. This will help you to actually taste more of the spices and flavours in the curry, rather than being overwhelmed with the heat.

Redbreast 12 Year Old is a great choice for when you’re tucking into a spicy lamb madras or vindaloo, as the silky mouthfeel, baking spices, and the smoked oak works wonderfully with the citrus fruit notes of the whiskey, adding a whole new element to your curry.