Uisce Beatha: Paddy

I realize that I have been remiss in contributing to my blog, dear readers, begging your pardon. The first 2 weeks of April are always hectic for me, with 2 very important birthdays to celebrate, mine and my wife’s. Of course there is also tax season. Since I’m in the line of work where I wind up owing money, I wait until the last minute to do my filing and fork over my cash. With all that and more happening, I have not had the opportunity to get out there and visit any new and interesting bars. I figure I can write about the next best thing, new and interesting Irish whiskey.

Let’s talk Paddy, loyal readers; a whiskey I’ve mentioned previously. Paddy has gathered a bit of a cult following in the USA, given that it is genuinely good stuff and has not been available for sale on these shores. If you’ve had the good fortune to try Paddy prior to this past March, it’s likely because someone picked a bottle up at a duty-free store and was nice enough to share. Rich Nagle has been doing quite a bit of advocating for this brand at irishwhiskeyblog.com, even starting a Facebook page to create some grassroots momentum. Now that’s it is here, how does it taste? Pretty damn good.

I was concerned that the hype would create unrealistic expectations, but I was sufficiently pleased. The whiskey has a medium gold color and a soft nose. The taste manages to be both assertive and silky smooth. Paddy announces itself right off the bat in the mouth with a refined fullness that lends itself more towards Red Breast than Tullamore Dew. But like I said, it is very smooth, going down much easier than, say, Jameson. The balance is what really sets Paddy apart in my mind. The whiskey touches all the bases: fullness, good flavor, a little alcohol bite, but never sacrificing its easygoing, slow-sipping character. Every time I pour myself a glass, I really savor how good a whiskey this is, especially for the price. Paddy’s grade: B+

If you have the opportunity to try to bring someone over to the Irish whiskey camp, Paddy is the brand to do it with. It has more oomph to it then my beloved uber-mellow Tullamore Dew, but doesn’t have the put-some-hair-on-your-chest alcohol bite that you’ll get with Powers. Paddy is a little more expensive than your average Irish; I picked up a liter for $35. When the more traditional fifths start to go on sale here I assume they will sell for $30-$31. But if you’ve got the extra coin to spare, treat yourself to Paddy. By the way, this whiskey got its name from a legendary salesman in Ireland named Paddy Flaherty. This whiskey was originally produced under another name, but Paddy Flaherty blazed such memorable a path across Ireland’s pubs, buying bars full of whiskey drinkers drams of his wares, that people asked for “Paddy’s” whiskey. Flaherty’s sales methods were frowned upon by his superiors, but there is no arguing with public opinion, and Paddy Flaherty’s name is the one that graces the label of this fine whiskey. There’s a lesson there for all Irishmen; if you buy enough drinks for people, you too will be immortalized.

Comments? Questions? Suggestions? Paddythepublican@gmail.com