Actual Irish People Reveal The Only Acceptable Way To Drink Whiskey

If you’re raising a glass for St. Pat’s, make sure you’re enjoying it properly.

Here’s the thing about the Irish: they aren’t a fussy people. The French might sniff dismissively if you use the wrong fork to eat your escargot or chuck an ice cube into your glass of Bordeaux. But if you wander into an Irish public house and ask for a glass of Irish whiskey, they’ll be happy to drink with you, however you see fit to take your wee dram.

That said, there are some rules of thumb, developed over the years, that could make your enjoyment of that glass even deeper. After all, this is a drink that’s been around a long time, and people have learned the best ways to enjoy it. “Whiskey making has been recorded as far back as the 12th century,” said Kieran Folliard, founder of Red Locks Whiskey, which is produced at the Great Northern Distillery in County Louth, Ireland. “We Irish have had a lot of years to perfect this particular liquid, which has rightly earned its reputation as the world’s finest spirit.”

Another fan of the beverage is Jenna Elie of Whisky A Go Girl, a U.S. citizen of Irish descent, who said, “There are so many beautiful sprits and stories in Irish whiskey bottles, and they deserve a special spot on the shelf and in your glass.”

If you’ve tried whiskey before and didn’t like it, perhaps you weren’t trying Irish whiskey. According to Richard Davies, co-founder and CEO of County Louth’s Sláinte Irish Whiskey, the Emerald Isle has the advantage of a superior natural resource. He said, “Irish water is generally softer than water in America, which causes the whiskey to have a smoother, yet light taste, with a softer profile when compared to traditional American brands,” he said.

Want to drink just like they do on the Emerald Isle? We talked to experts for their thoughts, and they told us some of the secrets to enjoying a the best possible drink of Irish whiskey.