
June 29, 2016

Some funky Irish

… As a tribute to the Irish football team and to their supporters who managed to make everyone in France just love them. I’m almost sorry the French team defeated them – no small feat – they are truly great people. Very well done, Ireland!

The Pogues Whiskey (40%, OB, blended Irish, +/-2015)

Never quite been a fan of the band, but the idea of an own whiskey was quite a brainwave. Isn’t it more coherent than doing this with a footballer that doesn’t quite drink? Apparently, this is made by West Cork Distillers in Skibbereen. Colour: pale gold. Nose: oh funny indeed! It’s not the typical sweet and lightish Irish blend, I rather find it sooty and even smoky at first, before more traditional notes of iron (old tin box) and overripe apples take control. Mouth: yeah, really, it’s a fine blend, rather fat and well textured, with a kind of hoppy side and more of that sooty, slightly acrid thing. Wondering if there isn’t some peated Cooley inside. Would that be impossible?… Finish: quite long, smoky and metallic, even a little earthy. Perhaps gooseberries in the background. Comments: I have to say this is a very good surprise. I had feared it would be some kind of stunt, but no… SGP:454 - 82 points.

Speaking of West Cork…

West Cork Original (40%, OB, blended Irish, +/-2016)

Only 25% malt whiskey in this blend, apparently. Not too sure whether it’s sourced whiskey or not, but with a name like that, we might expect some pure pot still character, let’s see… Colour: pale gold. Nose: totally lighter than the Pogue’s, less deep, with a slightly buttery start and a development on apple peelings, overripe apples, barley, and a wee ethanoly side. Are we entitled to use the word ‘wee’ when assessing Irish whisky? Mouth: it’s fine indeed, but a little unpolished and, indeed, spirity. Pear eau-de-vie and kirsch, a little vanilla, a metallic touch, and something Jamesonian. We’re talking entry-level Jameson. Finish: a little short and simple. Comments: not too sure about this one. Not bad at all, but not very inspiring. Might be me. SGP:331 - 71 points.

The Dublin Liberties ‘Oak Devil’ (46%, OB, blended Irish, +/-2016)

With the current boom of Irish whiskey, no wonder we’re seeing more and more new ‘brands’ from here and from there. Colour: gold. Nose: fatter again, rounder, sweeter, with more custard and fruit salad. Pears, bananas, perhaps whiffs of sea spray, then papayas and guavas that remind me of Redbreast and assorted Midletonian outputs. Very nice mildly fruity nose. Mouth: good punch, but it’s a little rawer and rougher again, a little spirity, with williams pears and plum eaux-de-vies. I had high hopes after the nose, but I’m finding the palate a little uninspired (and uninspiring). Perhaps too young. Finish: medium, spirity, even a little varnishy. Comments: rather frustrating – especially when someone’s talking about liberties. Their football team is much better. SGP:441 - 73 points.

Please, the artillery!

Irish Single Malt 1991/2015 (48.5%, Whisky-Doris, Nose Art, bourbon barrel, cask #8533, 161 bottles)

Also!... (that was German). Colour: gold. Nose: now we’re talking. It’s one of these ultra-fruity Irish that would make a 1976 Benriach nose like if it was Absolut (pushing things a bit now, ha-ha). Pure mango and papaya juice, both fresh and canned. It’s not that it’s complex, but it’s so totally spectacular! Mouth: exceptional creamy, fruity, camphory, eucalyptussy, mentholy, and even ‘greatly dusty’ (I know what I’m trying to say), with an unexpected meaty side. Dried beef, perhaps (Grisons meat), or bresaola? Really strange, but greatly strange. Finish: medium to long, herbal in a great manner, with some rosehip tea that you would have over-boiled. Or something like that. Too much oak, but that’s not too much here. Again, I know what I’m trying to say. Comments: very funny, very good, very unusual. Exactly what you need when you’re trying a lot of whiskies and are sometimes a little blasé, as Archie Shepp would say. SGP:651 - 88 points.

Irish Single Malt 1991/2016 (49.5%, The Whisky Agency, Perfect Dram, bourbon barrel, 152 bottles)

Perhaps am I a little late to the party – again. Colour: light gold. Nose: same ballpark, obviously. Same herbal teas and tropical fruits, mangos, bananas, papayas… Honeysuckle, these small white pineapples they have in Cuba… And a little barley sugar. Mouth: very close to the Doris, perhaps a little fruitier and ‘simpler’ – not in a bad way – and more citrusy. Once again it’s a tropical extravaganza, some kind of readymade oak-aged cocktail, with a woody structure that kind of whispers ‘do not keep me any longer in oak, please, do not… Indeed, the oak starts to feel (green tobacco and tea) but ‘we’re all right’. Finish: long, and frankly oaky. The good news is that it’s fine oak, with quite a lot of green pepper. Comments: which one did I like best? Like I sometimes say, ‘both’. But yeah, the oak starts to feel… (or it would have been 90 guaranteed). SGP:561 - 89 points.

Once again, thank you Ireland for a great show in France!

Check the index of all Irish I've tasted so far