IRISH WHISKEY
Irish whiskey makers claim their whiskeys are the best in the world because of their triple distillation. Are they really smoother, better? The answer to that depends on individual taste. Two hundred years ago, Ireland had over a hundred officially recognized distilleries; at the beginning of this century there were less than a handful, but more are beginning operation each year. The newest wave of whiskey makers are the artisan distilleries, who are hoping to follow the successful path of the country's thriving brew pub industry. Our itinerary included a tour of the Bushmills distillery in Northern Ireland. We visited two others on our own.