Paddy's Old Irish Whiskey Review & Tasting Notes

 

Patrick “Paddy” O’Flaherty started as a young salesman hired by Cork Distilleries Co. in 1882. He spent 40 years selling its whiskey to pubs around Ireland. He was known to buy a round for patrons, always joking around, and was well-liked by everyone.  When he retired, Cork renamed its whiskey from Cork Distilleries Company Old Irish Whiskey to Paddy’s Irish Whiskey.

 

If you’re unaware, Irish whiskey used to be the best-selling spirit in the world. Then, by several strokes of fate, including protective laws, taxation, mismanagement, and, yes, Prohibition, Irish whiskey became an endangered species that nearly went extinct. Until very recently, only three distilleries remained. Irish whiskey has been enjoying a considerable resurgence, blossoming into at least 32 working distilleries as of December 2019.

 

Paddy’s is distilled at the Midleton Distillery in County Cork. Sazerac owns it. Midleton is also responsible for distilling Redbreast, Jameson, Powers, and other brands you’ve likely heard of (and maybe even tried).

 

Made from a blend of malt, single pot still, and grain whiskeys, Paddy’s is triple-distilled and then aged a minimum of three years. There is talk that some casks hit the seven-year mark. Paddy’s is the fourth best-selling Irish whiskey globally, which means you can probably find it in every liquor, grocery, and convenience store, and you’ll only have to spend about $20.00 for a 40% ABV (80°), 750ml package.

 

Inexpensive whiskey can be delicious. Since I've been penning reviews, I’ve been running a #RespectTheBottomShelf campaign, so I’m always looking for whiskeys in that category. But, will Paddy’s fit the bill? The only way to know for sure is to #DrinkCurious.

 

Appearance:  Poured neat in my Glencairn glass, Paddy’s presented as somewhere between straw and light gold. A medium-thick rim created long, wavy tears that raced back to the pool.

 

Nose: An aroma of lemon peel was the first thing I picked out, followed by apple, honey, light oak, and barley. As I pulled the air into my mouth, thick honey rolled across my tongue.

 

Palate:  Paddy’s may only be 40% ABV, but it was creamy and full-bodied. The front of my palate zeroed in on lemon curd, honey, and grass. I tasted vanilla, hazelnuts, and barley as it approached the middle. The back offered cocoa powder, green peppercorn, and a gentle puff of char.

 

Finish:  Short-to-medium in duration, the finish featured honey, grass, barrel char, and green peppercorn.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust:  Frankly, I had no idea what to expect when I purchased Paddy’s. I’ve never read a review of it; it was just one of those opportunities to grab a taster and roll the dice. Paddy’s won’t blow you away, but it also won’t disappoint. Is it a #RespectTheBottomShelf candidate? Absolutely. And, it also earned my Bottle rating. Cheers!

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you do so responsibly.