Glendalough’s Madeira Single Cask expression retails for around $40. Aged for 3 years in ex-bourbon barrels before spending an unspecified amount of time in sherry casks, this is ultimately finished off in a Canteiro aged Madeira wine cask.

Bottled at a minimum of 7 years and bottled at 46% ABV, Glendalough takes batches of 100% pot still whiskies aged in various types of casks before finishing them in Mizunara oak casks sourced from Hokkaido, Japan.

I won’t beat around the bush on this one: this was an absolutely fantastic bottle of Jameson. It did take me three and a half years to finish, but it wasn’t for lack of interest. Instead, I wanted to savor this. Hold it for special occasions. But by the last half of the bottle, I was coming back to it regularly, enjoying its warming, delicious nuances on a weekly basis.

Teeling’s entry level whiskey boasts some impressive specs: 46% ABV, non-chill filtration, and a second finishing in Central American rum casks. Is it really possible to pack all of that successfully into a whiskey for under $25? Let’s dive in and see if they have really pulled off a miracle.

The Jameson label can elicit a lot of different reactions. Some find Jameson comfortable. Some find it simple. Others are brought back to taking shots at house parties in college. But what happens when you take that famous green bottle and go up market with it? Well, you end up with this – the Jameson Bow Street 18 Year Cask Strength expression

When I opened this bottle, I thought - while interesting - it lacked some of the depth of other Irish whiskies in this price range. But by the time I was finishing this bottle, it had blossomed into a lovely easy drinking Irish whiskey that doesn’t ask too much of you, but provides a sweet, malty, alternative to many of the big brands out there.

While Green Spot may not sound incredibly interesting by nature of it being 80 proof, this may very well be the best Irish whiskey under $50. Green Spot represents the entry level offering in the Spot range, and is a 100% pure Irish pot still whiskey that features no age statement.

After spending more than a year with this bottle, let’s take a look back at a bottle that quickly became one of my favorite whiskies on the shelf.

The John’s Lane expression sits atop the Powers range, and carries a 12-year age statement, non-chill filtration, and a healthy 46% ABV. All of this sounds like a recipe for a fantastic Irish whiskey. Let’s see how it fares.

With Redbreast 12 Cask Strength being the full-bodied, undiluted, non-chill filtered, no color added, highest ABV whiskey in the Redbreast core lineup, you can imagine this should be to be one incredible experience.

Writers’ Tears goes up against the biggest names in Irish whiskey with an upscale price point and an elegant demeanor. Is it enough to topple my favorites from Midleton?