From the famed Cooley Distillery, this is a rarity for Ireland, as it’s peated and challenges the orthodoxy on Irish whiskey. It’s potent with earthy undergrowth and briar scents of peat. There’s a firm texture and yet a toasty, mellow feel across the palate. Excellent.

This whiskey spends time in old sherry and American oak barrels, so packs a bold punch out of the glass. No wallflower, it’s heady with complex nut and honey characters, as well as ginger and spice overlaid on treacle flavours. Lavish style here.

I often like having a small glass of whiskey alongside a beer, and Jameson’s standard release seems to be an easy bedfellow for just about any style of beer. Its sweet-but-smooth, warming-without-heat, easy-to-drink sipping style wins me over so often.

Way back in my early learning, my dad, a home-whiskey expert, let me have a sip of a really special Bushmills aged whiskey. The smoothness and depth of flavour stayed with me forever. This is ‘entry level’, but no less outstanding for it.

One of Ireland’s new breed of distillers, Glendalough is one of my ‘new favourites’, offering freshness yet enough depth to satisfy the long, slow drinking it deserves. A spicy yet fruity whiskey with succulence and warmth on its side.

Okay, okay, a lot of the pre-mixed drinks out there in the market are a bit underdone, but this blend of dry ginger ale and lime is pretty refreshing, nicely spicy and has a smooth Jameson kick. Easy access, easy drinking.