Tag: st. patrick’s day

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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