I had to go back to the Asian Shop to explore more of these non-alcoholic alternatives.
There was a whole shelf in the fridge dedicated to this style of beverage – so I grabbed a few for comparison.
De Vina Malt states it’s a Premium Non-Alcoholic Malt Drink & comes in a 500ml can. The usual ingredients are listed on the back. No mention of who brewed De Vina but Specialist Foods of London is on the can.
De Vina pours like a dark porter – with a decent head too! A rich bready nose. The palate is noticeably sweet – yet the malt still comes through. Too heavy on the Glucose/Fructose Syrup for my liking!
Hyper Malt is produced for Harboes Brygerri in Denmark & appears to have 7 languages catered for on the can! Comes in a 330ml can like all the others.
Hyper Malt pours like a dark ale. There’s rich dark malt on the nose too. Quite sweet on the palate – there’s added sugar & colouring with this one. Too sweet for my tastes – even if the malt is entertaining!
3 Horses Classic made my basket this time. First Classic Malt Since 1628 it states. Oddly this one is brewed in Germany by Hofbrauhaus Walter for 3 Horses.
3 Horses Classic pours like a rather dark lager. A lovely fresh bready malt greets the nose. Very easy on the palate – not too far off a lager drinking experience either – yet that maltiness comes through on the rear. A very pleasant little drinker for a non-alcoholic alternative.
The bright red can of Ulti Malt Classic was last up. No mention of brewery but produced for Kato Enterprises Ltd with addresses for the UK, EU & South Africa.
Ulti Malt pours like a porter with a decent head. As I’m finding out the colour is added – along with sugar for the sweetness – which is a bit too much for my tastes – even if the rich maltiness still shines through.
Thoughts
Without a doubt 3 Horses Classic wins out for me on this taste comparison. The apparent lack of added colouring or sugar results in a far cleaner & fresher malt appeal. 3 Horses Classic could almost be mistaken for a lager & I’d quite happily have a few of these around the house for use as a non-alcoholic alternative.
After the delights of entering Athlone from the Dublin Road end I’m now approaching the town centre where the pubs are a mere stones throw apart.
6Flannery’s, Sean Costello St
A brightly coloured characterful bar run by the equally characterful owner Anne. There was an impressive array of whiskey & conversation quickly developed over my choice of PrizeFight Whiskey. I hadn’t encountered this one for a while. It was the first Irish Whiskey in modern times to contain an element of rye in the make-up. The craic got even mightier when another customer recognised me & I was tempted to stay for more. Sadly as other bars beckoned I moved on!
O’Neill’s, Mardyke St
One pub that has disappeared is this former sports bar on a prominent corner spot. I remember watching the black smoke billowing from my workplace vantage point. I only visited the bar once before it burnt down. The site is meant to be pedestrianised with planters & seats.
The Stairwell, Sean Costello St
The Stairwell recently closed as a popular gastropub. I’d never actually been in it. Former bars called Naughton’s & Murphy’s Law also operated here. Remains to be seen what will happen to this site. Outside is in the process of being pedestrianised.
7 Nuts Corner, Mardkye St
Was surprised to encounter the very friendly & highly professional bartender Michelle keeping everyone well served & entertained in this snug like bar with various sports screen vying for punters attention. Various screens showed different sports with nooks of customers at each. The usual big brands were stocked & went for a Jameson purely as every pub has it.
The Royal Hoey, Mardyke St
Those slightly advanced in years may remember this town centre hotel that was often used as a meeting point. Redeveloped as Athlone Town Centre shopping arcade.
8 Biddy O’Dowds, Mardyke St
Quite a friendly bar I’d never been in before. Decent selection of whiskey & even a drinks menu! Bar stools & regular customers. Despite have 3 different Redbreast offerings chose a Woodford Reserve on the day. Do enjoy the high rye content of this bourbon.
9 Mardyke Bar, Mardyke St
Formerly Carty’s this establishment has only recently re-opened as The Mardyke Bar. There’s been a new lick of paint & a bit of refurbishment to the bar from when I remember. A former work colleague spotted me before I’d even got to the bar. A brief chat ensued over a Johnnie Walker Black which I was attracted to by the bright black & yellow limited edition bottle design. Did enjoy the smoky whisky it contained too.
10Carey’s Tavern, Mardyke St
The facade of Carey’s is certainly attractive & is matched by a warmth inside too. The usual array of big brand whiskeys & beers were on show & although sports screens were around, they didn’t dominate. Went for a Black Bush myself. A lovely sherry finish influence on this popular Northern Irish whiskey.
11 The S Bar, Sheraton Hotel, Gleeson St
The S Bar caters for food but does stock an impressive array of whiskey with some local craft beers too. Have eaten here with herself on a number of occasions & always been happy with the service. Spotted a Lambay Single Malt which had a lovely rich malty appeal with a satisfying mouthfeel & warming finish. Turns out the original Cognac cask finished offering had been boosted to 43% to provide a very indulgent drinking experience. Always a treat to encounter a whiskey I’ve never tasted before!
This only-available-in-America Irish Whiskey differs from the usual fare in that it’s a well known brand – Redbreast – but features a special finish for that country only – Missouri Oak.
This recently released product is part of the American Oak Series.
A previous Redbreast Kentucky Oak also featured.
With perhaps more to follow.
Does make it a little harder for collectors to complete a full Redbreast set.
I don’t know if Captain Cook’s Original Rum & Cola I previously reviewed here has faced choppy water – because the current Lidl offering has morphed into James Cook Original Spiced Gold & Cola.
There’s been a slight facelift to the front of the can.
Gone is the sailing ship & in is the proud Captain himself.
The rear stays remarkably similar – with the addition of the Re-turn logo.
The taste also remains the same.
Cola dominates initially. Merest hints of rum on the palate. A smidgen of spice on the rear.
Far preferred the German 10% RTD offerings I posted about here!
I’ve started an expedition to visit every pub in my local area – Athlone. It’s not a pub crawl per se – more of a leisurely stroll over a protracted period of time.
Pubs change hands, close down, re-open, have new owners, re-brand or any combination of these & more. My visits only capture what I found on the day – or selected memories of times past. They are my own views – your perspective of the venues will probably differ.
This is what I found.
1 – Granary Bar, Creggan Court Hotel, N6 Centre
This is the closest drinking establishment to my home – a half hour walk away – so I started here.
The bar itself is a rather large space more suitable to dining than drinking – there are no chairs or barstools at the bar.
There’s a limited array of whiskey; Jameson, Paddy’s Powers & Tullamore DEW being prominent, with no craft beer visible. I went with the DEW being a local distillery. A soft, light & easily approachable blend with a little prickly bite on the finish.
Tend to use the bar annually for CPC Courses & avail of the carvery which serves up decent pub-grub. Sports screens around the eatery.
Scribes & Charlies Bar, Dublin Rd
There’s a long walk to the next bar. Along the way you pass TUS – Technological University of Shannon – which in it’s AIT days used to have a bar called Scribes, now long gone.
Also gone is Charlies Bar. It burnt down a while ago. A rebuild is commencing but unsure if the bar is included.
2 – The Tack Room, Dublin Rd
When I enter a bar & find large sports screens dominating the area along with a limited drinks selection – I know it’s not for me!
I’m at the stage I’ve a bigger range of spirits at home than most bars – so went with a Jack Daniel’s. It actually was quite an enjoyable tipple in the afternoon sun!
3 – The Shack, Dublin Rd
At last a pub I feel at home in!
A wider variety of whiskeys, some craft beers on tap & the odd tequila too. Do lovely meals with a homely atmosphere provided by warming fires. Was my nearest bar before I moved so been in a few times. Went with a Kilbeggan Black. A soft, sweet & easy peater from the distillery only a half hour drive down the road.
Sean Og’s, Sean Costello St
Many moons ago I attended a live concert featuring a rock band in this pub. Now being converted into accommodation.
4 – Rob’s Ranch House, Sean Costello St
Yee ha! More of a Wild West themed diner rather than a bar. No stools at the bar yet plenty of tables & an extensive food menu.
Remember this venue as the colourful Biddy Mulligan’s, then a short-lived trendy wine-bar before the current Ranch House.
Had some spicy wedges & Jose Cuervo Reposado Tequila keeping with the Wild West theme. The black peppery spice made a tasty change from the whiskeys!
Potters, Sean Costello St
I remember this pub – it had an unusual facade – although I never entered. Now I can’t – as it too is earmarked for accommodation.
5 – The Dark Horse, Sean Costello St
I was in here on a number of occasions when it was Rayners. Bands played this venue regularly, a rowdy disco & hearty meals were enjoyed too.
As The Dark Horse the meals are still served, there’s a nice selection of whiskeys, some craft beers & you’re able to sit at the bar. Quite a lively & busy spot. I went with Toki Japanese Whisky mainly for it’s rarity. A light easy going whisky with a little prickle of excitement on the rear. Grand!
Staying in America are a series of exceptional speciality bottlings of fine quality with plenty additional information from High N Wicked.
I’ve chosen their No 4 release – Aeneas Coffey – as it celebrates this Irishman’s invention of the continuous still which kick-started the growth of whiskey in today’s world.
Suitably it’s a single grain Irish Whiskey distilled in Cork, finished in madeira casks & presented non chill filtered, natural colour – as all High N Wicked offerings are – at 50% ABV in a cool looking bottle.
These are one-off style of whiskeys not normally available & I’d certainly be tempted to try them!
While most folks might have heard of Tequila & Mezcal, Mexico has a number of other distilled spirits – Sotol is one of them.
Sotol is made using the same methods of it’s more well known stablemates – but differs in the raw ingredients used.
Sotol Onó is hand crafted using 100% Dasylirion Cedrosanum or Desert Spoon plant. Not being agave it cannot be named Tequila or Mezcal and can only be made in specific geographical areas within Mexico – Chihuahua in this instance.
The Desert Spoon plant can typically take up to 15 to 25 years to mature & at present is in plentiful supply.
Sotol Onó has a very pleasing smoky aroma. This probably comes from roasting the piña in a shallow pit oven using willow & oak firewood. It’s more of a BBQ style of smoke rather than peaty embers. There’s an earthiness to it as well – not unlike mezcal.
Oily & smooth on the palate.
Comes alive on the rear with a warming glow, more of those smoked wood notes & agave like minerals with a drying prickliness slowly fading away.
A fabulous drop indeed!
Might have to try the celebrity Sotol Lenny Kravitz has released on the strength of this one!
WestmeathWhiskeyWorld 