What whisk(e)y are we drinking? (Part 2)

the beer revolu · 15-03-2023 3:11pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120361785#Comment_120361785

Dark Silkie would be a great introduction to smoke and peat, imo.

DARK-KNIGHT · 15-03-2023 3:12pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120362275#Comment_120362275

Had a sample of dark silkie and enjoyed it

Hodors Appletart · 15-03-2023 3:36pm

yeah I've only ever had Dark Silkie once, on the recommendation of this thread, I'm going to get a bottle eventually.

Electric Nitwit · 15-03-2023 3:49pm

The Dark Silkie Cask Strength is worth the extra, imo

A great introduction to peat is Johnnie Walker Double Black. Especially if you're flying home from the UK, it's nearly always available in duty free for about £30 for a litre

Black Sheep · 15-03-2023 5:24pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120362278#Comment_120362278

I got An Oa in the Celtic Whisky Shop actually.

Although it is approachable for an Ardbeg that still means quite peated by general standards.

Have to ask... Did you try your secret Santa's and what did you think!!

adaminho · 15-03-2023 5:37pm

...

15-03-2023 7:21pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120362853#Comment_120362853

First person to name the bar gets a free shot???

odyssey06 · 15-03-2023 7:30pm

For these damp chilly evenings, time for a hot whiskey.

My alternative version uses a strip of mandarin orange peel instead of lemon and cloves.

Works very well with Paddy Black Label. Aka Paddys Share this is a big step up in quality from the original Paddy.

adaminho · 15-03-2023 7:39pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120363229#Comment_120363229

You'll get a Bog Standard Dram and then F**ed out!

Beanstalk · 15-03-2023 8:33pm

I really like An Oa, it's smokier and sweeter than the Ardbeg 10. Both are great in their own right.

Enjoying this tonight!

Sinbad311 · 17-03-2023 11:04am

Jameson Black Barrel down to 30 from 50 in Tesco with a Clubcard, not a bad price. Had a bottle of the Xmas and really enjoyed it.

Insect Overlord · 17-03-2023 10:21pm

Sampling 3 Thomond Gate single pot stills tonight.

Started with their latest release, aged for 21 months in a Château Kirwan Margaux cask, then had the Peter Lacy 2.0 (Imperial Stout finish with Western Herd in county Clare) and finished with their Hlymreker (Danish Rye finish, a whopping 60.63% abv).

I'd tried the Imp Stout finish before so I knew I like that one. The other 2 are also fantastic. I've spent way too much money supporting them over the past 30 months or so, but they're doing great things with sourced product while they wait to get their own set-up up and running in Limerick.

Insect Overlord · 18-03-2023 11:27pm

Went for 3 Thomond Gate single malts tonight. Miguel Hogan 2.0 (ruby port finish), John Wolfe Ambrose (peated Bourbon finish) and Bold & Brave (red ale malt/Treaty City finish). All fabulous over very large ice cubes.

I meant to open the Bold & Brave at Christmas time so I could drink it alongside Treaty City's barrel aged red ale, but I never got around to it. It was worth the wait. Super smooth stuff. Back on the wagon after this weekend until the Great Limerick Run is done, so it's been good fun trying so many cask strength drams together.

I also picked up the Two Stacks x Irish Malts single cask (PX finish) last week. I haven't given it a proper tasting with the Glencairn glass yet, but the little sup I did have was very enjoyable. Pretty sure it's my first Pedro Ximenez bottle and now I understand why the likes of Red Breast go for such mad prices at auction.

flended12 · 19-03-2023 9:00am

Was given a private tasting session here 2 weeks ago. Nothing short of sensational.

Citizen Six · 19-03-2023 10:14am

Anyone going to the whiskey festival in Cork this weekend? I'm thinking of going down for a few hours, but haven't really looked closely at what's on.

Electric Nitwit · 20-03-2023 10:44pm

Picked up a Bunnahabhain "Eirigh Na Greine" in Edinburgh Duty Free and I'd recommend it if you're flying home from the UK, looks like it's in most duty frees (or orderable, anyway)

Travel exclusive and no age statement, which I'm usually suspicious of, but £38 for a litre. It tastes really nice. I don't get much from the red wine casks, I don't think, but there is a nice fruity flavour at the start. It's quite peppery in the middle and very smooth to finish. Not quite as nice as the Bunnahabhain 12, but not far off. It's a bit of a bargain at that price

https://worlddutyfree.com/en/bunnahabhain-eirigh-na-greine-1l

the beer revolu · 22-03-2023 2:02pm

I was gifted a bottle of Bushmills 1608 anniversary edition. So, of course, I opened it!

It's a lot more interesting than I had hoped. I imagined the overwhelming impression would be "smooth", but it's far more complex than that. It's a bit of a sherry bomb, imo, and has a nice edgy kick to the finish. It's dark and warm.

46%, too.

I imagined it aimed at the same market as MVR but it's a very different beast altogether!

Not sure why they put it in a coffin, though!

3102derek · 22-03-2023 2:15pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120363229#Comment_120363229

Looks like Mother Mac's Limerick.

adaminho · 22-03-2023 5:56pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120387836#Comment_120387836

Literally says it on the glass 😉

22-03-2023 6:43pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120388816#Comment_120388816

Never been in this pub, but checked out pictures on google maps. I love that the owner has the prices of each and every bottle on the shelf. Nice and obvious. Makes choosing a much nicer experience.

Citizen Six · 23-03-2023 9:46pm

Picked up a bottle of Waterford Ratheadon 1.1 today for about €80. Bought a bottle when it came out to celebrate my kids birth in 2020, so was happy to get a bottle today to celebrate some other good news.

So finished off the last of the first bottle, and started the new one.

odyssey06 · 23-03-2023 9:52pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120393756#Comment_120393756

I tasted a few of the Waterfords and that was easily my favourite.

Surprised you could stil get a 1.1 thought it was at 1.2 now.

adaminho · 23-03-2023 10:00pm

Had a beer and sushi pairing in the bar tonight. This was the surprise pairing from Brian Nation. Only got a small taste as I'm working. It's interesting though.

24-03-2023 7:14pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120393831#Comment_120393831

Interesting enough to spend 50e on?

odyssey06 · 24-03-2023 7:26pm

See Keepers Heart getting mentioned.

Theres tasting events happening around the country for it.

https://mobile.twitter.com/KeepersHeart/status/1638954227723542538

25-03-2023 1:29pm

Curiosity question. How do places like keepers heart and Boann get 10year whisky when they are brand new setups? Boann have a bottle, the whistler 15 year old for 165e. Is this just bushmills or midleton juice with fancy label and a story?

the beer revolu · 25-03-2023 1:42pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120399551#Comment_120399551

Yes, you've pretty much answered your own question.

Depending on the age of the liquid, it could come from Cooley, Great Northern or West Cork, too.

Insect Overlord · 25-03-2023 2:05pm

Does anyone know if Green Spot Quail's Gate will be in mainstream shops at all, or was the whole lot sold out online on release day?

Citizen Six · 25-03-2023 6:41pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120399638#Comment_120399638

I'd have thought it would be in a bunch of mainstream shops. But might be highly sought at the start. I put in for a couple of bottles with Mitchells that I should be getting in a few weeks.

Citizen Six · 25-03-2023 8:15pm

So I was in a Wetherspoons yesterday. I ordered a Dingle Single Malt. It arrived with three ice cubes in it. Politely told the server that I didn't want ice in it, so they brought it back and got me a new one. Then overheard the bar man loudly giving out that if I didn't want ice in my whiskey, that I should have ordered it without ice.

Black Sheep · 25-03-2023 9:15pm

I always do specify no ice, funnily enough, for that exact reason.

25-03-2023 10:33pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120399581#Comment_120399581

Kind of fells like a complete piss take. On one hand a fab Yellow spot for example, distilled in midleton, matured and sold as a 12yo for 80e.

Compared to a makey up story & bought in 15yo for 165e. 2x the price for???

odyssey06 · 26-03-2023 2:37pm

There's an article about Keepers Heart "Irish American Whiskey" in the Sunday Indo business section:

Unusually, the whiskey is a blend of Irish and American whiskies... while the Company's whiskey matures, the American whiskey for Keeper's Heart was sourced from Midwest Grain Products in Indiana, and the Irish whiskey is from Great Northern Distillery.

The company could consider investing in an Irish distillery in addition to its current US whiskey facility in Minneapolis.

According to Brian Nation, "It is very authentically going to be American whiskey. We are not pretending to call it Irish whiskey. We are proud to say we are producing American whiskey, be it the triple-pot distilled rye or triple-pot distilled bourbon in the Irish style of triple-copper pot distillation."

So American whiskey, but made in Irish style blended with Irish whiskey?

https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/former-jameson-master-distiller-brian-nation-to-bring-us-brand-keepers-heart-to-ireland-42403327.html

Black Sheep · 26-03-2023 6:10pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120402748#Comment_120402748

That sounds a lot like Brothership, which was being touted around a few years ago. I tried a sample of that and it was very pleasant. A blend of sourced pot still Irish whiskey and sourced 'American whisky'.

It might not be everyone's cup of tea but at least these kinds of hybrids are something a bit different, it's not just another sourced Irish whiskey with a nice bottle and a fancy website.

Black Sheep · 26-03-2023 6:14pm

I opened my Wolfburn Latitude last night, and having another one tonight.

Quite interesting... I'm more impressed tonight than I was last night (My palate is a bit clearer I think).

The first thing you notice is that it's very pale. The natural coloration and bourbon barrel finish makes it look almost like water, something which always gives me a bit of a kick.

It's lightly peated and the tasting notes are autumnal and orchard fruits, but I also get the peat and a bit of cocoa. It's like a chocolate and apple confection in front of a turf fire.

This is undoubtedly a young whisky - perhaps only 4 years old? Am I wrong, I don't know.. And there is quite a tang of 'new make' in the background. Last night I got more of that, and was a bit put off.

I can enjoy this, and the Wolfburn business up in Thurso sounds wonderful, all very authentic and everything "by hand". At 57 euro I think it's reasonably priced compared to what this would be if it was an Irish-made product (Maybe add another 40 euro?).

Citizen Six · 26-03-2023 7:51pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120401258#Comment_120401258

Isn't the whole Yellow Spot story kind of made up as well. I know they aren't trying to hide it, but it's not historically what Yellow Spot was, yet they use that lore to sell the product.

the beer revolu · 27-03-2023 8:33am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120401258#Comment_120401258

Once you go over around 12 YO, whiskey seems to get exponentially more expensive. Still, what they are charging for older Irish whiskies at the moment, seems somewhat off balance. I guess it's getting harder and more expensive to source older liquid.

A few years ago at Blackwater, we were selling a sourced 17yo for €120. That seems pretty cheap compared to what's our there, now.

Black Sheep · 27-03-2023 12:16pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120403932#Comment_120403932

Well, the distillery of origin is known when it comes to Yellow Spot. I think that transparency is all that's required.

I must admit I'm not clear whether the Spot line-up is actually owned by Irish Distillers or it's Mitchell & Sons and it's just supplied by Irish Distillers.. I thought it was the former these days but maybe not.

I think the problem with sourced whisky is when it's not clear it's sourced, when you have a "distillery" nearly actively misleading the consumer. Glendalough has been in this territory, IMO, probably Clonakilty as well, maybe there are others.

the beer revolu · 27-03-2023 12:38pm

I don't buy the Mitchell's story at this stage. I'm pretty sure that the Spot range is owned and managed by IDL. I'd imagine Mitchell's get a small licencing fee and access to specials etc.

This is merely speculation, though.

lawrencesummers · 27-03-2023 3:09pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120400736#Comment_120400736

i would have asked him for a glass of ice after hearing that.

Black Sheep · 27-03-2023 3:43pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120406211#Comment_120406211

I think you're right, but I've nothing to base that on other than the prevalence of the Spot line-up, the closeness with other Irish Distillers products etc.

the beer revolu · 27-03-2023 4:01pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120407275#Comment_120407275

I suspect that the arrangement changed when they rebranded green spot and released yellow spot.

This was when they did a big Single Pot Still shift. They rebranded Redbreast at this time and released Barry Crockett.

At this time I think Green Spot was the oldest Irish pot still whiskey in continous production.

odyssey06 · 28-03-2023 10:47am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120399638#Comment_120399638

No sign of it yet in eg in Celtic Whiskey Shop, Irish Malts.

I have a sample on the way from Tiny Tipples, along with some of the Dingle limited releases, Killowen Rum+Raisin, Blue Spot and the Jameson SPS.

They offer click and collect now from Wine Centre Kilkenny.

https://www.tinytipple.com/products/green-spot-quails-gate-pinot-noir-cask-single-pot-still-46-abv-50ml?_pos=6&_sid=abafb3fb7&_ss=r

Drinks Hero have 1 full bottle for sale at €195! And some sample drams

https://www.drinkshero.com/search?type=product&q=green*+spot*+quails*

adaminho · 29-03-2023 3:36pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120400736#Comment_120400736

I always ask, but will also offer ice and water (and a straw) on the side.

adaminho · 29-03-2023 3:37pm

Preferred this to the Rye. Drop of water really opens it up.

2011abc · 31-03-2023 1:44pm

Retronaut? That was a smashing drop

FlicFlak · 31-03-2023 2:04pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120403571#Comment_120403571

I remember having the Brothership, from Connaught distillery if i remember correctly. I think it was a blend of 10 year old american rye whiskey and 10 year old irish single malt. It started off super fruity then finished really spicy, i rated it very highly!!

Black Sheep · 31-03-2023 4:05pm

Yes, it was pleasant.

Mashups like this are still uncommon.

In a way, Teeling Hybrid was such a mix... Scotch and Irish.

odyssey06 · 31-03-2023 5:52pm

Side by side tastings...

Green Spot versus Green Spot Quail's Gate

The Quail's Gate blows the original out of the water. Not sure how much of that is down to the wine (Pinot Noir) cask influence or more likely the higher ABV (46% v 40%) ... the Quail's Gate seemed like Green Spot but dialed up to the nine.

Dingle Samhain versus Dingle La Le Bride

Part of the Dingle "Wheel of Time" limited seasonal releases. Here the cask influence registers. Samhain is finished in Muscatel casks and mandarin orange flavours come through. Bride is finished in rye casks and that gives it a spicy ginger kick. Both very nice whiskies but the Bride just shades it.

test account 123 · 31-03-2023 6:09pm

Only stumbled across this great thread this evening. I should point out before posting anything else I'm a proper snob when it comes to certain aspects if Irish Whiskey 😁 It's Whiskey not Whisky, never, ever have it with ice and give it to me in a proper teardrop glass! These are the things that set Irish whiskey apart from the rest so maybe that's why I'm a stickler for it 🤔 But I wish in Irish pubs of all places they'd know how to serve it.

I always try to hold on to an opened bottle as long as possible cause in my experience the longer its open the better it becomes. My Redbreast cask strength was opened in 2018 and there's plenty left 😂

What whisk(e)y are we drinking? (Part 2)

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