Drinking Tips

Whiskey is an old Irish spirit. The word actually comes from the Gaelic (Irish) word for water which is uisce, from the phrase uisce beathe – “water of life.”

Irish whiskey is enjoyed by connoisseurs on many levels, unlike most other spirits. From the sound of its drop into the glass (believe it or not, a bulbed whiskey glass makes a considerable difference on several levels) to its aroma, body, warmth, and character, it has a refined complexity that has to be experienced to be understood.

When poured a measure, it’s best to inhale the aroma deeply into your nostrils first and follow with a small sip. Allow this to sit on your tongue for a prolonged moment. This seems to create a kind of base in the mouth, which will improve the flavour of the rest of the measure.

Guinness Irish stout is another wonderful Irish drink. It was created when the hops and barley in a recipe for beer were reversed, to astonishing effect. The drink actually has remarkable health benefits. For over sixty years, the company’s advertising campaign was that Guinness is good for you and has been recommended by doctors. Stout was actually prescribed to blood donors, who received a half pint after a donation. This guaranteed that the supply of blood donations in Ireland never ran short. It was also recommended to pregnant women, as it is relatively low in alcohol and is bursting with iron, and so acts as an elixir. Also, the yeast aided the birthing.

Another interesting fact about Guinness Irish stout is that regular consumption of carbonated drinks will cause kidney stones over time. Guinness is nitrogenated instead of carbonated. Regular consumption of Guinness Irish stout will actually cure kidney stones. It’s the luck o’ the Irish!