
July 12, 2018

A wee box of Irish

Because we’ve got a few that we need to taste. That’s a good reason, don’t you think?

Peaky Blinder (40%, Sadler’s, Blended Irish, +/-2017)

Peaky Blinder (40%, Sadler’s, Blended Irish, +/-2017)
This is a Gold Medal Winner at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2018, you understand. Is there a reason to feel reassured? And not sure what came first, the TV series or this branded whisky, well I’m not sure I’d like to know. Colour: gold. Nose: it’s fair, with a kind of earthy maltiness, then rather overripe apples, cider, and a little toasted oak. This faint sweetish sourness that’s pretty Irish in my book. Mouth: fair, in the same league as that of Midleton’s main brands, just a tad more oaky and drying. Black tea, cocoa powder… Finish: medium, rather drying. More black tea. Some welcome notes of pears and pineapples in the aftertaste. Comments: humble and certainly not too bad. I have to say I’ve never watched the TV series, is it good?
SGP:441 - 72 points.

Dingle ‘Batch N°2’ (46.5%, OB, Irish single malt, 2018)

Dingle ‘Batch N°2’ (46.5%, OB, Irish single malt, 2018)
Dingle is a genuine distillery, not a non-producing one (as can be seen elsewhere). It was established in 2012, and this is the first expression of Dingle I’ve ever tried. Always a thrill! Colour: gold. Nose: definitely not of those smooth Irish that reek of fruits and breakfast cereals, as this is rather bready, doughy, porridge-y, with strong notes of ale, then fresh pancakes, broom, and just a wee touch of flint, possibly from some timid sherry wood. Mouth: still young and perhaps a little too bready, while the oak’s already quite dominant. Some European oak at play here? Allspice, cardamom, sawdust, sour cherries in the background… Finish: medium, a tad yeasty. Sour dough, spices, sour fruits. Fresh tannins in the aftertaste. Comments: I have the feeling that the wood was rather too fast and the distillate a little too slow. But I’m sure that’s just me…
SGP:341 - 72 points.

County Louth 14 yo 2003/2017 (51.5%, Valinch & Mallet, Irish single malt, sherry hogshead, cask # cask 173001)

County Louth 14 yo 2003/2017 (51.5%, Valinch & Mallet, Irish single malt, sherry hogshead, cask # cask 173001)
This should be Cooley. Well it is Cooley. Colour: gold. Nose: these do not display the extreme fruitiness that’s to be found in older indie Irish malts, but this very one’s very fruity though, rather on oranges at first, then ripe papaya covered with custard and just a few drops of coconut water. Very nice notes of stewed rhubarb. With water: H2O brings out wee metallic touches, as well as a little shoe polish. Mouth (neat): classic fruity Cooley, with some bubblegum, wine gums, orange sweets, then tropical fruits, although that’ not as extreme as in, for example, the old Bushmills. Blood oranges. With water: good, classic, blueberries, oranges, kiwis… Finish: medium, sweet, fruity. Pastry. Some soft tannins in the aftertaste. Comments: all very good fruity Irish.
SGP:641 - 85 points.

Irish Whiskey 12 yo 2004/2016 (54.3%, The Whisky Cask, bourbon)

Irish Whiskey 12 yo 2004/2016 (54.3%, The Whisky Cask, bourbon)
This wee German bottler usually selects good whiskies and rums, even the young ones. Colour: straw. Nose: fresher, fruitier, and more tropical than the 2003. For example, I’m finding more maracuja and mangos, pink bananas, papayas… In short, it’s one of those ‘fruit-salady’ Irish that always benefit from bourbon wood, while I’m not sure they enjoy sherry. With water: a little earth and green tea, all most enjoyable. A little fresh white bread. Mouth (neat): creamy, citrusy, very bright and tense, this is almost some kind of mineral limoncello, which reminds me of some young Rosebanks from… a long time ago. Very good. With water: dangerously drinkable! Grapefruit, lemon and orange juices, plus a drop of barley syrup and two or three crushed mint leaves. Finish: medium, very fresh, wonderfully fruity. Comments: top notch fruity spirit from just the right kind of cask. Perfect tango.
SGP:641 - 89 points.

Green & White 12 yo (60%, McNeill’s Choice, Irish single malt, 2016)

Colour: pale gold. Nose: stronger, obviously, perhaps more vegetal (asparagus), very faintly acetone-y, with touches of pencil shavings, elderberry flowers… A little hard to assess, and that’s the very high strength. With water: custard, apple juice, hints of hand cream, walnut skins… Mouth (neat): very sweet, pretty simple. Lemon and apple syrups – and a lot of alcohol. With water: very good, fruity, a tad simple, with a drop of crème de menthe over apple and watermelon juices. Finish: medium, sweet, simple. Grassier aftertaste. Comments: another very good one. Extremely close to the 2004 at times, even almost identical, but I just liked that one better. Just ‘a feeling’, but since this is my blog, I say it is my prerogative.
SGP:641 - 84 points.

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