Glendalough Mountain Strength Poitin
$58.99
"Before there was whiskey, there was poitín. Poitín was the origin of the species, the original 'water of life.' It’s Ireland’s gift to the world, one of the first spirits ever to be distilled," according to the team at Glendalough. "Earliest records from 584AD show that Irish monastic settlements, like Glendalough, were the birthplace of distilling in Ireland. Poitín was first made with expertise and reverence by Irish monks, like St. Kevin.They were the master distillers of their time, and the only distillers of their time. The knowledge just didn’t exist outside of the monasteries."
Glendalough Premium Poitin
$52.99
Carefully crafted from an old recipe, Glendalough's Premium Poitin is distilled from malted barley and sugar beet. It is then matured in Irish oak. A curiosity neat, this has cocktails written all over it.
Before there was whisk(e)y, there was poitin, the original water of life. This spirit was made from malted barley and sugar beet, and after their introduction, potatos. In 1661 it was banned by King Charles which drove it into the wilderness. Poitin was the first moonshine.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: mulled wine, earthy and vegetal.
Palate: Baiju-like, sweet, vegetal and fermented with some malt and oak.
Finish: log and coating.
Glendalough 4 Year Grain Double Barrel
$61.99
Bottled at 42% this single grain Irish whiskey was matured in both Bourbon and Sherry casks. It has been bottled at 42%.
Our Scotchguy Andrew sampled a pre-release cask strength version, we can't wait to sample the bottled release.
Distiller's Tasting Note
The nose is slight but undoubtedly rich with dark fruit; cherry, raisin, fig (with Christmas pudding notes on the nose for those lucky enough to know what that is) along with floral lemongrass and a touch of nutmeg.
The taste is sweet and creamy on the palate, with butterscotch, honey and peppercorn bringing along sweet Bourbon Cask notes with dried fruit returning through notes of maraschino cherries and a pinch of brown sugar.
The finish has lingering notes of ginger spices with a faint glimmer of almond to end a complex Irish Whiskey from start to finish.
Glendalough Sherry Cask Poitin
$59.99
Highwest 21 Year 375ml
$85.49
These 375mls are the last of the Highwest 21 Year we are ever expecting to see. Bottled at 46% from a mashbill of 53% rye, 37% corn and 10% barley. It is a highly unusual American whiskey in that it was matured in used rather than new American oak barrels.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: earthy, peppery and spicy, peanut butter and maple cream cookies.
Palate: smooth, round and spicy, lots of dill and spices, brown sugar and browning apple with coating oils.
Finish: smooth and spicy, very elegant.
Crown Royal Monarch 75 Anniversary Blend
$69.99
96pts Whisky Advocate - Forget the Northern Harvest Rye, the Crown Royal Monarch reigns supreme when it comes to the best stock whisky coming out of Gimli Manitoba right now. We don't know if this is a one of or a regular list item, but it is excellent and can stand proudly shoulder to shoulder with the best whiskies in the world!
Tasting Note by Davin de Kergommeaux ( www.whiskyadvocate.com): "Monarch, the 75th anniversary limited edition of Canada’s best-selling whisky, raises the already high Crown Royal flavor bar. Zesty rye from an ancient Coffey still is the throbbing heart of this blend, balancing cloves, ginger, cinnamon, glowing hot pepper, and that gorgeous sour bitterness of rye grain against crispy, fresh-sawn lumber, fragrant lilacs, dark fruits, and green apples. Butterscotch, chocolate, toffee, mint, pine needles, and sweet pitchy balsam enrich a luscious, creamy mouthfeel carefully tempered by grapefruit pith. Editor's Choice."
Dewar's Signature
$244.99
Creative Whisky Co. Blended Malt 1994
$100.79
Creative Whisky Co. Irish Whiskey 2002
$103.49
This single cask of Irish Whiskey bottled by the Creative Whisky Company is a single malt from a distillery that cannot be named by the bottler. But I am under no such restrictions, it is a malt from the Cooley Distillery and it is fabulous. Distilled January 21 2002 and bottled in March of 2015. Only 336 total bottles at a cask strength of 51.8%.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: butterscotch and tropical fruits, soft floral malt and toffee chews; there is a hint of Jelly Bellies, saw dust and vaniila pods.
Palate: thick caramel and butterscotch, warm spices and loads of fruit; like stuffing one's mouth full of all flavours of Jelly Bellies followed by dried pinapple and appricots; the malt is thick and the oak is toasty with sugars and spices emerging as the fruits lets you in just a little further.
Finish: long, fruity and coating with coating vanilla oils and slowly fading sugars and spice.
Comment: this is a superb Irish single malt, at a terrific price; just don't let on you know it's from Cooley!