It seems every time I shop in my local Dunnes store there’s a new Irish Whiskey out!
Sporting what I’d describe as a classic green bottle topped with a red screw cap & traditional looking label – O’Neill’s appears to be a no nonsense style of whiskey.
Proclaiming to be of ‘Fine Spirit’ & ‘Smooth Blended’ the label has minimal information.
Double Cask Matured is stated – with no mention of which casks – and produced by West Cork Distillers for what I assume is a Dunnes store brand – it made my basket.
And then my Túath glass.
Quite a rich golden hued colour for what I take is a young whiskey.
The nose is rather soft, sweet & honeyed.
More engaging on the palate. The sweetness suggests a sherry cask influence – along with bourbon cask maturation – giving a bit of depth & body to the blend.
The grain element gradually kicks in with a little heat & soft prickliness.
A gentle spice rounds off the finish.
O’Neill’s delivers a decent straight down the line blended whiskey experience at an affordable price.
On a back to back with it’s Ardfallen sister, I found O’Neill’s a more sherried & rounded whiskey – making it worth the extra few euro.
Hats off to West Cork!
WestmeathWhiskeyWorld 
I am planning to get this to use in making cocktaills. My aim is to have a decent affordable whiskey base for the vermouths I have.
Whiskey plus red vermouth makes a Rob Roy.
Whiskey plus bianoc vermouth makes something I don´t know the name of.
And whiskey plus dry vermouth gives a dry Rob Roy.
Most interesting is to take mix blended whiskey, bianco vermouth and a capful of Suze (gentian aperatif).
My usual whiskey is either JW Black Label or Ballantines.
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Good choice!
Let me know how you get on.
Maybe you should try a Conemarra if you enjoy some smokiness in your glass.
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I read information about this one last summer, and just had to buy a bottle for our friend who owns O’Neill’s bar! As well as a bottle for ourselves.
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How did you find it?
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