Best Irish Whiskey Under $25

Irish whiskey is one of the best deals at the liquor store, because some of the best Irish whiskey can be purchased for under $25. Sure, there’s really good expensive Irish whiskey out there (hi, Green Spot, I love you!). But if you’re looking for an everyday bottle, there are still a lot of good bottles to buy. 

But there’s some straight up chest-burning plonk out there, too. 

How will you ever know what to buy? That’s why you’re here. We tasted 11 bottles of cheap Irish whiskey in search of the best Irish whiskey under $25. We judged these bottles by their flavor, smoothness, and, okay, we took packaging into consideration as well. If you’re going to have a bottle of Irish whiskey on the bar, why not pick an Irish whiskey that tastes good and looks good? Here’s the best Irish whiskey to buy without breaking the bank. 

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Best for a Boilermaker

Bushmills

Total Wine

Many fervent Irish whiskey drinkers are divided into two camps: those who think Bushmills makes the best Irish whiskey and those who think Jameson makes the best Irish whiskey. If given a choice between the two, I’ll always choose Jameson. But I can still appreciate Bushmills’ merits. Bushmills prides itself as being Ireland’s oldest licensed distillery. It’s also the only square-bottled Irish whiskey on this list—an edge, for sure. But the liquid inside that bottle is pretty good as well. It has a zesty orange aroma tinged with pine. And those notes follow through on the palate. It’s bright and tangerine-y with a citrusy finish that leaves your tongue tingling. Just one sip instantly warms your chest, and it finishes on a pleasant, honeyed note. It’s super easy drinking, though there are smoother Irish whiskeys on this list.

Credit: Merc / Total Wine

Rating:

7.5/10

Sporks

Best New

Ide & Stills

Total Wine

I’d never heard of Ide & Stills until this taste test, and now it’s one of my favorite cheap Irish whiskey brands. That’s probably because it’s super new—it was first introduced in 2023—and because it’s exclusive to Total Wine & More stores. It might not have the lore and history of some of these other brands, but that doesn’t mean the whiskey isn’t as good. It smells like wet earth, and it has a really lovely floral flavor with notes of honeysuckle. It packs a good balance of oomph and fruitiness that keeps you coming back. If you shop at Total Wine & More, this is the best inexpensive Irish whiskey to snag.

Credit: Merc / Total Wine

Rating:

8.5/10

Sporks

Best After Dinner Whiskey

Proper Twelve

Total Wine

Proper Twelve Irish whiskey used to be partnered with Conor McGregor. But they dropped him after he was found liable in a sexual assault case. Whew! Now we can enjoy this very good cheap Irish whiskey without any moral qualms (no more than the usual amount, at least). It smells like a bookshop in the best way—sweet wood and leather. And it’s really really easy drinking with barely any bite. There’s tons of honey and vanilla flavor. It’s not sweet but it’s still the best Irish whiskey on this list to sip after dinner, preferably in front of a roaring fire.

Credit: Merc / Total Wine

Rating:

9/10

Sporks

Best Over Ice

Jameson

Total Wine

As I mentioned, I’ve always been a Jameson gal. I honestly expected this to come in as the number one best Irish whiskey. And, after tasting it against a bunch of others, I’m pleased to say it’s right up there—if not our number one. It’s extremely light and dry and bright with a bit of a sweet grain flavor. In my opinion, it’s the best Irish whiskey to sip over ice. And it’s good in a cocktail, too, because its zip will hold up to other ingredients. It’s still a go-to for me, but a different cheap Irish whiskey won us over. 

Credit: Merc / Total Wine

Rating:

9.5/10

Sporks

Best of the Best

Tullamore D.E.W.

Total Wine

Tullamore D.E.W. is so, so, so good. It’s like sunshine in a bottle. It has a beautiful honey flavor and it goes down easy, but leaves your tongue tingling (I love when whiskey does that). It’s both complex and layered with notes of oak, while also being so good you have to hold back from gulping it down. After tasting through 11 bottles, there’s no denying this is the best Irish whiskey we sampled.

Credit: Merc / Total Wine

Rating:

10/10

Sporks

Other Irish whiskeys we tried: Jameson Orange, O’Neils, Kilbrin, Kavanagh, Paddy’s, Dempsey’s