Kildara
Canadian Island Triple Distilled Potstill Whisky
Carefully crafted in premium Kentucky bourbon, Spanish Oloroso & Pedro Ximénez, and virgin American casks
46% ABV
$125
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We would like to thank Macaloney’s Island Distillery for sending us a sample to review.
What the Distillery Says
This island whisky is from our triple distilled single potstill range – triple distilled using only the best unmalted and malted barley available. The patient, yet purposeful, triple distillation produces a complex, layered and balanced new-make spirit. Dr. Swan described our original new-make which trickles off our copper pot stills as “the best that I have tasted in any distillery at this stage, super fruity.” This triple-distillate is even smoother and fruitier!
Kildara, our Whiskymaker’s Signature Expression, was married from a select combination of Kentucky Bourbon, Spanish Oloroso, virgin American, and Spanish Pedro Ximénez (PX) casks. The result is a full bodied, triple distilled single potstill, island whisky with pronounced Oloroso and PX notes including dried fruit cake, vanilla crème laced with cinnamon, demerara sugar, and old seasoned leather notes. Abundant tropical fruits include candied orange, dried apricot, figs, ripe blackberries, blackcurrant jam, dried raisins and roasted nuts. The complexity continues with barley, malt and dried hay, butterscotch, milk chocolate, light tobacco and ocean breeze.
The palate is velvety-soft, resplendent with full bodied Sherry and tropical fruit. Oatmeal develops to oak spices, coffee, dark chocolate orange, nectarines, stewed plums, blackcurrant, red currant and sultana’s, coming together as sweet dark fruitcake and honey. The finish presents dried fruit with a hint of salt and dulse, lingering oak and more Sherry, ending with hazelnut and almond raspberry pie with a drizzle of dark chocolate.
ABV: 46% | 750ml bottle | Natural Colour & Non-Chill Filtered
What Gary Says
Nose: Rich, vanilla, mincemeat pie with raisins, apricots, cinnamon, malt, molasses and a floral note.
Palate: Viscous mouthfeel, fruity with plums, apricots, blackcurrant and subtle citrus notes, a bit of oak, vanilla, honey, nutmeg and dark chocolate.
Finish: Moderate in length, thick and damp with fruit, honey and nutmeg.
Comments: Really nice, intense flavor and well balanced. Clearly tracks to Irish roots. While I enjoyed the Killeigh, I like this one more – especially at the same price point (and like the Killeigh, I appreciate the ABV/non-chill filtration but wouldn’t mind seeing a cask-strength offering). The non-chill filtration Also really appreciate the solid tasting notes (often tasting notes are ‘basic’ or entirely imagined, so when they are more detailed and line up with my experience – it stands out because of the rarity!)