Today is St. Patrick's Day, as any glance up shamrock-splattered Fifth Avenue will tell you and today we present a "spirited" way to observe the feast of the patron saint of Ireland.
Sure, you may find yourself huddled up at an Irish-themed happy hour, chanting "Danny Boy" amidst the clanging of emerald green tins of domestic beer, but we might recommend a different approach to the holiday this year, by tucking in to a few glasses of a uniquely Irish spirit: Michael Collins Single Malt Whiskey. (Note: We've certainly found ourselves on either side of this fence de temps en temps, sometimes both in the same evening.)
Michael Collins Single Malt is a revival of some of the oldest techniques of whiskey production, resulting in a spirit worthy of one of the more respected names in Irish history (see below for more information on Michael Collins, "The Big Fellow"). This is, without a doubt, what we'll imbibe while "going green" this March 17th.
The Michael Collins is made from 100% malted barley dried over a peat fire, resulting in a sweeter, smoother whiskey than those made from unmalted grain. Peat, Ireland's most abundant fuel source, is responsible for the slightly smoky, oily character more often associated with some Scotch whiskies.
In the Michael Collins the smoke is offset by clean, pure spring water from the Cooley Mountains in County Louth. The whiskey undergoes two distillations in copper pot stills, limiting production while allowing for closer monitoring of flavor and quality. The end product is balanced and distinctive among Irish whiskeys, and very well may make you forget about the days of toasting St. Pat by chasing shots of less interesting whiskey with dyed green beer (as fun as that may be).
The Michael Collins certainly has the elegance to be taken neat - I opened a bottle after dinner on Saturday night for a mixed group of whiskey-drinkers and not, and the ten of us polished it off before any ice, water, or mixers were produced.
That said, for those of you who favor cocktails to straight sipping, we've included a few of our favorite drink recipes here.
To celebrate our St. Patrick's Day spirit, we've marked the bottle price down to $34.95 - this special price will be valid through Friday only! Take advantage of this week-long special by calling the store at (212) 980-9463 or clicking below to order!
Who is Michael Collins?
There is perhaps no individual who better personifies the struggle and compromise of Ireland's independence movement than Michael Collins, affectionately knows as "The Big Fellow."
As a passionate supporter of the Irish nationalist movement, Collins took part in the Easter Rising of 1916 and, like many, was captured and imprisoned by the British army. He emerged from prison as a leader and hero of the movement, serving as chief of intelligence for the Irish Republican Army.
Collins was appointed by Eamon de Valera, President of the unrecognized Irish Republic, to represent Ireland in treaty discussions with the British. Collins agreed to the resulting controversial Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921 which established the independent Irish Republic as well as allowing for the partition of Northern Ireland, which remained part of the United Kingdom.
Collins believed that signing the treaty was akin to signing his own death warrant, seemingly foreseeing his assassination during the subsequent Irish Civil War. Michael Collins Irish Whiskey pays fitting tribute to the man who combined traditional Irish values with modern ideals.