Such was the question posed to me by the bartender at Belltown Bistro a few weeks ago after I asked for an Irish Coffee [coffee + whiskey + a bit of cream = liquid goodness].

I sat there quietly for a short moment, eyes losing focus as I thought carefully to myself "what the hell does he mean?"  Not wanting to look like an inexperienced barstool patron, I calmly replied "Protestant" with an affirmative slight nod of my head [I was raised Methodist, so that seemed like the logical choice].  It worked...he said "right away" and was off to make our drinks.

A few minutes later he came back with our drinks and we started chatting while he was doing whatever it is bartenders do behind the bar.  I'm pretty honest, to a fault sometimes, and finally came clean...

"Hey [barkeep], I gotta admit that I just lied to you. When you asked me Protestant or Catholic, I didn't have a clue what you meant."

"Well, you sure pulled it off then because it looked like you did."

"Thanks.  Mind enlightening me?"

And he went on to explain the difference...

The short version is Protestant uses Bushmills whiskey and Catholic uses Jameson whiskey.  As to why the religious labels?  Apparently in the country of Ireland, the Bushmills distillery is located in a predominantly Protestant area of Northern Ireland, in the town of Bushmill in County Antrim.  And Jameson's Midleton distilleries are located outside Midleton in County Cork which is a largely Catholic area in Southern Ireland. 

How much truth is there to the religious division?  I don't have a clue.  Search online and you'll see all kinds of opinions, but at least now I know what they mean when they ask "Protestant or Catholic?"  AKA: Bushmills or Jameson. 

~tod