It's still just smoke and mirrors though, right? How much product did they actually age on the island?
I was always reasonably positive towards Lambay. It's well-priced, good quality sourced whiskey finished in Camus cognac casks. If I was going to recommend a whisky for someone to buy in a Supervalu this evening, they could do worse. Cognac finishes work very well with Irish whiskey.
They did try to claim that using island well water, and aging on the island meant there was a maritime influence (I think they said they were using the "microclimate" of the island!). That's clearly bullshit but in fairness it's something you hear from literally every coastal distillery at one time or another, it started with the Scots.
For whatever it's worth I think aging the whiskey on the island was wasteful and silly, and I think building a distillery out there is just as silly. Although, then again, maybe it makes perfect sense, since the craziest thing of all was Edwin Lutyens' architecture ending up all the way out there…
I still feel like Glendalough, and those like them, have been the absolute worst in terms of transparency about being a "distillery" versus just being a brand that sells sourced whiskey. Crolly are creeping up there for me. A gushing Sunday Business Post article this weekend about their bringing whiskey back to the Gaeltacht of Donegal… But very much focused on the turnover at the Visitors' Experience, and all of their output is still sourced.
A new Dram in a Can is out from Two Stacks. This time a Celtic Whiskey Shop exclusive, single grain finished in a Mezcal cask. €11.50 for 100ml for a cask strength 16 year old seems reasonable enough price, as far as miniature pricings go. Full size bottle is €72.50.
Anyone try it yet? Think it was launched at Whiskey Live.
https://www.celticwhiskeyshop.com/two-stacks-16-year-old-mezcal-dram-in-a-can?search=Two%20stacks
I tasted it at Whiskey Live and liked it. It's a crowded market in that price range but the can is well priced.
Similar concept and price point to the Ferncullen 15 year old single grain with Madeira finish. Take a grain whiskey, and you're able to deliver an 'impressive' age statement, and finish, relative to the cost.
But it's still a grain whisky, it'll be a bit marmite.
I would try a can, but personally I would nearly just opt for the bog-standard Kibeggan, formerly Greenore, and really lean into it. I remember being served it as part of a Cooley tasting years ago, and it really is excellent if you just taste it for what it is, rather than wishing it were something else (if that makes sense).
I'd be really curious to see how many people could, in a blind tasting, identify grain, single malt and pot still (me included). Blind tastings are really tricky!
As a potential seller, is there much difference between the two whiskey auction firms / websites?
https://irishwhiskeyauctions.ie/
in Dundalk
https://www.whiskeybidders.com/
in Mullingar
Their fees seem to be similar.
They both charge €5 registration, €4 + VAT listing fee, plus 5% + VAT commission on sales.
Has anybody any opinions on them?
there’s also
Irish whiskey is in my opinion best
Thanks,
Celtic's fees are slightly less, and Dublin could be more convenient for me to get the bottle there.
But maybe 5 euro less fees doesn't matter as much as the depth/size of the market?
In terms of users/traffic/popularity IMO: Irish Whiskey Auctions > Whiskey Bidders > Celtic Whiskey
Both IWA and WB offer collection points or services
I'd look at past auction prices and see trends, some brands do better on some platforms, but ultimately it comes down to who is shopping that month!
Irish Whiskey do collections in Dublin. I’ve dropped stuff into the Bankers bar before.
I've found the bottom of a couple of bottles of Ardfallen10 since it was recommended here and good bang for your buck at €30 but I see it's going to be on special at €24.99 on June 7th
I will be getting one or two of those Ardfallen 10s so !
Can't get Paddy's Share in the Uk.
Has anyone tried "Two Stacks Fruit Drops Apple Brandy Cask Finish Irish Whiskey"? 50% abv version?
I've tried all the Fruit Drops whiskeys. They're genuinely fruity. I'm on the fence but I wouldn't refuse it. In a group of 7, 2 really loved them, 3 thought they were OK and two thought they were an abomination. If you can get the can it's a good way to try them.
Got a bottle of Jameson Triple Triple Marsala finish in Manchester Duty Free, £28 for a litre
It's very decent, and a bargain for that price, but not as nice as I was hoping. It tastes slightly less refined than regular Jameson to me, it's very smooth but has an underlying tartness that I don't love. Maybe that's lack of maturity? I don't know. The marsala finish is there, adds a nice honey and orange peel finish but it's not that pronounced
A solid 7/10 probably, and great value if you're flying home from the UK and see it for that
I was in the UK last week and the best airport deals I saw were actually just the duty free prices applied to flights to the UK from Dublin. Should have done a click and collect on a few of my current favourites. I feel like if you can get a 70 euro whisky at 20 euros off or thereabouts, hard to argue with that.
What was marked down on the UK end was things in the sub 40, sub 30 price bracket, marked a little further off again. The usual JW black deals and 2 for 1.
I am not against them as whiskies, but I feel like it's hard to me myself tote back that sort of stuff just to save an additional tenner on an already cheap whisky.
Did drink some ace Balcones while in the UK though. Not seen it here in a while.
Sadly the click and collect is only for non-duty free stuff if you're flying to the EU. Actual duty free has to leave the country
On the way over I got the Jameson Cold Brew at €18. Absolute bargain at that price, it's a lovely daytime drink in a hipflask (if you're in the right environment!)
Edit: I agree about UK duty free, I was hoping for a good scotch with a nice discount but it's all very generic, or "travel exclusives"
Oh no! Too good to be true, I guess, but that makes perfect sense now that I think of what duty free is meant to be for.
I fly in and out of Gatwick a lot, and it's got a terrible selection. London City Airport is much better, it must be said.
Yeah, to get the duty free price when buying at the Irish end you have to bring the alcohol personally out of the EU.
If you do that, then you can't buy again at the other end and bring both back - you only get one allowance (1 L of spirits, etc…) when returning to Ireland.
Well, you aren't supposed to, but you can.
€15 extra for cask strength sounds alright, yeah?
Surprisingly good value by any standard I think, considering its Redbreast.
Although, do I detect a slight cooling in the brands' popularity…? A few years ago on this forum, it felt like every thread talking about a given Irish whiskey compared it to Redbreast 12.
Its excellent value, especially compared to other whiskeys in the range.
Regarding popularity, I think one issue is the expanded range of Redbreast iterations. And then the growing number of really excellent whiskeys around the same price range as Redbreast 12. That said, the Redbreast stall was mobbed at Whiskey Live.
and my birthday is coming soon too.
time to subscribe my wifes email to Jamesons newsletter…
If you're at a loose end in Dublin next Wednesday and fancy some complimentary Redbreast whiskey cocktails and a free movie in the Stella Rathmines… sign up here.
Places going fast no wonder.
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/redbreast-unhidden-tickets-1372236950659?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&keep_tld=1
Back on special at €45
One of 5 bottles of nice whiskey I got for my 50th.
Absolutely gorgeous
happy birthday! what were the other 4?!
