Irish Whiskey Reviews
Welcome to the Irish Whiskey section of reviews. Here, reviews are categorised based on the distillery locations, currently divided into Dublin, Midleton & Offaly.
how whiskies are reviewed
whiskies are sampled in a glencairn; the official glass used by distilleries, tasting venues and festivals, designed to get the most out of the spirit
They are left to ‘breathe’ for a minimum of 10 minutes. This allows time for the compounds in the spirit to react with the air and unveil their aromas and flavour further
The whiskies are then judged based on five classic criteria employed in the industry: colour, body, nose, palate and finish.
in certain cases, a drop or two of water will be added to open the whiskey up further. this is often used in cases where the abv is greater than 43%, or where further judgment is required
whiskies are THEN given a score out of 5, which encompasses the five criteria, as well as personal opinion on the background of the whiskey, its production methods, retail value and reputation.
reviews are categorised by THE WHISKEY’S country of production
Click below to find out more:
Next to some whiskey titles you may also notice acronyms – click the legend below to find out what these refer to.
LEGEND
Whiskies are broad in their character, value and distribution methods. Next to some titles you will therefore encounter acronyms which account of these to help understand why these are factored in to the scoring, which will be explained below.
IR (Independent Release)
Many whiskies are bottled by independent parties. Independent bottlings will tend to carry the name of the distillery, the bottling strength, the batch number, the age, and, if it comes from a single cask, the number of bottles produced from it. This adds both a rarity and a collectibility value to them. The two are not mutually exclusive however: distillery bottlings can be from single casks and yearly vintage releases. Many distilleries will often choose to have their products independently bottled to save on costs, and independent bottlings also allows customers to still enjoy products from those distilleries that no longer bottle their own or rarely do so. Independent bottlers also offer a sense of novelty and creativity that diversifies the whiskey scene. Examples of independent bottlers include Gordon & MacPhail, Cadenheads, SMWS, Hunter Laing’s (First Editions, Old Malt Casks, Old & Rare), Compass Box & Signatory.
CS (Cask Strength)
Whiskey by law must be bottled at a minimum strength of 40% ABV (80 proof.) When the spirit is drawn from the cask, water is then added in order to bring it down to this threshold. Whilst many whiskies hover between the 40% to 46% mark, cask strength whiskies on the other hand are just that; whiskies bottled at their natural ABV without the addition of water. These tend to deliver greater complexities of flavor and nuances in character, which are often muted by dilution. Distilleries often do a series of cask strength whiskies as a yearly batch release. Aberlour produce ex-sherry cask whiskies, known as their A’Bunadh range. Glenfarclas also do a widely-popular and highly-valued single-cask Family Cask series.
Ironically however, many whiskies at cask strength also benefit greatly from the slow and minimal addition of water (typically by pipette) to activate chemical reactions with the oils in the whiskies that then unveil flavor and develop additional ones. There is a great satisfaction in spending an evening with a dram
LR (Limited Release)
Bottlings marked as Limited Release may have been produced by a distillery to either mark a specific event, person or period in time. If the number of bottles produced for a particular whiskey is known, this will be also noted on the lavek. As expected, limited release whiskies are few in number and often the best chances to try them are to visit festivals, which some distilleries bottle specifically for (Lagavulin being an example for the Feis Ile festival), attend an extended distillery tasting event or bid for them at an auction.
DF (DUTY FREE)
Limited edition travel exclusive bottlings which can only be acquired at the respective distillery and/or an airport duty free. As the name mentions, Duty Free bottlings by their nature are already limited release, so the acronym above won’t be used alongside.
This popup contains links to third-party sites. The webmaster bears no responsibility on the content of these sites and is not affiliated with any of the companies or links mentioned.
Dublin Whiskey
REVIEWS COMING SOON
Reviews of whiskey from distilleries located in the capital and largest city of Ireland; home to rich culture, artistry and history.
Dailuaine : 6 Year
40% ABV | 20cl | SPEYSIDE | INDEPENDENT RELEASE
Distilled back in 2010, this independently bottled ex-bourbon matured Single Malt Scotch Whisky provided by The Whisky Shop’s Glenkeir Treasures selection demonstrates a pleasingly robust character and finish.
COLOR
Tawny, pale.
BODY
Long, thin oily legs.
NOSE
Humming of brittle toffee and sour, ripe grapefruit.
PALATE
Surprisingly mouthfilling: chewy christmas cake, though nothing sickly or overpowering. Suggestions of allspice. Toffee makes its bolder statement.
FINISH
Christmas cake and butter rolls away to thinly sliced fresh green apples.
SCORE: 4/5
Midleton Whisky
REDBREAST
Reviews of whiskey from the town of Midleton in Southeastern County Cork in the Republic of Ireland, derived from the name ‘Mainistir na Corann’, (‘The Abbey of the Coir’).
Redbreast : 12 Year (CS)
57.2% ABV | 70cl | MIDLETON
The Cask Strength bottling of Midleton’s Single Pot Still Redbreast 12 Year Old boasts a complexity of near-coherent flavours fallen short by an unfortunately abrupt finish.
COLOR
Rusty bronze, gold lights.
BODY
Modest, thin oily legs.
NOSE
Lush oranges and firm, ripe peaches. Moist stewed fruits follow. The addition of water unveils a humming of lemon peel and glazed cherries.
PALATE
Thin milk chocolate bars bring back stewed fruits with it. Water unlocks thick marmalade chunks, ginger, black coffee and cracked black pepper. An interesting array of notes, but missing a sense of fluency.
FINISH
Slightly abrupt; individual flavours recede into the distance consecutively.
SCORE: 3/5
Offaly Whiskey
TULLAMORE
Reviews of whiskey from distilleries based in County Offaly, located in the Midlands Region of the Republic of Ireland.
Tullamore D.E.W. : Original
40% ABV | 35cl | BLENDED
The starter blend in Tullamore’s line-up is triple cask-matured in traditional refill barrels, ex-bourbon barrels and ex-sherry butts, offering surprising yet polite and fluent notes for a respectable retail price.
COLOR
Light gold.
BODY
Medium.
NOSE
Chardonnay, lemons and green apple skin.
PALATE
Baked fruits and toffee, followed by lime and peanut butter. Surprising, yet none of these overpower the other; polite and fluent.
FINISH
Lime and thin, nutty notes recede gradually.
SCORE: 4/5
GET IN
TOUCH
I’m always interested in the latest line-ups as well as new and upcoming distilleries from across the globe. If you would like to hear my thoughts on a new product or would like to feature my reviews, please feel free to get in touch with me via the contact form.
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Irish Whiskey Reviews
Welcome to the Irish Whiskey section of reviews. Here, reviews are categorised based on the distillery locations, currently divided into Dublin, Midleton & Offaly.
HOW WHISKIES ARE REVIEWED
WHISKIES ARE SAMPLED IN A GLENCAIRN; THE OFFICIAL GLASS USED BY DISTILLERIES, TASTING VENUES AND FESTIVALS, DESIGNED TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THE SPIRIT
THEY ARE LEFT TO ‘BREATHE’ FOR A MINIMUM OF 10 MINUTES. THIS ALLOWS TIME FOR THE COMPOUNDS IN THE SPIRIT TO REACT WITH THE AIR AND UNVEIL THEIR AROMAS AND FLAVOUR FURTHER
THE WHISKIES ARE THEN JUDGED BASED ON FIVE CLASSIC CRITERIA EMPLOYED IN THE INDUSTRY: COLOUR, BODY, NOSE, PALATE AND FINISH.
IN CERTAIN CASES, A DROP OR TWO OF WATER WILL BE ADDED TO OPEN THE WHISKEY UP FURTHER. THIS IS OFTEN USED IN CASES WHERE THE ABV IS GREATER THAN 43%, OR WHERE FURTHER JUDGMENT IS REQUIRED
WHISKIES ARE THEN GIVEN A SCORE OUT OF 5, WHICH ENCOMPASSES THE FIVE CRITERIA, AS WELL AS PERSONAL OPINION ON THE BACKGROUND OF THE WHISKEY, ITS PRODUCTION METHODS, RETAIL VALUE AND REPUTATION.
reviews are categorised by THE WHISKEY’S country of production
Click below to find out more:
Next to some whiskey titles you may also notice acronyms – click the legend below to find out what these refer to.
LEGEND
Whiskies are broad in their character, value and distribution methods. Next to some titles you will therefore encounter acronyms which account of these to help understand why these are factored in to the scoring, which will be explained below.
IR (Independent Release)
Many whiskies are bottled by independent parties. These buy the cask from a distillery, then take on the responsibility of bottling (at a particular ABV), marketing, distributing and selling them. Independent Bottlings bear the branding of the company themselves, and you will often see them all appear the same. Examples of independent bottlers include Gordon & MacPhail, Cadenheads, SMWS, Hunter Laing’s (First Editions, Old Malt Casks, Old & Rare), Compass Box & Signatory.
CS (Cask Strength)
Whilst many whiskies hover between the 40% to 46% mark, cask strength whiskies on the other hand are just that; whiskies bottled at their natural ABV without the addition of water. These tend to deliver greater complexities of flavor and nuances in character, which are often muted by dilution. Distilleries often do a series of cask strength whiskies as a yearly batch release. Aberlour produce ex-sherry cask whiskies, known as their A’Bunadh range. Glenfarclas also do a widely-popular and highly-valued single-cask Family Cask series.
LR (limited Release)
Bottlings marked as Limited Release may have been produced by a distillery to either mark a specific event, person or period in time. If the number of bottles produced for a particular whiskey is known, this will be also noted on the lavek. As expected, limited release whiskies are few in number and often the best chances to try them are to visit festivals, which some distilleries bottle specifically for (Lagavulin being an example for the Feis Ile festival), attend an extended distillery tasting event or bid for them at an auction.
DF (DUTY FREE)
Limited edition travel exclusive bottlings which can only be acquired at the respective distillery and/or an airport duty free. As the name mentions, Duty Free bottlings by their nature are already limited release, so the acronym above won’t be used alongside.
This popup contains links to third-party sites. The webmaster bears no responsibility on the content of these sites and is not affiliated with any of the companies or links mentioned.
Dublin Whiskey
REVIEWS COMING SOON
Reviews of whiskey from distilleries located in the capital and largest city of Ireland; home to rich culture, artistry and history.
Midleton Whiskey
MIDLETON
Reviews of whiskey from the town of Midleton in Southeastern County Cork in the Republic of Ireland, derived from the name ‘Mainistir na Corann’, (‘The Abbey of the Coir’).
Redbreast : 12 Year (CS)
57.2% ABV | 70cl | MIDLETON
The Cask Strength bottling of Midleton’s Single Pot Still Redbreast 12 Year Old boasts a complexity of near-coherent flavours fallen short by an unfortunately abrupt finish.
COLOR
Rusty bronze, gold lights.
BODY
Modest, thin oily legs.
NOSE
Lush oranges and firm, ripe peaches. Moist stewed fruits follow. The addition of water unveils a humming of lemon peel and glazed cherries.
PALATE
Thin milk chocolate bars bring back stewed fruits with it. Water unlocks thick marmalade chunks, ginger, black coffee and cracked black pepper. An interesting array of notes, but missing a sense of fluency.
FINISH
Slightly abrupt; individual flavours recede into the distance consecutively.
SCORE: 3/5
Offaly Whiskey
TULLAMORE
Reviews of whiskey from distilleries based in County Offaly, located in the Midlands Region of the Republic of Ireland.
Tullamore D.E.W. : Original
40% ABV | 35cl | BLENDED
The starter blend in Tullamore’s line-up is triple cask-matured in traditional refill barrels, ex-bourbon barrels and ex-sherry butts, offering surprising yet polite and fluent notes for a respectable retail price.
COLOR
Light gold.
BODY
Medium.
NOSE
Chardonnay, lemons and green apple skin.
PALATE
Baked fruits and toffee, followed by lime and peanut butter. Surprising, yet none of these overpower the other; polite and fluent.
FINISH
Lime and thin, nutty notes recede gradually.
SCORE: 4/5
Contact
I’M ALWAYS INTERESTED IN THE LATEST LINE-UPS AS WELL AS NEW AND UPCOMING DISTILLERIES. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HEAR MY THOUGHTS ON A NEW PRODUCT OR WOULD LIKE TO FEATURE MY REVIEWS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH ME BELOW.
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