Type Irish whiskey Proof (US) 80 | Country of origin Ireland | |
Manufacturer Irish Distillers (Pernod Ricard) Introduced 1879, renamed as Paddy in 1912 Related products | ||
Paddy Whiskey is a brand of 80-proof blended Irish whiskey produced in Cork, Ireland, by the company Irish Distillers. It is Ireland's third best selling whiskey.
Contents
History
Paddy Whiskey was first produced by the Cork Distilleries Company, two years after being started in 1877, although it was originally known as Cork Distillery Company Old Irish Whiskey.
In 1882, the company hired a young Corkman called Paddy Flaherty as salesman. Flaherty travelled the pubs of Cork, buying drinks for the customers. His sales techniques were so good that his name became synonymous with the whiskey both in Ireland and abroad. In 1912, the distillery officially renamed the whiskey Paddy Irish Whiskey in his honour.
During the 1920s and 1930s in Ireland, whiskey was sold in casks from the distillery to wholesalers, who would in turn sell it on to publicans. Cork Distilleries Company wanted to prevent any fluctuation in whiskey quality due to the bonder underhandedly diluting the casks. Thus, the company became one of the first to bottle their whiskey.
Blending
Paddy whiskey is distilled three times and matured in oak casks for up to seven years. It has a high malt content in its blend compared to other Irish whiskeys; this ensures that Paddy is "one of the softest of all Ireland's whiskeys" (Jim Murray, International Whiskey Connoisseur).
At present
As with other Irish whiskeys, Paddy has been enjoying export success, which has increased due to availability in the United States as of February 2010.