If you want to buy Irish whiskey online, look past the big blended names: the interesting shelf is single pot still whiskey finished in wine casks, virgin Missouri oak and even virgin Irish oak coopered from single trees. Del Mesa Liquor, a family-owned liquor store in San Diego, California, stocks that shelf in its Irish whiskey collection, from a $79.99 Marsala-cask pot still to a $499.99 Midleton finished in Irish oak. Every bottle below is in stock and available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor today.
Wine-cask and cask-strength Irish whiskey
- Drumshanbo Marsala Cask Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey — $79.99 (3 in stock). The accessible rarity: a triple-distilled single pot still from The Shed Distillery in County Leitrim, made from malted and unmalted Irish barley with Irish Barra oats and matured a full seven years in Sicilian Marsala wine casks. Bottled at 43% ABV in a 700mL bottle, non-chill filtered with no colour added. Three bottles in stock.
- Knappogue Castle 16 Year Old Sherry Cask Finished Irish Whiskey — $109.99 (1 in stock). A triple-distilled single malt matured roughly 14 years in ex-bourbon barrels, then finished 21 months in Oloroso sherry casks seasoned for the brand. Bottled at 43% ABV — the sherry finish brings toasted almond and dried apricot. Knappogue Castle is a brand named for a 15th-century castle in County Clare. One bottle on the shelf.
- The Irishman Cask Strength Irish Whiskey — $169.99 (4 in stock). Walsh Whiskey's annual vintage release: the house's best single malt and single pot still stocks vatted and bottled straight from first-fill ex-bourbon casks at cask strength — around 54% ABV, varying by vintage — non-chill filtered. Four bottles in stock.
The American oak and Irish oak experiments
- Redbreast Irish Whiskey Missouri Oak Edition — $209.99 (2 in stock). Part of Redbreast's American Oak series: a triple-distilled single pot still matured in bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks, then finished ten months in virgin Missouri oak barrels from the Ozark Forest. Bottled at 101 proof (50.5% ABV); it ranked #16 on Whisky Advocate's Top 20 Whiskies of 2024. Two bottles in stock.
- Midleton Dair Ghaelach Kylebeg Wood — $499.99 (2 in stock). Dair Ghaelach means 'Irish oak': a single pot still finished for two years in virgin Irish oak hogsheads, each coopered from a single oak tree grown in Kylebeg Wood on the Ballykilcavan Estate in County Laois — the first Irish whiskey matured in Irish oak from County Laois. Bottled at cask strength, roughly 55-56% ABV depending on the tree, in a 700mL bottle. Two bottles in stock; see the wider whisky collection for more.
Frequently asked questions
What is single pot still Irish whiskey?
Ireland's signature style: whiskey distilled in a pot still from a mash of both malted and unmalted barley. Redbreast, Midleton and Drumshanbo above are all single pot still whiskeys; the unmalted barley gives the style its creamy, spicy character.
What does a wine-cask finish add to Irish whiskey?
Fruit and richness on top of the spirit. Drumshanbo's seven years in Sicilian Marsala casks and Knappogue Castle 16's 21 months in Oloroso sherry both layer dried fruit and nut notes over the barley base.
Which Irish whiskey is best for a gift?
The Midleton Dair Ghaelach Kylebeg Wood at $499.99 is the collector's bottle — every hogshead came from one named Irish oak tree. For a serious but saner gift, Redbreast Missouri Oak at $209.99 carries a Top 20 Whiskies of 2024 ranking.
Can I order Irish whiskey online?
Yes — every bottle listed is in stock and available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, with shipping where permitted; see our shipping and return policy for details. Presented bottles also sit in our gift sets collection.
Irish whiskey's cousins live nearby: read our rare Scotch guide, compare the American shelf in our rare bourbon guide, and follow new arrivals on the Del Mesa blog.