A Guide to Irish Whiskey: What’s Behind the Bar at Maginn’s Irish Pub
Maginn’s Irish Pub | 24480 Main St #140, Old Town Newhall | maginnspub.com
Irish whiskey is having a moment that has been building for over a decade, and it is not slowing down. What was once a category dominated almost entirely by Jameson has expanded into one of the most diverse and exciting corners of the spirits world. New distilleries are opening across Ireland, heritage brands are releasing expressions that rival the complexity of the best Scotch, and whiskey drinkers who once defaulted to bourbon are discovering that Irish whiskey offers something different: a smoothness, a versatility, and a depth of flavor that makes it one of the most approachable yet rewarding categories behind any bar. At Maginn’s Irish Pub in Old Town Newhall, the whiskey collection reflects that evolution. The bar carries 25 Irish whiskeys, a range that goes far beyond the familiar bottles and into territory that most bars in the Santa Clarita Valley, and frankly most bars in the greater Los Angeles area, simply do not stock.
What Makes Irish Whiskey Different from Bourbon and Scotch
Before getting into what is on the shelf at Maginn’s, it helps to understand what sets Irish whiskey apart from the other major categories. Bourbon, which dominates the American whiskey market, is made primarily from corn and aged in new charred oak barrels. That process produces a spirit that is typically sweeter, with prominent notes of vanilla, caramel, and oak. Scotch whisky, particularly single malts, is made from malted barley and aged in used barrels, which tends to produce a drier, more complex spirit that can range from light and fruity to heavily smoky depending on the region. Irish whiskey sits in its own lane. It is typically triple distilled, which creates a smoother, lighter body compared to the double distillation used in most Scotch and bourbon. Irish whiskey can be made from a combination of malted and unmalted barley, and many Irish distilleries use a variety of cask types for aging, including former bourbon barrels, sherry casks, wine casks, and rum casks. The result is a spirit that tends to be more approachable on the first sip but reveals significant complexity the more you explore the category. For people who find bourbon too sweet or Scotch too intense, Irish whiskey often becomes the entry point that opens up the entire world of whiskey.
25 Irish Whiskeys: The Full Collection at Maginn’s
The Irish whiskey selection at Maginn’s is one of the deepest in the Santa Clarita Valley and one of the more impressive collections you will find anywhere in the Los Angeles area outside of dedicated whiskey bars. The lineup starts with the bottles most people already know. Jameson, the best selling Irish whiskey in the world, is there in its original expression along with Jameson Black Barrel, which adds depth through double charred barrel aging, and Jameson 18 Year, which is a serious pour that rewards anyone willing to slow down and pay attention to what is in the glass. Bushmills, the oldest licensed whiskey distillery in the world, is represented alongside Bushmills Black Bush, which is finished in oloroso sherry casks and carries a richness that makes it one of the most underrated bottles in the Irish category. Tullamore D.E.W. and its honey expression offer an accessible, easy drinking option that works well neat or in cocktails. Slane, Teeling, Dubliner, Powers, and Proper No. Twelve round out the core range and provide a solid foundation for anyone who is just beginning to explore Irish whiskey.
The Spot Range and Redbreast: Where the Collection Gets Serious
Where Maginn’s whiskey collection truly separates itself from most other bars in the area is in the upper tier. The pub carries the full Spot whiskey range from Mitchell and Son, one of the most respected families of whiskey in Ireland. Green Spot, which is aged in a combination of bourbon and sherry casks, is a single pot still whiskey with notes of green apple, toasted oak, and barley spice. It is widely considered one of the best value bottles in the entire Irish whiskey category. Yellow Spot steps up to 12 years of aging across three cask types, bourbon, sherry, and Malaga, and delivers a richer, more layered experience with stone fruit, honey, and a long warm finish. Red Spot, aged for 15 years and finished in marsala wine casks, is a rare and allocated bottle that many whiskey bars do not carry at all. Blue Spot, a cask strength expression aged in a combination of bourbon, sherry, and Madeira casks, rounds out the range and offers an intensity and complexity that will satisfy even the most experienced whiskey drinker. Having all four Spot whiskeys available at a single bar is uncommon, and having them available at a neighborhood pub in the Santa Clarita Valley is remarkable. Alongside the Spot range, Maginn’s carries Redbreast in three expressions: Redbreast 12 Year, Redbreast 15 Year, and Redbreast 21 Year. Redbreast is widely regarded as the gold standard of single pot still Irish whiskey, and the 21 Year expression in particular is considered one of the finest Irish whiskeys in production. The combination of tropical fruit, dried spice, oak, and a finish that seems to last for minutes rather than seconds puts Redbreast 21 in the same conversation as the best single malts from Scotland. Having it available by the pour at a pub in Newhall means you can experience one of the world’s great whiskeys without committing to a bottle that retails for well over two hundred dollars.
Powers and Midleton Very Rare: The Deep Cuts
Maginn’s also carries a depth of Powers expressions that most bars overlook entirely. Powers Gold Label has been the bartender’s whiskey in Ireland for over a century, known for its honey and toffee notes and a clean, slightly spicy finish. Powers Three Swallow is a single pot still release that bridges the gap between the everyday Gold Label and the more complex offerings. Powers John’s Lane is the flagship of the range, a 12 year single pot still whiskey that delivers chocolate, dried fruit, and a peppery finish that lingers. It is one of the most awarded Irish whiskeys of the past decade and consistently appears on best of lists compiled by spirits critics and whiskey publications. Beyond Powers, Maginn’s also has a Powers Rye expression, which is a relatively new and uncommon addition to the Irish whiskey landscape. And then there is Midleton Very Rare, which sits at the very top of the Irish whiskey hierarchy. Midleton Very Rare is a limited annual release blended by the master distiller at Midleton Distillery in County Cork, using some of the rarest and oldest stocks available. It is the kind of bottle that dedicated whiskey collectors seek out, and finding it available by the pour at a pub is the kind of discovery that makes the trip worth it on its own. Writers Tears and West Cork round out the collection with two more distinctive expressions that add variety and ensure there is something on the shelf for every palate and every level of whiskey experience.
Beyond Irish: Bourbon, Scotch, and the Full Bar at Maginn’s
While the Irish whiskey collection is the crown jewel of the bar program, Maginn’s does not leave bourbon and Scotch drinkers behind. The bourbon shelf carries 24 bottles including Buffalo Trace, Woodford Reserve Double Oak, WhistlePig 10 Year, Henry McKenna 10 Year, Michter’s Small Batch, Jefferson’s Ocean, and Angel’s Envy, among others. The Scotch selection includes 12 expressions ranging from the peated intensity of Laphroaig to the sherry richness of Aberlour A’bunadh, the Highland elegance of Oban 14, and the top shelf prestige of Macallan 12 Year and Macallan 18 Year, plus Johnnie Walker Black and Blue Label for blended Scotch fans. The full bar also extends to an impressive draft beer lineup featuring Guinness, Smithwick’s Red Ale, Kilkenny Cream Ale, Harp Lager, Magners Cider, and Tennent’s Lager, all of which are Irish, British, or Scottish. Handcrafted cocktails, a curated wine list, and a thoughtful selection of non alcoholic options including Seedlip based cocktails and Lyre’s non alcoholic prosecco ensure that every person at the table has something worth drinking regardless of their preference.
Why the Setting Matters When You Are Drinking Good Whiskey
Whiskey, more than almost any other spirit, benefits from the right environment. Drinking a pour of Redbreast 21 or Midleton Very Rare at a loud, overcrowded bar where the bartender is rushing through orders is a fundamentally different experience from ordering it in a quiet, warm pub where the pour is unhurried and the atmosphere encourages you to actually sit with the glass and pay attention. Maginn’s provides that kind of setting. The interior was designed and built by the Irish Pub Company in Dublin and shipped to Newhall, which means the Victorian style bar where your whiskey is poured is itself a piece of authentic Irish craftsmanship. The lighting is warm. The pace is relaxed. The bartenders understand the collection and can guide you through it whether you are a first time Irish whiskey drinker looking for a starting point or a seasoned enthusiast looking for something you have not tried yet. That combination of a world class whiskey selection and a genuinely authentic pub environment is not something you can find at most bars in the Santa Clarita Valley, or in most of Los Angeles for that matter.
Pairing Irish Whiskey with Pub Food
One of the advantages of exploring whiskey at a pub rather than a dedicated whiskey bar is that you have a full menu of food to pair with what you are drinking. Irish whiskey and Irish pub food are a natural match. The rich, savory depth of a cottage pie or beef and Guinness stew pairs beautifully with the honey and toasted oak notes of a pot still whiskey like Redbreast 12 or Powers John’s Lane. The crisp batter and flaky cod of the award winning fish and chips at Maginn’s works well alongside a lighter, citrus forward pour like Green Spot or Tullamore D.E.W. A proper Guinness stout and a small pour of Midleton Very Rare make for one of the more satisfying ways to end a meal that you will find anywhere in the valley. The point is that whiskey at Maginn’s does not exist in isolation. It is part of a complete experience that includes food, atmosphere, hospitality, and a setting that was designed to make the entire evening feel unhurried and enjoyable.
The Best Whiskey Bar in the Santa Clarita Valley
With 25 Irish whiskeys, 24 bourbons, 12 Scotch expressions, and a bar program that extends across draft beers, cocktails, wine, and non alcoholic options, Maginn’s Irish Pub carries one of the most comprehensive whiskey collections in the Santa Clarita Valley. The full Spot range, three expressions of Redbreast including the 21 Year, Midleton Very Rare, four expressions of Powers, and a depth of Jameson that goes up to the 18 Year make it a destination for anyone who takes whiskey seriously. But the beauty of the collection at Maginn’s is that you do not have to take whiskey seriously to enjoy it. The bartenders are approachable, the pours are honest, and the atmosphere invites exploration rather than pretension. Whether you are ordering your first Jameson on the rocks, working your way through the Spot range, or savoring a pour of something rare after a plate of the best fish and chips in Santa Clarita, the whiskey program at Maginn’s meets you exactly where you are. Stop in, sit down, and ask what is worth trying. The answer, at this bar, is almost everything.
Maginn’s Irish Pub
24480 Main Street #140, Old Town Newhall, Santa Clarita, CA 91321
661-476-5168