What Whisky/Whiskey are we drinking this month?

cycocycle · 01-08-2020 7:35am

Has anyone tried the Currach whiskey yet? It was recommended to me by a "good source" so I picked it up (against my better judgement). It was always going to struggle against the 6 Waterford whiskies that my friend and I had between us for a "tasting" but I have to say I did not care for it. Interesting initial flavor but the overwhelming seaweed flavor from the unique barrel charring process did nothing for me. As per the review below its quite reminiscent of a heavily peated Scotch, which Im also not a fan of. Should have picked up the Redbreast or Irishman 12 I went in for...

https://potstilled.com/2020/03/13/the-currach-seaweed-charred-cask-irish-whiskey/

Cazale · 01-08-2020 8:10am

cycocycle wrote:

Has anyone tried the Currach whiskey yet? It was recommended to me by a "good source" so I picked it up (against my better judgement). It was always going to struggle against the 6 Waterford whiskies that my friend and I had between us for a "tasting" but I have to say I did not care for it. Interesting initial flavor but the overwhelming seaweed flavor from the unique barrel charring process did nothing for me. As per the review below its quite reminiscent of a heavily peated Scotch, which Im also not a fan of. Should have picked up the Redbreast or Irishman 12 I went in for...

Tried it a couple of times. I like it but not enough to buy a bottle. One of the tasting notes I have for it is roast chicken skin so it is a unique dram! There is definitely a smokey brininess to it so if you don't like peat it won't be for you. They also do a cask strength version.

Writers Tears have a seaweed IPA Cask finish which might be a more subtle if people want to try whiskey with seaweed. The Currach whiskey is dried seaweed burnt in the cask to create a charring whilst the writers tears is a whiskey aged in a barrel that previously contained seaweed infused IPA.

I was at a method and madness tasting with Midleton master distiller and former head of maturation Kevin O Gorman and he just laughed when asked about using seaweed with whiskey. He said they have no plans to ever use it.

Cazale · 01-08-2020 8:12am

Dtp1979 wrote:

Would smoky be an accurate description of that whisky?

I think the older a peated whiskey gets the influence of the smoke starts to lessen especially once it gets over 20 years. I'll post here when I try it.

Cazale · 01-08-2020 8:22am

BonnieSituation wrote:

[All the Knappogue is from Bushmills though isn't it?]

Yeah.

Tom Dunne · 01-08-2020 11:02am

Recently bought a bottle of this. Really enjoying it, sweet with a limited amount of spice.

EagererBeaver · 01-08-2020 12:28pm

Cazale wrote: »

I think the older a peated whiskey gets the influence of the smoke starts to lessen especially once it gets over 20 years. I'll post here when I try it.

It's still an Islay and it's still a Laphroaig. Regardless of age, "smoky" will ALWAYS be accurate.

Adyx · 01-08-2020 1:17pm

Jameson had a Seaweed based bitters available for a while. I use it to make Old Fashioneds every now and again. It goes nicely with Connemara.

Cazale · 01-08-2020 4:23pm

EagererBeaver wrote:

It's still an Islay and it's still a Laphroaig. Regardless of age, "smoky" will ALWAYS be accurate.

Thanks.

accensi0n · 01-08-2020 9:57pm

I've liked the few moderately peated whiskeys I've tried so far, so thought I'd chance it.

Beanstalk · 02-08-2020 12:59am

What did you think?

the beer revolu · 02-08-2020 10:51am

Tom Dunne wrote: »

Recently bought a bottle of this. Really enjoying it, sweet with a limited amount of spice.

This is a whiskey that I keep coming back to.
It often feels like my favourite Irish whiskey.

2011abc · 02-08-2020 5:45pm

Tom Dunne wrote: »

Recently bought a bottle of this. Really enjoying it, sweet with a limited amount of spice.

Nice but not worth double the basic Tyrconnel Malt which could be my 'if you could drink only one normal whiskey for life ' tipple ...

2011abc · 02-08-2020 5:47pm

Cazale wrote: »

Great post especially at 2am after drinking whiskey! I'm partial to a glass of Powers Johns Lane and think it's one of the best examples of pot still whiskey. There was a cask strength version sampled at the Belfast Whiskey Week which would have been interesting to try.

I love the Scottish sherry bombs like the glendronach 18 and glengoyne 25. I can't think of any Irish Whiskey finished in sherry casks that come anywhere near those two.

Teeling Brabazon vol 1?

Wailin · 02-08-2020 5:54pm

2011abc wrote: »

Teeling Brabazon vol 1?

A lovely whiskey, I wouldn't fault it. But the two scotch cazale mentioned are aged solely in sherry casks, not just finished like the teeling. They are true 'sherry bombs' as they say, the natural colour in them tells the tale really.

Cazale · 02-08-2020 7:21pm

Tasted some Indian whiskey the other night from Paul John and it was a revelation. Their Kanya and Peated select cask releases were both stunning. Looked them up in the Whisky Bible and they both scored 96 which says it all. Well worth a try.

mik_da_man · 02-08-2020 11:31pm

I've heard good things about their whisky, must get some to try.

Cazale · 03-08-2020 11:07am

mik_da_man wrote:

I've heard good things about their whisky, must get some to try.

The humidity means they lose 8% of the cask ever year whereas somewhere like Midleton only loses 1-2%. Both those whiskeys are only 7 year old but the humidity/temperature in goa speeds up the wood interaction and gives them a much more complex whiskey than the age suggests.

Cazale · 03-08-2020 4:30pm

Whiskey Live 2020 has been cancelled.

brinty · 03-08-2020 7:54pm

Cazale wrote:

Whiskey Live 2020 has been cancelled.

Unsurprisingly so. Hopefully they try and do something like BWW last week

Dtp1979 · 04-08-2020 12:49am

Where do you folks buy your whisky?

brinty · 04-08-2020 12:44pm

Dtp1979 wrote: »

Where do you folks buy your whisky?

Supermarkets - when on offer in Ireland or when I'm up north (being close to the border helps)

Off licence - when offers are on. O'Briens and Celtic Whiskey are useful spots

Gifts- If anyone ever asks me for a gift idea I say a bottle of whiskey (just not the regulars Bushmills, Jameson, Powers or Paddy)

Speaking of I'd my 40th in May and a close frined dropped me in a bottle of Drumshanbo whiskey last week. Looks interesting.

Greg81 · 04-08-2020 1:52pm

brinty wrote: »

Off licence - when offers are on. O'Briens and Celtic Whiskey are useful spots

As above. I was also buying quite a lot at the airports due to frequent travels.

the beer revolu · 04-08-2020 4:06pm

brinty wrote: »

Speaking of I'd my 40th in May and a close frined dropped me in a bottle of Drumshanbo whiskey last week. Looks interesting.

People give out about the price and the age of this - usually without tasting the product.
I tried it and liked it. Found it well made and refined.

brinty · 04-08-2020 4:09pm

the beer revolu wrote: »

People give out about the price and the age of this - usually without tasting the product.
I tried it and liked it. Found it well made and refined.

TBF people need to taste before commenting

I was at the Liberties event in BWW and their stuff is amazing. The master distiller is doing great work even though their own stock is still aging.

The liquid they've bought in and mash bills and aging are superb.

Dtp1979 · 04-08-2020 10:12pm

Has anybody tried glenfarclas whisky? Or coopers choice? Yay/Nay?

actuar90 · 04-08-2020 10:26pm

brinty wrote: »

TBF people need to taste before commenting

I was at the Liberties event in BWW and their stuff is amazing. The master distiller is doing great work even though their own stock is still aging.

The liquid they've bought in and mash bills and aging are superb.

I missed the event and going to watch it back online. What's the last whiskey in the set?
The card in the box says it's the murder lane 16 year old. I assume it is murder lane which is a 13 yo rather than the keepers coin 16yo?

L1011 · 04-08-2020 10:44pm

Dtp1979 wrote: »

Where do you folks buy your whisky?

Tesco, which often has ridiculous offers
O'Briens
Indie in Marino - Sweeneys - bit dear but has stuff you won't find elsewhere at times
Airports
Tesco in Holyhead :pac: - they actually have slightly different products due to having less Irish and backfilling with more Scotch/American; and I've got mad offers like half-sized bottles of Chivas for £7.

brinty · 05-08-2020 10:46am

actuar90 wrote: »

I missed the event and going to watch it back online. What's the last whiskey in the set?
The card in the box says it's the murder lane 16 year old. I assume it is murder lane which is a 13 yo rather than the keepers coin 16yo?

i think they said that was a misprint on the card so its a 13yo as you said.

accensi0n · 05-08-2020 3:03pm

Dtp1979 wrote: »

Has anybody tried glenfarclas whisky? Or coopers choice? Yay/Nay?

Glenfarclas, tried it during the BWW scots whiskey session. Thought it was nice enough but preferred most of the others.

Spicy and sherberty sweet on the nose. Spiciness drops off and the sweetness remains, a kind of artificial sweetness but nice.

Not as much depth, or sweetness in the taste but still nice enough, slight bitter finish.

accensi0n · 05-08-2020 10:31pm

Beanstalk wrote: »

What did you think?

I didn't dislike the laphroaig, but I was a little a disappointed. I was expecting to be blown away by the smokiness but didn't seem to be any more than the Connemara.

Compared them there and the laphraoig does seem to be more of a rough, dirtier smokiness and I didn't really get much sweetness or other flavours.
Really like the Connemara, makes me feel like I'm drinking more of a sweet, clean smoke, delicious campfire.

Cazale · 06-08-2020 6:51pm

Plenty of bottles of Waterford today. Can't believe people were paying hundreds for them!

Dakota Dan · 06-08-2020 7:00pm

Anyone try the lockdown whiskey made in Ireland?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Cr3LXdihi48

Cazale · 06-08-2020 7:12pm

accensi0n wrote: »

I didn't dislike the laphroaig, but I was a little a disappointed. I was expecting to be blown away by the smokiness but didn't seem to be any more than the Connemara.

Compared them there and the laphraoig does seem to be more of a rough, dirtier smokiness and I didn't really get much sweetness or other flavours.
Really like the Connemara, makes me feel like I'm drinking more of a sweet, clean smoke, delicious campfire.

Laphroaig is obviously Islay peat with its medicinal character. I think Connemara uses Scottish peat. Does anyone know what region they get it from? Some information below on how the peat used can affect the whisky.

The island of Islay is largely composed of peat, and peat from the island gives a famously medicinal character to barley. The phenol-heavy character is usually attributed to the large amount of Sphagnum in Islay’s peat. Peat cut in other areas of Scotland give very different flavours, with Highland peat giving earthier notes thanks to the presence of more woody plants, and heather-rich Orcadian peat famously having a more floral character.

2011abc · 06-08-2020 7:12pm

Dakota Dan wrote: »

Anyone try the lockdown whiskey made in Ireland.

JJ Corry ? Yeah , I was one of the lucky online tasters ! My opinion is it’s alright but not worth the price .First let me say I ADORE The Gael 2 at €70 odd a bottle , it’s like 80% as good as Barry Crockett without the €250 price tag .However the majority picked the choice I didn’t prefer and the price is either Eighty something for basic blend or just under €100 for cask strength .Once again the price of medium range Irish is being shoved upwards .Over my 2-3 year whiskey ‘journey’ I find myself getting closer to a ‘bottle a week ‘ equivalent consumption rate .I tend to finish a few bottles all at once having being sampling them all in drams ( much to my wife’s alarm !) I’m seriously considering finding a €20 bottle I like ( maybe Powers Gold Label despite the horrific new label ) and sticking with that for a few months or even going completely on the wagon ( again ... sigh ...)They will push the good stuff beyond the reach of the average Joe / Joan .Teeling Single Malt ( which got me hooked )has gone from €45 to 55 in a few years ...

Hogzy · 06-08-2020 7:54pm

Cazale wrote: »

Plenty of bottles of Waterford today. Can't believe people were paying hundreds for them!

Is that in IWA?

Cazale · 06-08-2020 8:03pm

Hogzy wrote: »

Is that in IWA?

The wine centre in Kilkenny. Great selection of whiskey and craft beers.

Hogzy · 06-08-2020 8:08pm

Cazale wrote: »

The wine centre in Kilkenny. Great selection of whiskey and craft beers.

Theyre hardly 145 per bottle? :eek:

Or is it two for 145?

Cazale · 06-08-2020 8:31pm

Hogzy wrote:

Theyre hardly 145 per bottle?

Nah they were the usual price. That was for something on the shelf above. I didn't buy anything myself though as I'm banned by the missus until next month!

BonnieSituation · 06-08-2020 10:57pm

Cazale wrote: »

Plenty of bottles of Waterford today. Can't believe people were paying hundreds for them!

Gas. Should've kept my Ratheadon. :O Where was that photo taken?

Rew · 07-08-2020 10:11am

Hogzy wrote: »

Is that in IWA?

IWA are limiting Waterford bottles in Aug as they got so many in:

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CDa6UUWHFr2/?igshid=1w16d6v10dap8

Rew · 07-08-2020 10:13am

Cazale wrote: »

Plenty of bottles of Waterford today. Can't believe people were paying hundreds for them!

To be fair I haven't seen any trade in those bottles (yet), it was the first 3, and especially the Ratheadon 1.1 that went for mad money.

Hogzy · 07-08-2020 10:53am

Rew wrote: »

IWA are limiting Waterford bottles in Aug as they got so many in:

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CDa6UUWHFr2/?igshid=1w16d6v10dap8

Delighted to see the Waterford come down to a reasonable price point. People are so quick to sell them after buying that it completely decimates the resale value! Theyre going for around €100 on the FB groups now, down from around €160 and I think I saw a Bannow Island 1.1 go for €180 at one stage.

Rew · 07-08-2020 11:22am

Hogzy wrote: »

Delighted to see the Waterford come down to a reasonable price point. People are so quick to sell them after buying that it completely decimates the resale value! Theyre going for around €100 on the FB groups now, down from around €160 and I think I saw a Bannow Island 1.1 go for €180 at one stage.

I think you will see this across the board with the quick flippers hopefully getting burned. Whiskey became a way to make a quick buck.

Hogzy · 07-08-2020 11:30am

Rew wrote: »

I think you will see this across the board with the quick flippers hopefully getting burned. Whiskey became a way to make a quick buck.

I still think Waterford will do well over the long haul. Iv got bottles on the shelf and a bottles cracked open.

Rew · 07-08-2020 11:32am

Hogzy wrote: »

I still think Waterford will do well over the long haul. Iv got bottles on the shelf and a bottles cracked open.

Im the same, I love the story and im happy to support them (at retail prices)

cloudatlas · 08-08-2020 11:28am

Has anyone tried 'Highland Park Single Cask L Mulligan Release'?

Pinch Flat · 08-08-2020 11:59am

Rew wrote: »

Im the same, I love the story and im happy to support them (at retail prices)

Same here as a local (albeit in exile in the big shmoke) I followed their story from the start. Picked up a pilgrimage which I'll hold on to and looking forward to (hopefully) attending the opening on the 5th September. My brother texted me that he picked up some Bannow in an off licence in Dungarvan, so looking forward to trying that. I tried the small Ned sample bottle and enjoyed it.

Diamond Dogs · 08-08-2020 12:21pm

Rew wrote: »

Im the same, I love the story and im happy to support them (at retail prices)

This, 100%.

Credit due to Blackwater Distillery too, for how it is challenging the lack of flexibility of the whiskey technical file.

Diamond Dogs · 08-08-2020 12:22pm

cloudatlas wrote: »

Has anyone tried 'Highland Park Single Cask L Mulligan Release'?

Yes. Loved it. Cask strength delight.

Dtp1979 · 08-08-2020 4:32pm

I was given this as a gift. From 1960. Certainly looks like it was hidden and found in a shed after 60 years. No seal on the lid. Is this stuff safe to drink???

What Whisky/Whiskey are we drinking this month?

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