by Gary Quinn

Irish whiskey offers a sometimes bewildering array of whiskey flavours, descriptions and cask types. While they’re fun to explore, the sheer number of different maturation styles, woods used and the finishes applied can make a sometimes confusing (but delicious) flavour journey.

To try and unpick where a whiskey’s flavour comes from, we have to understand the difference between maturation and finishing. And then what each finish delivers to the bottled whiskey.