Decanter Press enter or click on the search icon Decanter is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more Best Irish whiskeys Popular with whiskey lovers around the world today, Irish whiskey had mixed fortunes in the past. Julie Sheppard takes a look at the history of whiskey production in the Emerald Isle and recommends eight great bottles to try Whenever you crack open a bottle of Irish whiskey, it’s worth remembering that this category nearly died out altogether a few decades ago. The Irish were almost certainly the first distillers in the British Isles, and there was a time in the late 19th century when Irish whiskey ruled the world. It reigned supreme over its inferior Scottish rivals thanks to the use of huge pot stills which gave reliable consistency to Irish drams.