Irish whiskey was considered the ultimate in whiskeys until the prohibition era, when American bootleggers labeled their bathtub varieties as "Irish." Only in the last ten years has Irish whiskey regained its preeminence as the world's finest. Like its cousin Scotch, Irish whiskey is initially aged in used oak bourbon casks for at least three years. What sets Irish whiskey apart is the fact that the malt grains are dried in ovens rather than over peat fires, and it is distilled three times, unlike any other whiskey. The result is a whiskey that is pure, clean, and smooth. Likewise, Irish whiskey is often aged in multiple barrels, lending it an unmatched smoothness and complexity