Category: Special Occasions

St. Patrick’s Day – part II

Once again, St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner.

Once again, thoughts turn to Irish whiskey.

Last year I suggested reaching past the ever popular Jameson or Bushmills, and trying something new. I took my own advice, and have tried almost 20 new Irish whiskey expressions in the past year. Here are a few favorites:

Writer’s Tears – This fairly new release is my new “go to” Irish whiskey. A mix of pot still and single malt whiskeys, it is light, sweet, and very approachable, a perfect example of everything an Irish whiskey should be. And the name is sure to start a conversation, or at least get a laugh or two.

Slane Triple Cask – Aged in three different types of barrels, this one has more oak notes than you would typically find in a Irish whiskey, and is an excellent choice if you’re a fan of the flavor of wood.

Jameson Black Barrel – Similar to the classic Jameson, but with a higher percentage of pot still whiskey in the blend, lending it a little more body. This expression also relies on special barrel selection, including re-charred bourbon barrels. Nice hints of oak, and some interesting bourbon flavors, along with a pleasant bit of char.

Sexton Single Malt – Another selection that places a lot of emphasis on barrel notes, with this one favoring char over oak. Think of Slane, Jameson, and Sexton as a continuum of barrel notes from oak (Slane) to char (Sexton), with Black Barrel somewhere in the middle. All three are good choices if you’re trying to win over a Bourbon drinker.

Connemara Peated – I mentioned this one last year, but it’s worth repeating. If the previous three choices helped you convert your Bourbon drinking friends, this one is for that Scotch drinker in your circle. One of the few peated selections from the Emerald Isle, this one is on the mild side, not a big smoke monster. It compares favorably to a lightly peated highland malt.

Lambay Cognac Cask – Another fairly new offering, this one is finished in casks that previously held French Cognac, and picks up some nice sweet notes from the barrels’ former contents. Compare this to the also recently released Glenlivet 14 year, or the Bastille 1789 from France.

Do you have a favorite Irish Whiskey, or a new selection you’ve tried recently? Let me know in the comments. And if you enjoyed reading this, please consider following this blog.

Sláinte mhaith! (To your good health)

International Whisk(e)y Day

Try something new this International Whisk(e)y Day.

Today, March 27th, is International Whisk(e)y day.  Those behind the creation of this day use the (e) notation to be all-inclusive, so I am following their lead on this one.

Certainly if you have the chance, you should enjoy a dram.  But since it’s an international celebration, maybe this is a good chance to reach for something you wouldn’t normally drink, and try something new?  Embrace the fact that whisky is truly an international drink!

Do you normally drink Bourbon, and shy away from Scotch because it’s too smoky?  Balvenie 14 year old Caribbean cask finish may be just the right thing.  It’s on the sweeter side, picking up some notes from the rum that previously filled those barrels.  Or maybe Glenmorangie Nectar d’Or, finished in sweet Sauternes casks.

And you Scotch drinkers – how about giving Connemarra peated Irish whiskey a try?  Or maybe a Bourbon with a  little more char flavor?  Yes, char is a different flavor than peat smoke (more on that in a later post), but it just might be something you like.

Or maybe this is a good time to explore a country not normally known for whisky?  Sure, Japanese whisky has been making a splash (pun intended) on the international scene lately, but how about Indian whisky?  Amrut Fusion is excellent.  Jim Murray rated it 97 points and named it 3rd best whisky in the world in 2010.

The point is, there’s a whole world of whisky out there.  Don’t be afraid to leave your own back yard, or your comfort zone.

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Scotch? For St. Patrick’s Day?

St. Patrick’s Day isn’t just for Irish whiskey. Why the right Scotch might be an appropriate choice.

St. Patrick’s day is right around the corner, but before you reach for that bottle of Irish whiskey, perhaps you should pause for a moment.

But what does Scotch whisky have to do with St. Patrick? Plenty. St. Patrick was actually a native of Scotland, taken to Ireland at the age of 14. Legend holds that he introduced the art of distilling to Scotland in the 5th Century, via the Kintyre Peninsula.

With that in mind, a whisky from that region would certainly be appropriate for March 17th. Once a booming whisky city, Campbletown has precious few distilleries left, yet remains an official (but often overlooked) region.

The Glengyle Distillery closed almost a centruy ago, but re-opened in 2004. After several limited “preview” releases, the signature Kilkerran 12 Year Old was finally available in 2016.

Upon pouring, this whisky gives an impression of having a lot of body, almost appearing thick.

Oak dominates the nose, along with a hint of peat, and some sherry notes that one would more likely expect from a Speyside. Cherries come through, and linger after everything else has passed.

On the palate, it has a full-bodied mouthfeel that confirms the first visual impression – this is a viscous whisky. Fruity and citrus flavors dominate, along with the smoke hinted at on the nose, similar to a peated Highland. However, the oily body and lingering salinity confirm that this is indeed a Campbletown malt.

The finish is long, warm, and pleasant. If you’ve never had a Campbletown before, this would be a worthy place to start.

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Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!

St. Patrick’s Day is the perfect time to try a new whiskey.

Saint Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, and many people will be reaching for a bottle of Irish whiskey (remember, there’s an E in Ireland, so there’s an E in the whiskey).

Ireland is crucial in the history of whiskey. In fact, the word whiskey itself comes from Gaelic. Romans called distilled spirits aqua vitae, “water of life”. When they introduced distillation to Ireland, the Gaelic translation was uisge beatha (pronounced ooska bah). Over many years, this became “usky” and then finally “whiskey”.

If you’re not normally a whiskey drinker (or have a friend or signifacant other who you’re trying to introduce to whiskey), this is a perfect occasssion to give it a try. Irish whiskeys tend to be smooth and mildly flavored. In other words, a perfect “beginner’s” whiskey.

And if you’re an experienced whiskey drinker, this is a great opportunity to expand your horizons. Sure, you could reach for the familiar, popular bottle of Jameson’s or Bushmill’s. But why not try something new?

If you’re sticking to a budget, a bottle of Paddy’s could be an interesting change of pace, and will certainly set your party apart from the others. If you’re willing and able to spend a few dollars more, premium Irish whiskeys like Knappogue Castle and Red Breast are worth the price. Normally a Scotch drinker? Give Connemara Peated Irish Whiskey a try.

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! And as they say on the Emerald Isle, “sláinte mhaith” – good health! (It’s pronounced slancha va, or you can just say sláinte, which is “health”)

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