Wait a feckin' second—it's not St. Patrick's Day. And hell, it's not even March. So why are we talking about Ireland's delicious brown liquid? Because the Irish “water of life” isn't just for the days when you wear a plastic green bowler hat and try to pronounce “shillelagh” after drinking too many car bombs. Often known as a “starter” whiskey because of its milder flavors and easy drinkability, Irish whiskey doesn't need to be mixed with Coke or soda to be enjoyed. According to Sarah Hays, a bartender at Peacock Bar & Grill in Corvallis, OR, “Most of the Irish whiskey drinkers you run into will share my opinion that it shouldn't be messed with by adding anything at all.”

Drinkers are downing the Irish spirit more than ever, and the biggest brand, Jameson, just expanded its catalogue with Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve. You may need a pot of gold to afford the $250 bottle, but the rich, deep flavors of toasted wood, cinnamon, and licorice make this the first super-luxury Irish whiskey. And with the rise in popularity, count on seeing a lot more new and different versions of Irish whiskey popping up at your local pub. Adds Hays, “I personally started drinking Jameson because I enjoyed their motto, ‘Sine Metu,' meaning ‘Without Fear.' Now I drink it all the time.” Pour yourself a glass of Irish whiskey and drink until you forget the month. —Cory Jones