Drink: Two great Irish whiskies

Smooth Irish whiskey is rolling in Pennsylvania, where sales of the most popular brand, Jameson, grew by 20 percent last year.

But with a discount and free shipping on the PLCB website in March, this is the month to explore some of the Emerald Isle's finest spirits.

Here's a pair that's worth your while. Scotch lovers will be interested in the peat-smoked single-malt from Connemara - atypical in a country whose whiskeys are normally not smoked.

It's still distinctly Irish at its honeyed heart, though, with a drier, less medicinal smoke than the sea-tinged malts of Islay.

My top splurge, though, is the 12-year-old Powers John's Lane Release, a full-flavored throwback that is simply profoundly good. It's like sipping toffee warmed by coffee, cocoa, dried fruit, nuts and caramel, with a rich texture that comes from its old-school Irish pot still.

- Craig LaBan
 
Powers John's Lane Release 12-year-old Irish Whiskey, on sale at finewineandgoodspirits.com for $58.99 (code 31697); Connemara Peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey, $39.99 in select Pennsylvania stores (code 10920.)