Limavady Single Malt Whiskey
Single Barrel Irish Whiskey
46% ABV
$50
Website
We would like to thank Limavady and R\West for sending us a sample to review.
What the Producer Says
SINGLE BARREL, meet Irish Whiskey.
WITH A NOD TO THE PAST and a great vision for the future.
Darryl is fulfilling his lifelong dream to craft his own exceptional whiskey, by combining the precision of a whiskey Master and the spirit of Limavady’s namesake.
Limavady will satisfy serious whiskey lovers but fits the bill for everyday enjoyment with whomever you choose to bring to the table.
THE DETAILS
100% Irish Barley
Small Batch Triple Distilled Copper Pot Stills
Aged in Bourbon Barrels & Finished in PX Sherry Casks
846 Bottles Per Barrel
TASTING NOTES
The sherry casks deliver warm, inviting dried fruit and spice notes, adding richness to a toasted vanilla base; smooth at first with a satisfying warmth on the finish.
What Gary Says
Nose: Malty grain, honey, porridge, vanilla, dried fruit, hint of caramel, grassy and a bit vegetive.
Palate: Thick mouthfeel with vanilla, fruit notes, grainy barley malt, honey, dash of pepper, touch of cinnamon and nutmeg.
Finish: Short to moderate in length, honey with malted grain.
Comments: Nice mouthfeel, and quite easy to drink. It tastes young on the young side to me, with the PX sherry influence being there, but mild. Single barrel product brands have a challenge of wanting to deliver consistency (while acknowledging that single barrel carries with it some uniqueness; arguably that’s the point!) I asked if Limavady would share any details on the age (are they targeting a particular flavor profile, and keeping the age to a narrow range, etc). Appreciate their providing the following details in response:
“Limavady sources all barrels from Kelvin Cooperage in Kentucky and focuses on getting first fill bourbon casks exclusively. Darryl only uses them once for each barrel – because he really loves the spicy/vanilla flavor profile that is imparted from that initial aging. He is constantly tasting and going back to the liquid, but on average for 4 – 4.5 years minimum for every barrel. From there, its then finished in PX Sherry Buttes for roughly 3-6 months leaving us with a rich burst of fruitiness and sweetness.”
Contrasted with some other Irish whiskies which might mature rather than finish in Sherry, this has a more subtle fruitiness. The bottle is hefty and interesting, although I found the glass topper to be so tight that it was difficult to remove. This takes water well, and retains the nice mouthfeel. While not overly complex (and you wouldn’t expect it to be given the age details provided), it is a really nice sipper.