Other Whisk(e)ys

St. Mallie Portuguese Re-Charred Red Wine Barrique

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St. Mallie Portuguese Re-Charred Red Wine Barrique
Canadian Island Single Malt Whisky

46% ABV
$130
Website
St. Mallie Canadian Island Single Malt Whisky
We would like to thank Macaloney’s Island Distillery for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

St. Mallie, formerly known as Invermallie, is our connoisseurs / collector’s edition. It is an ever-changing series of classic single malt expressions based on unique one-off single casks, or other special selections. With individually numbered bottles, it is sought after by those who appreciate fine whisky.

This St. Mallie special release comes from a select re-charred red wine barrique imported from Europe. This barrique underwent the Dr. Jim Swan shave-toast-rechar preparation and gives a wonderfully complex nose with red berries, dried fruit, demerara sugar, leather, oak and honey. The palate is creamy and full bodied with layers of tropical fruits, wood spices, brandied dark fruit cake, cigar, cocoa, Maltesers, oats and honey. The finish is long with dried fruit and lingering oak.

ABV: 46%
750ml bottle
Natural Colour & Non-Chill Filtered

What Gary Says

Nose:  Fruity with red berries, tropical fruit notes of mango and candied pineapple, malt, honey, oak, worn leather and floral notes.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, fruity with a sugar cane/molasses (nearly rum) vibe, peaches, kiwi, honey and cocoa.
Finish:  Moderately long, slightly drying with oak, fruit and pepper.
Comments:  My first sip of this one immediately had my brain thinking ‘rum’, but letting it sit on the tongue the other fruit notes emerge. The non-chill filtration really lends to a lovely mouthfeel, and I appreciate the ABV. I still struggle with the price points for these non-age stated single malt whisky, but there’s nothing off putting and it’s a perfectly delightful dram..

Rating: Stands Out

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An Loy Whiskymaker’s Signature Selection

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An Loy Whiskymaker’s Signature Selection
Canadian Island Single Malt Whisky

46% ABV
$125
Website
An Loy Canadian Island Single Malt
We would like to thank Macaloney’s Island Distillery for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

An Loy, formerly known as Glenloy, is our ‘Whiskymaker’s Signature Selection’ whereby we carefully selected our classic single malt whisky from a combination of 60% first use Bourbon casks for a delicate, clean presentation, 15% from Dr. Swans wonderful Portuguese STR red-wine barriques for pronounced oak and sweet red-berry contribution, and 15% Oloroso / 10% PX Spanish Sherry casks for wonderful, rich and delicate fruit cake and plums. Together they compliment the tropical fruits and creamy presentation of our new-make house style (which garnered a Gold Medal at the prestigious World Whiskies Awards) to create the following tasting notes for this, our inaugural release whisky:

Nose: Fruit, floral and Sherry notes followed with oak, vanilla, malt, and sea breeze.
Palate: Creamy, caramelized orange, vanilla, potpourri, fruit cake, blackcurrant, honey, wood spices, and lingering oak.

Our An Loy whisky has been ‘dressed up’ befitting the quality of the spirit. Each bottle and carton are individually numbered. The carton has an image of Vancouver Island that wraps around all four sides, befitting the fact that this is an ‘island whisky’, and in addition to the gold foil and embossing, there are notes encompassing a bit of history, why it was named An Loy, house character and tasting notes, etc.

Natural Colour & Non-Chill Filtered

What Gary Says

Nose:  Sweet with peaches, pears, honey, porridge, subtle apricots, raisins, baking spices, berries, grapes, floral notes, red wine and heather.
Palate:  Sweet with honey, grain, fruity with peaches, pears, grapes and a bit of chili spice.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length with pepper.
Comments:  Quite a pleasant, easy to drink single malt. I get the sherry and red wine cask influence, and the nose has a lot going on. The palate is a bit less complex, although not objectionable in any way. Just didn’t find anything that stood out to me at this price point.
NOTE: This whisky had been released previously under the name Glenloy, and has been renamed/relabeled as part of a settlement with the Scotch Whisky Association (see CBC coverage here). I bring this up to point out that it had won Best Canadian Single Malt in the 2021 World Whiskies Awards under the former name (and if you’re looking for other reviews/coverage – check for that as well as the new name).

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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Kirkinriola Single Cask Series Canadian Island Triple Distilled Potstill Whisky

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Kirkinriola Single Cask Series
Canadian Island Triple Distilled Potstill Whisky

Carefully crafted in premium recharged Portuguese red wine Barrique

46% ABV
$130
Website
Macaloneys Kirkinriola Single Cask Series Canadian Island Triple Distilled Potstill Whisky
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!

This single cask series, Kirkinriola (pronounced ‘kirk-in-riola’), is our connoisseurs / collector’s single-cask edition. Like the passionate, spirited Ulster-Scots, it is an ever-changing series of triple-distilled potstill expressions based on unique one-off single casks, or other special selections. With individually numbered bottles, it is sought after by those who appreciate fine whisky.

A wonderfully complex nose with apricot, papaya, pears, honey, oats, brandied fruitcake, natural caramel, red wine and oak wood. The palate is creamy and full bodied with cereal and a symphony of floral and fruit notes including roses, honey, nectarine, papaya, apricot, apples and candied orange. Layered into this are red wine, blackcurrant, wood spices with a lingering oak finish and a hit of sea breeze.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Thick, pipe tobacco, fruity with plums, apricots, pears, earthy red wine, nutmeg and a hint of maple syrup.
Palate:  Creamy, viscous and thick with intense stewed fruits including apricot, soft citrus notes, honey, tobacco, cinnamon and nutmeg.
Finish:  Moderately long and damp with honey, soft oak and currants.
Comments:  Absolutely delicious! Intense flavor and a unique profile. This is by far my favorite of the first three Macaloney’s Island Distillery samples I’m reviewing (there will be two more reviews coming later!). I love the earthy/tobacco notes which remind me of a nice single malt scotch whisky with thoughtful cask management. Simply throwing whiskies from different casks together does not always work, and the layers and balance here is really nice. For only a few dollars more than the Kildara or Killeigh – I’d go for this over those every time. As the single cask series may have different casks, make sure you read the label/box as it may not be the same as I’ve reviewed here.

Rating: Must Try/Must Buy

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Kildara Canadian Island Triple Distilled Potstill Whisky

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Kildara
Canadian Island Triple Distilled Potstill Whisky

Carefully crafted in premium Kentucky bourbon, Spanish Oloroso & Pedro Ximénez, and virgin American casks

46% ABV
$125
Website
Macaloneys Kildara Canadian Island Triple Distilled Potstill Whisky
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!)

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Killeigh Canadian Island Triple Distilled Potstill Whisky

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

Killeigh
Canadian Island Triple Distilled Potstill Whisky

Carefully crafted in premium Kentucky bourbon, European Moscatel & virgin American casks

46% ABV
$125
Website
Macaloneys Killeigh Canadian Island Triple Distilled Potstill Whisky
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!

Killeigh is a salute to our distillers who love how Kentucky Bourbon wood allows our house style with its plethora of tropical fruits to shine through. Embellished by our Master Whiskymaker with Portuguese moscatel sweet white wine oak casks and virgin American oak casks, the result is a distillers delight.

The nose presents cream soda, soft vanilla and oak, with apricot, pear, hints of banana, sweet pea flowers, milled oats and honey. The white wine is delicate and layered with wet coastal forest and sea breeze. The palate is velvety-creamy with more tropical fruits including sweet lychees, mandarin orange, and delicate banana embellished with honey and barley water. Fresh rose petals and a potpourri of dried flowers and wood spice yield to vanilla, oak and coconut with a hint of linseed, nutmeg and cinnamon. The development includes light moscatel white wine, crème fraîche, toasted hazelnut, and sea salt, drying to a long, lingering oak finish. Superb!

Killeigh won Best Potstill Whisky in Canada at the prestigious 2022 World Whiskies Awards.

ABV: 46% | 750ml bottle | Natural Colour & Non-Chill Filtered

What Gary Says

Nose:  Honey, vanilla, malt, fruity with canned pears and over-ripe bananas, subtle floral notes.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, sweet with honey, fruit notes of banana, pear, blackcurrant, bit of citrus, vanilla and a hint of nutmeg.
Finish:  Moderately long, damp with fruit salad and a bit of pepper.
Comments:  A really nice, balanced, fruity dram. Appreciate the ABV (although would love to see this higher) and the non-chill filtration. This is non-age stated, so not sure how old it is. Age isn’t everything, and while this seems like it might be a tad young – there aren’t any rough edges or objectionable notes. Of the first three Macaloney’s Island Distillery samples I’m reviewing, this was my least favorite (don’t be like that, there has to be a 3rd place) but if someone is offering to pour – I’m not turning it down. It does seem a bit pricey, but value is in the eye of the beholder.

Rating: Stands Out

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