
July 23, 2018

Another little basket of Irish

Always a joy to try to unearth some new Irish fruit bombs, let’s see what we have…

West Cork ‘Glengarrif Series’ (43%, OB, Irish, single malt, Bog Oak Charred Cask Finish, +/-2018)

West Cork ‘Glengarrif Series’ (43%, OB, Irish, single malt, Bog Oak Charred Cask Finish, +/-2018)
Bog oak seems to be some kind of very old oak that’s in the process of getting fossilized. We have some in France too, they’re usually to be found in swamps or peat-bogs and are used to make knife handles or pipes. Bog oak (morta in French) is usually extremely hard. Colour: gold. Nose: a bit weird, with whiffs of burnt petrol at first, then a pretty gingery feeling. Tonic water, turmeric… It’s a very strange nose I have to say, although vanilla would then come out… Mouth: bizarre, bitter, with notes of Fanta. It’s got something funny for sure, but the very gingery oak made it rather unbalanced. Let’s wait for a proper ‘unfinished’ West Cork then. Finish: rather long, dry, spicy, not easy. Comments: as I said, I’ll try to taste a more regular West Cork next time. Now the bottle itself is lovely IMHO.
SGP:361 - 65 points.

Tipperary ‘Watershed’ (47%, OB, Irish, single malt, +/-2018)

This from Stuart Nickerson’s new distillery, although it seems that it’s still sourced whiskey, not their own. Colour: white wine. Nose: less ‘singular’, of course, but probably better balanced, nicely fruity, rather on apples and cherries at first, then vanilla and the softest honeys. Also barley, melons, touches of papayas, and a discreet grassy aspect that works very well. Mouth: very good. Lemon, icing sugar, limoncello, light cereals, green apples, and ‘of course’ a little vanilla. Green melons. All fine, and the strength is perfect. Finish: medium, clean, fruity, with a pleasant zestiness. Spicier and oakier aftertaste. Comments: sure it’s a long way when you start a new distillery… ha-ha.
SGP:551 - 83 points.

Irish 14 yo 2003/2018 (50.5%, Exclusive Malts for The Whisky Barrel, Irish single malt, refill sherry hogshead, cask #200503, 264 bottles)

I can’t quite see what could go wrong, but you never know... This is said to be Cooley. Colour: gold. Nose: some rather spicy and cinnamony oak at first, with notes of cedar wood, balsa, then maraschino, morello cherries, almond syrup (orgeat)… What’s sure is that the cask was very active, doesn’t feel very ‘refill’, but I have to say I enjoy these whiffs of moss, fern, humus and other elements from a Japanese forest (whatever, S.!) very much. Also these menthol and smoked tea combinations. Mouth: extremely unusual and a bit crazy. Tar liqueur, ginger, snuff, green peppercorns, cinnamon rolls, chestnut honey, molasses, speculoos, some kind of crazy gin (but aren’t all gins crazy by nature?)… Goes more towards bitter oranges and burnt raisins after a short while. One of the heavier Irish, for sure. Finish: very long, spicy. Eating your cigar with a little marmalade. Comments: totally eccentric and, perhaps, a tad illegal (that’s meant to be a figure of style, David!) What a crazy concoction!
SGP:561 - 86 points.

Irish 24 yo 1993/2018 (48.2%, The Whisky Agency for The Whisky Exchange, 209 bottles)

Irish Whiskey 24 yo 1993/2018 (48.2%, The Whisky Agency for The Whisky Exchange, 209 bottles)

This one too is brand new. And once again, I cannot quite see what could go wrong, although I’m sure this one will be better civilized than the crazy 2003. Colour: straw. Nose: not quite a fruit bomb, but no one could not like (drop those double negatives for good, S.!) this style that’s full of honeys, golden cereals, custard and soft preserved fruits. A pastry shop in central London, around 7am. Apricots on syrup. Mouth: in keeping with the nose. Lemony melons and melony lemons, acacia honey, apricots and peaches, and touches of angelica. Gets more citrusy over time, which just always works. Finish: medium, with notes of blood oranges and grapefruits. Comments: perhaps not quite the incredible fruitiness that’s to be found in slightly earlier vintages (say 1988-1991) but we’re still flying extremely high. Over Ireland.
SGP:651 - 90 points.

Irish Malt 26 yo 1992/2018 ‘Summer Dram’ (48.3%, Liquid Treasures, bourbon barrel, 172 bottles)

Irish Malt 26 yo 1992/2018 ‘Summer Dram’ (48.3%, Liquid Treasures, bourbon barrel, 172 bottles)
Summer dram? How fitting, it is scorching hot in Alsace at time of writing. Colour: dark straw. Nose: there, cantaloupes, heather honey, preserved mangos, pink bananas, damp old wood, pine needles, menthol, Kools… Enough said. I mean, written. Mouth: this slightly mentholy fruitiness that aficionados love so much. Oranges, mint leaves, olive oil, all-flower honey, passion fruits, apple peelings, perhaps two fresh walnuts (per glass). Also fresh almonds. Finish: rather long, wonderfully almondy and fruity. A feeling of old pine liqueurs from old countries from an old continent. Comments: actually, the 1993 improved once exposed to more oxygen – while we were done with it. So, same scores…
SGP:661 - 90 points.

Sláinte na bhfear agus go maire na mná go deo!

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