Because we’re about so much more than the black stuff.
Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed
Whiskey is having a moment right now
Forecasters predict that 96 million bottles of Irish whiskey, or "uisce beatha", will be sold globally by the end of next year, with aficionados making the pilgrimage to the Emerald Isle to see their beloved blends up close and personal.
So what better reason than that for an insider's guide to the hottest Irish whiskey spots around the country? Let's go!
The Old Jameson Distillery, Dublin 7
Probably the best known Irish whiskey globally, Jameson is manufactured in Midleton, Co Cork nowadays but the old Distillery in Dublin is one of the capital's most popular tourist spots and a great starting point on any whiskey tour. Now a museum complete with bar and restaurant, it's up there with the Guinness Storehouse when it comes to having a good time imbibing traditional Irish beverages.
The distillery is in trendy Smithfield, which is awash with other great bars and restaurants to check out. Try The Cobblestone to the north of the square for an authentic Dublin experience, complete with trad music session.
The Palace Bar, Dublin
An original Victorian pub on Dublin's Fleet Street since the 19th Century, The Palace is a rare and wonderful spot in Temple Bar – in other words, one that actual Irish people frequent. Downstairs it's a traditional pub showing sporting events, but upstairs it's whiskey paradise. These guys love the uisce beatha so much, they even created their own one – and it's delicious!