Looking for something a little different to drink this St. Patrick’s Day? Importer and specialty bottler High n’ Wicked has partnered with the award-winning Foursquare Rum Distillery for a truly unique collaboration. Released this past December (2023), H n’ W’s new Single Grain Irish Whiskey, made from 95 percent French maize and 5 percent malted barley, was actually born in County Cork and matured in bourbon barrels. It was then steeped for an additional six months in Foursquare’s “Mark X 2007” Barbados rum casks to pick up extra flavor.

Admittedly, I’m not a connoisseur of this style (even despite claiming an Irish ex-husband); I usually opt for Kentucky bourbon instead when given the choice. That said, I’m no stranger to “corn-based” whiskey, and I found this juice highly intriguing. A real shapeshifter in the glass, it seemed to evolve with every sip I took, keeping me guessing and coming back for more.

First up, the nose… Wow. Heady and gorgeous, full of vanilla, nut, rum, and a tropical hint of banana. Although a bit thin in color and mouthfeel, that first 100-proof sip runs hot, hot, hot, pinballing around the front of the palate and lingering on the lips with a pleasant sting. It’s not nearly as sweet as I expected, but the rum definitely comes through, along with lots of burnt sugar, honey, and a little bit of lemon. Adding a few drops of water changes the game completely, bringing spicy cinnamon and clove to the forefront. Interesting! On paper, it seems like so many disparate flavors would end up fighting each other, yet somehow, it all works!

I tried mixing this whiskey with some soda for a highball. Big mistake. With this much complexity straight out of the bottle, it’s best not to muddy the waters too much (pun intended). Add an ice cube or a splash of H2O if you must, but nothing more. The Single Grain Irish Whiskey joins a short lineup of other High n’ Wicked products, including an American bourbon, a Single Malt Irish Whiskey, and a Kentucky Straight Rye. Find them online and in stores across 41 states.