Irish Whiskey

Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey Small Batch Rye

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review, Rye Whiskey /

Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey Small Batch Rye
43% ABV
$35
Website

What the Distiller Says

KILBEGGAN DISTILLING COMPANY INTRODUCES A NEW STYLE OF IRISH WHISKEY DATING NEARLY 100 YEARS IN KILBEGGAN® SMALL BATCH RYE

Double distilled and matured in Ireland’s oldest continually licensed distillery, Kilbeggan® Small Batch Rye is an innovation that pays tribute to the golden age of Irish whiskey

Chicago, IL (October 18, 2018) – Today, the Kilbeggan Distilling Company celebrates the limited-edition release of Kilbeggan® Small Batch Rye, the only modern Irish whiskey of record to feature such a high quantity of rye within its mash. It is the first whiskey 100% distilled and matured at the Kilbeggan Distillery to be released since its restoration was completed in 2010. Each bottle is a testament to the spirit of the Kilbeggan community, whose unwavering dedication and perseverance have kept the distillery alive for more than 260 years.

“Following the restoration of the Kilbeggan Distillery, the oldest licensed distillery in Ireland, our team was inspired to create this remarkable whiskey rooted in Irish distilling heritage,” says John Cashman, Beam Suntory Global Brand Ambassador, Irish Whiskey. “It is a truly unique spirit, featuring a rare mash that has produced a flavor unlike anything available today.”

Featuring a mash of malt, barley, and approximately 30% rye, this whiskey hearkens back to the late-1800s, when many large Irish distillers used rye in their mashes. However, this spicy grain virtually disappeared from the Irish Whiskey category around the time of Prohibition and the Irish War of Independence.

Double distilled to 86 proof in Kilbeggan’s copper pot stills – one of which is the oldest working whiskey pot still in the world today – Kilbeggan® Small Batch Rye is the first of its kind in today’s market. Due to the nature of its mash, the flavor profile of Kilbeggan Small Batch Rye is notably softer than familiar American rye whiskies. The combination of rye, malt and barley produces an oily, viscous, creamy whiskey, bristling with rye and barley spice. As both Irish whiskey and rye whiskey enjoy a resurgence, Kilbeggan Small Batch Rye is a true innovation within both categories, with a smooth, spicy flavor profile sure to excite whiskey drinkers and cocktail enthusiasts alike.

Due to its mellow and spicy character, Kilbeggan® Small Batch Rye is best enjoyed neat. If using this whiskey in a cocktail, we recommend an Old Fashioned: 2 parts Kilbeggan® Rye, 2 dashes aromatic bitters, and a bar spoon of simple syrup or cinnamon syrup. Combine ingredients in a mixing glass, add ice, and stir briefly. Serve over a large ice cube and garnish with a sprig of rosemary.

This limited-edition Irish whiskey will be available in the United States in mid-November 2018 with a suggested retail price of $34.99 (750ml). It joins the U.S. portfolio alongside permanent expressions Kilbeggan® Blended Irish Whiskey (40% ABV) and Kilbeggan® Single Grain Irish Whiskey (43% ABV).

AROMA: Soft green fruits combine with a rich creamy aroma and give way to white pepper, citrus, and soft ginger spices
TASTE: Beautiful warming mouthfeel of textured vanilla cream, floral spice, clove, and forest sorrel, building to a crescendo of warm spice and biscuit dryness
FINISH: Immensely long and nuanced, thick buttery coating with a return to the vanilla and a spicy, oily coating that remains long after the finish

What Gary Says
Nose:  Bright, young malt with notes of pine, dill, ginger and sour apple candy.
Palate:  Creamy to oily mouthfeel, sweet vanilla custard with pears, allspice and a hint of ginger; builds to a spicy edge with a bit of clove.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, on the wet side with pepper spice building as it trails.
Comments:  This is non-age stated, but I’d guess it is a young rye – which isn’t a bad thing. Some folks tend to read “young” as a negative descriptor, but rye whiskey is one category that I think shines pretty well at a young age – better than bourbon for sure (can’t say about young Irish whiskey though). This has a really nice viscous body thanks to the pot still distillation – as well as skipping the traditional third distillation (I know that’s a hallmark of Irish whiskey, but I for one am glad to see someone challenging that notion!) I really like this, and am excited to see some rye mashbills coming from Ireland. For fans of rye whiskey who find Irish to be “too smooth”, this might be the gateway that gets them interested in exploring another category (and if you’re really a whiskey geek, the price point on this probably pushes it into “Must Try” range).
Rating: Stands Out

We would like to thank Kilbeggan and Savona Communications for sending us a sample to review.

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Egan’s Legacy Reserve

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review /

Egan’s Legacy Reserve Single Malt Irish Whiskey Aged 15 Years
46% ABV
$200
Website

What the Bottler Says
Legacy Reserve is limited to 1,000 bottles worldwide— an exceptionally rare spirit ideally suited for collectors and connoisseurs. Aged for 15 years in American bourbon casks, each bottle is hand-selected by Maurice and Jonathan Egan, whose forefathers Patrick and Henry Egan began the brand six generations ago. An unmistakably Irish Whiskey, this expression advances the category of true single malts with a complex flavor profile and long finish. It boasts a characteristically spicy palate, pairing toffee and vanilla with fruits and citrus, full-bodied while hinting at oaky dryness.

“Legacy Reserve is meant to be had neat or on the rocks — that’s the Irish way, and the only way,” says CEO John Ralph. “We’re a bare-knuckles brand. With this bottle, we’re out to prove that small, thoughtfully produced legacy spirits have a viable place in the global market.”

What Gary Says
Nose:  Vanilla, fruit salad dusted with cinnamon and cocoa, musty oak with hints of rice pudding and spongecake.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel that sharpens a bit with a spicy uptick; fruity with pears, peaches and cherries with a hint of nutty honey.
Finish:  Moderate in length, wet and sweet.
Comments:  I appreciate the higher proof, as well as the non-chill filtering here. This dram has a nice delicate complexity; quite subtle as is not uncommon with Irish single malt whiskey. A couple drops of water opened it up nicely as well. While quite nice, I’d have a hard time spending the suggested retail for it. There’s nothing off putting about this whiskey, but there are some equally very nice 15 yr single malts out there for significantly less (close to half). Now they’re not limited editions, and the bottles are pedestrian, so if you’re a big fan of Egans and looking for the limited edition bottle, go for it. If you’re looking for something to open and drink, and don’t care how many bottles they made of it, I’d look to try this one first before spending the asking price.
Rating: Stands Out

We would like to thank The Gallavant Group for sending us a sample to review.

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Teeling Single Cask 9yr Port

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review /

Teeling Single Cask Distillery Exclusive: Cask 11703, 9yr Port Matured
60.1% ABV
€100
Website

What the Distillery (not distiller) Says
This:

I personally filled my bottle at the gift shop on August 17 2018. While the cask head shows a fill date of August 6 2007, I verified with the gift shop folks that this is a 9 yr aged Irish whiskey. It was tanked in November 2016. Also – I don’t mean the emphasis on “not distiller” above as a slight in any way; just fully transparent that this was NOT distilled at the Teeling Distillery where I bought it (they hadn’t been distilling for three full years yet). I assume this is from Cooley, but don’t know for certain.

What Gary Says
Nose:  Strong port, rich dark fruit sweetness with hints of cigar paper and solvent; some water tamps the solvent notes and opens up the sweetness to figs, plums, and caramel; transitions the cigar paper/smoke to oak.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, port sweet, warming with a cinnamon spice kick before softening; some water brings out honey, pears, dates, toffee, and subtle cinnamon and clove.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying with hints of smoke as it trails off.
Comments:  This was my favorite pour in Ireland, and why it was the first (and only one of two) bottles I purchased there. Studying it at home, it isn’t quite as complex and lovely as I remembered, but still a very good whiskey. Port can be heavy handed, and I can see why it is used more for finishing than maturing. I’ve found that this hits me just right around 95-100 proof (basically 4.5:1 ratio of whiskey to water). If you really like port, this could be right up your alley, but it might feel unbalanced with too much of that for others. While less complex than I thought it was in the moment at the distillery, still delicious (and if you’re there for a tour, or can just stop by their gift shop/bar – I’d definitely recommend buying a taste!)
Rating: Stands Out

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Slane Irish Whiskey

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review / ,

Slane Irish Whiskey
40% ABV
$25 – $30
Website

What the Blender Says
Three Unique Casks for a Uniquely Complex Spirit
Slane Irish Whiskey takes many of its complex and smooth qualities from our signature Triple Casked process. Whiskey is aged in three varieties of casks: Virgin and Seasoned casks raised by hand at the venerated Brown-Forman Cooperages – and Oloroso sherry casks by way of Jerez in Spain. Once the liquid has been aged to perfection, it is masterfully blended to create an exceptional Irish whiskey.

Tasting Notes
Smooth, complex and robust. Slane Irish Whiskey marries toasted grain and malt whiskeys with the distinctive flavours of each cask.
NOSE: Complex fruit with drizzles of caramel, butterscotch and vanilla; brown spice and toasted oak
TASTE: Spicy at first but quickly sweetened with rich caramel, vanilla and butterscotch atop a deep layer of dried fruit
FINISH: Lingering hints of dry fruit and caramelised wood sugar

What Gary Says
Nose:  Fruity (reminds me a bit of young rye); notes of caramel, butterscotch, toasted oak with hints of allspice and worn leather (like an old baseball glove).
Palate:  Sweet and soft; pears, peaches, plums with honey, subtle oak, nutmeg, and notes of malt.
Finish:  Medium length, slightly drying with a slight spice note.
Comments:  For 40% ABV (and $35 for a 1 liter!), this has a lot more character than I would have anticipated. I tried this in a pub in Ireland as it was a bottle I’d never heard of (not available in Georgia) and was fairly inexpensive. I thought it was delicious (although sometimes an idyllic setting can make something taste better). I decided I’d try to pick up a bottle to spend more quality time with, and was not disappointed in the least. The triple-cask maturation definitely makes it stand out as unique, and it punches well above it’s weight. Sometimes we enthusiasts can be purists, and turn our noses up when a bottle isn’t age stated, or doesn’t explicitly state no coloring was added. No, this isn’t a terribly complex dram, but if you’re a fan of just drinking Irish whiskey – I think you’ve got to at least try this.
Rating: Must Try; Great Value

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Knappogue Castle 12 yr – Sherlock’s Private Selection

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review / ,

Knappogue Castle 12 yr (Sherlock’s Private Selection)
46% ABV
$40
Website

What the Bottler Says
BOURBON CASK MATURED
Knappogue Castle 12 year old, our signature expression, is an exceptional single malt made exclusively from malted barley. Triple distilled one batch at a time in traditional, onion-shaped copper pot stills, the whiskey is then aged in bourbon oak casks for twelve years. The delicate distillation process, along with the moist and temperate climate, yields the distinctive flavor of this remarkable Irish single malt.

AROMA: Rich and biscuity with notes of peppery spice.
TASTE: Mellow and well-balanced with a bright, elegant fruitiness and mild spice flavors.
FINISH: Medium, clean, and smooth.

What Gary Says
Nose:  Light, sweet malty cereal notes, sour dough bread with subtle oak.
Palate:  Rich mouthfeel, a bit thicker than avg, sea air, sweet dried peach and pear, orange marmalade, sour oak and spicy.
Finish:  Moderately long and wet, with pepper notes.
Comments:  I’ll admit it – Irish isn’t my favorite category of whisky. Most nights, I find it too crisp and clean for my liking. This private barrel pick isn’t, which for me is a big plus (as well as a fine example of where a private selection can stand a cut above the standard label; I’ll share more thoughts on that later this week). I find it has much more character than the retail Knappogue Castle 12 yr. This selection was aged in Four Roses bourbon casks, and is bottled at 46% versus 40% – another positive in my book. It doesn’t state on the label or hang-tag that it is non-chill filtered, but it’s my opinion that this is likely the case based on the mouthfeel. This is a delightful dram, and while one private selection isn’t a guarantee how others will fare, if the others are bottled at this same proof and NCF – I would anticipate them to be similarly delicious.
Rating: Must Try; Great Value

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