What the Distillery Says: Onyx Moonshine is the first moonshine to be produced in Connecticut since prohibition. Our authentic American moonshine is handcrafted in small batches from our very own secret recipe. Extremely smooth and delicious, Onyx Moonshine can be enjoyed:
…on the rocks, …as an exciting replacement for vodka or whiskey in your favorite cocktails, OR …to make actual prohibition era cocktails.
Moonshine is a truly American spirit, and while not yet part of mainstream American liquors, it can be extremely high quality and enjoyable.
Enjoying Onyx Moonshine is an experience. It begins with the sweet aroma of honey & apple with spicy wood undertones. Onyx has a delicate flavor with a pillow soft texture giving way to a refreshing hint of botanicals. It rounds out with a full-bodiness and is smooth from start to finish.
What Richard Says: Nose: Surprisingly un-vodka like. The nose is very bourbon-ish with a hint of vanilla along with fresh cream, granny smith apples, and wildflowers. The vanilla really surprised me with no time spent in wood. Palate: The palate is almost scotch like in it’s floral notes. Very clean and delicate. Finish: The finish has just a little pepper pinch at the end. Comments: I’m an admitted white whiskey hater. I think whiskey needs to hit the wood. Onyx isn’t calling this whiskey though. They aren’t calling it vodka either. It’s a very nice clean spirit that can bring nice flavor to bland vodka cocktails. This is definitely something worth trying. Rating: Stands Out
I would like to thank the Onyx Spirits Company for providing me with a bottle for review.
Kilbeggan Distillery Reserve Irish Malt Whiskey Batch No. 2, bottled 9/2011 40% ABV $60 (Give or take depending on exchange rate) Website What the Distillery Says: For over 200 years, the Kilbeggan Distillery produced some of the finest whiskey in the world. In 1957 the stills ran dry but 50 years later Cooley Distillery, the multi-award winning independent whiskey distiller, breathed new life into the world’s oldest distillery and today, the first new whiskey to be distilled at Kilbeggan in over 53 years was officially unveiled at an intimate gathering at the Kilbeggan Distillery in Co. Westmeath.
The Kilbeggan Distillery Reserve Malt, the latest addition to the Kilbeggan family of fine whiskeys, is produced from the oldest pot still in the world which dates back to 1830. The Kilbeggan Distillery itself was established in 1757 and is the oldest distillery in the world.
The whiskey world has waited in anticipation for half a century for the first new bottling from the historic Kilbeggan distillery. Distilled from 100% malted barley, the Kilbeggan Distillery Reserve, due to the distinctive narrow necks of the ancient pot still design, is an exceptionally smooth and flavoursome Irish Malt whiskey of distinctive character.
What Richard Says: Nose: Lots of honey and malt play with something similar to a treacle tart. Very, very malty nose. Palate: This spirit is clean, light and floral with a little cereal around the edge reminiscent of distiller’s beer. Finish: The finish shows the heat of youth. I think a few more years in wood to tame the finish and it would be quite nice. Comments: Kudos to Cooley for bottling some of the new whiskey they are making at Kilbeggan. I just wish the whiskey wasn’t quite as new…as in young. It really needs more time in wood, especially given the price they want to charge for it. I’m thinking this Irish girl is barely legal. Rating: Average
Wow, it’s been a crazy summer. It’s already October and I’m just now getting back to the content from my trip to Ireland in May. Well, continuing from the post on The Old Jameson Distillery we’re off to Kilbeggan!
After our time in Dublin and the surrounding areas, my wife and I headed west on the N6 to Kilbeggan. It’s actually pretty easy to get there. Off the N6 you turn on to R389 and take that north to R446 headed west and the distillery is just down the road on the right. Heading into the quiet town of Kilbeggan we meandered down the main road until we came to The Old Kilbeggan Distillery/Kilbeggan Distillery Experience (formerly know and the Old Locke’s Distillery). If you are smart you aren’t racing down any of the Irish country roads but heading through Kilbeggan you can drive right past the distillery if you aren’t paying attention. Hang a right just past the distillery and the parking lot will be on your right behind the distillery. As soon as you get out of the car you’ll see barrels off in the distance and smell that tell tale whiskey distillery aroma of distilled water of life, grain, and fermenting distiller’s bear/mash. Let’s take a moment to level set expectations. This is not where Cooley makes all their Kilbeggan. That facility isn’t open to the public. They make a very small amount of whiskey here. More of this site is still dedicated to the shuttered remnants of the Old Locke Distillery than the new active distillery operation. It’s not a deal breaker for a visit. I just want you to realize when you are outside the distillery that only a relatively small part of what you are looking at is actually devoted to active production. Also, most of the “tour” is the Old Locke’s part and you only get to see a little of what is used to make the new stuff. I’m not sure why the Irish are so shy about their production facilities but at the time of this post Bushmills is the only distillery doing a tour anywhere close to what bourbon and scotch fans have come to know.
So with that disclaimer out of the way let’s head around front from the parking lot and go inside. As you enter the front there is a lovely little bar to the right and a desk to the left where you pay your seven euros per person for the tour. At the time of my visit in May 2012 they were not taking plastic. Cash only so come prepared. Now that I think about it that’s a good general tip for traveling in Ireland, especially for plastic dependent Americans.
After you pay your euros you’ll get a copy of the tour guide. Yep. Not tour guides. It’s a paper packet with notes for the various numbered tour stations throughout the Old Locke’s Distillery. For those of you who have toured other active distilleries this is a little anti-climatic. It’s really more of a museum at this point than a distillery tour. (According to the website Kilbeggan now offers guided, self-guided, and group tours seven days a week. I guess I went for a visit a little too soon.)
Once you make your way through the museum portion you can head across the breezeway and up the stairs to a small area housing actual Cooley whiskey. You can head to the back and overlook the active still. (According to Cooley this is the oldest pot still in production.) That’s as close as you’re going to get to active production here. Head back downstairs and follow the signs to the gift shop. Here you can get your shot glasses, minis, and other Cooley/Kilbeggan swag.
After you stock up on souviners head back over to that bar you passed on the way in. Here you can get your dram of Kilbeggan included in the tour price. This is really a neat little bar. They also have Guinness on tap and you’re just as likely to be sitting next to a local having a pint as you are to be sitting next to a tourist. You can also buy minis and bottles of many different Cooley offerings. Special among these is the Distillery Reserve version of Kilbeggan. This is actually what’s being made here at the distillery. It’s young and it’s pricey. I bought a bottle. I kind of wish I hadn’t. If you really want one then I recommend waiting and picking one up duty free at the airport in Dublin. It’s A LOT cheaper.
All in all it’s an interesting little jaunt going to Kilbeggan. I wouldn’t plan a whiskey pilgrimage around it but if it’s on your way why not stop by for a visit. My hope is that they continue to expand this facility and open the Cooley Distillery in County Louth to tours. Until then this is as close as you’re going to get to the birthplace of Kilbeggan or Cooley whiskey.
Martin Miller’s Gin/Martin Miller’s Westbourne Strength Gin 40% ABV/45.2% ABV $30/$45 Website What the Distillery Says: [Quite a lot actually. Mr. Miller and his company are quite loquacious about this eponymous gin. Definitely check out the website. Below are the summations from the press materials provided]
Martin Miller’s Gin Distilled using an innovative process and nine classic botanicals, Martin Miller’s Gin is blended and bottled at 80 proof. It is soft on the palate, and has a gentle delivery of it’s juniper notes, making it the perfect gin for martinis and gin and tonics.
Martin Miller’s Westbourne Strength Gin Pure and clear in appearance, and with a long peppery finish, Westbourne Strength at 90.4 proof was developed specifically for cocktails that include stronger and more complex flavours and ingredients. Perfect for Bloody Mary’s and classics, like the Negroni.
What Richard Says: Nose: Herbaceous in a bubbly sort of way. Juniper, jasmine, a citrus zest. Palate: Sweet, slightly bitter, and peppery with classic juniper flavor. Very soft and easy to drink. Finish: Medium length with a clean juniper finish. Comments: This is simply a lovely classic gin. It’s not riffing on the gin base like a Hendricks. It distills (no pun intended) down the essence of London Gin into a standard bearing example. While this is great by itself, naturally the tipple shines in cocktails. I always try a new gin in a martini and a gin & tonic to start. Both are great. However, one of the recipes provided with the samples is a smashing version of the gin & tonic called Gin to Nicks. I can’t recommend that one enough. Rating: Must Try
I would like to thank Anderson Group PR for providing generous samples for review.
Gin to Nicks
Glass: Hi-ball Method: Build over cubed ice in glass Garnish: Lime peel
50ml Martin Miller’s Gin Dash of Angoustura bitters Squeeze of lime juice Good quality tonic water
Springbank Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 10 Years 50% ABV/100 Proof $65+ Website What the Distillery Says: The original Springbank whisky has been distilled legally on the site of the present distillery since 1828, and probably illicitly since well before then! Known and loved amongst whisky enthusiasts the world over, Springbank is produced using lightly-peated barley and a unique two-and-a-half-times distillation. This gives the whisky a character all of its own, making it stand out as a must-have dram on anyone’s shelf.
Produced using the most traditional of production techniques, from floor malting all the way through to the bottling stage, Springbank can best be described as a “hand-made” single malt. The classic Springbank complex, rich character can be found throughout the various bottlings available: the 100 proof 10 year old is considered by many to be Springbank in it’s purest form with its salty, briny flavour.
What Richard Says: Nose: Savory on the nose and the alcohol needs a little taming. From there the brine shines through. Palate: Heavy on the brine and smoke. Finish: A powerful smack you in the face finish that comes across like a more intense version of the palate. Comments: Is this the regular 10 year old with more alcohol? Not really. This version is a little less nuanced to me. I much prefer the standard 10 year old. Rating: Stands Out.
