Danny Boy Premium Irish Whiskey, 40%, Blend

Danny Boy Irish Whiskey is a slice of recent history in the growing success of the distilling industry in Ireland.

Originally founded by Belfast lottery winner Peter Lavery – Danny Boy used whiskey sourced from Cooley Distillery.

When Beam took over Cooley in 2012 the supply taps were turned off to third parties – Peter Lavery now had a brand with no liquid.

Undeterred he embarked on plans to build a whiskey distillery in Crumlin Jail.

At some point in this bold project Mr Lavery lost control of the plan – and an American backed company took over. Crumlin Jail is now the home of McConnell’s Irish Whisky.

Undaunted – Mr Lavery later resurfaced with a new brand – Titanic Whiskey – and a new distillery based in the Pump House of the docks where the original Titanic Liner was built!

All from the humble beginnings of Danny Boy Irish Whiskey.

So how does it taste?

Well to begin with – the label looks rather dated. The subtle & sombre tones are lifted by gold lettering – but I don’t think it would stand out in the more contemporary bright colours sported by many a new Irish Whiskey brand today.

Danny Boy pours a light golden brown.

There’s a bit of depth to the nose – suggestive of ageing – or just being too long in a miniature bottle?

Softly smooth on the palate. Gently warming too.

A sweet embrace of butterscotch malt, tingly grain & a smidgen of prickly heat to liven things up.

I’m not sure this miniature is as fresh as the day it was bottled – but lovely to have the opportunity to taste a slice of modern Irish Whiskey History!

O Danny Boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling.

Sláinte

Peter Lavery puts his lottery winnings into whiskey news report here.

Beam buys Cooley news report here.

Founding of Crumlin Jail Distillery here.

RTE new on Crumlin Jail distillery plans here.

Titanic Distillery now open here.

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Irish Rover Irish Whiskey, 40%, Blend

I don’t know if 3 Counties Spirits have a back catalogue of Irish folk songs to name their whiskeys after – but I’m very happy to purchase this latest release – Irish Rover.

Having previously enjoyed the very well presented Galtee Mountain Boy Irish Whiskey from the same independent bottlers – Irish Rover differs in being ‘ a delicate blend of grain and malt Irish Whiskey’ – and is produced in ‘the South West of Ireland’ – which kind of narrows down the distillery to West Cork.

Irish Rover is also a response to the Minimum Unit Pricing – MUP – regime in place in Ireland.

I used to pick up 700ml bottles in the sub €20 category – now they’re all €22.09 minimum.

Going for 500ml bottles allows you to purchase sub €20 bottles again.

Happy days!

So how is Irish Rover Irish Whiskey to experience?

A no nonsense screw cap is cracked open to pour a light golden brown whiskey – no mention of added caramel or not – although Non Chill Filtered is stated.

A fairly shy nose – hints of vanilla & caramel with a touch of bready malt peeking through.

Easy on the palate. Smooth & mild.

A welcome growing heat develops on the rear – augmented by a flourish of almost gingery spice on the finish.

Really enjoyed this one!

That spicy finale endears Irish Rover to me.

Available in yer local Tesco!

Sláinte

3 Counties Spirit website here.

My blog on Galtee Mountain Boy Irish Whiskey here.

Tesco listing here.

Dundalgan Irish Whiskey Gift Pack, 2 x Blends, 40%, 3 x Single Malts, 42%

I do love a miniature gift pack.

Especially one coming from ‘the largest wholly owned distillery in the country of Ireland’.

West Cork Distillers are a powerhouse of Irish Whiskey. They produce their own branded whiskey range – as well as supplying many a supermarket own label – as in this Dundalgan Gift Pack for Lidl – and several other non-distillery Irish Whiskey brands too.

I enjoy the opportunity a miniature pack gives to explore the diversity of range & styles available at a single setting.

My encounters with Dundalgan started back in 2018 & have continued ever since. I admire their evolution both in terms of label design & tweaking of product from batch to batch.

Without further ado – here’s what I found.

Dundalgan Blended Irish Whiskey, 40%

This entry level blend has always delivered the goods. An easy going vanilla & caramel nose, pleasant soft mouthfeel with a little kick on the finish.

A benchmark Irish Whiskey blend.

Dundalgan Charred Cask, Blend, 40%

Given an additional finish in charred casks has imbued this whiskey with a darker hue – along with added richness & warmth. Smoother on the palate there’s enhanced depth with a touch of spice on the rear.

Nice.

Dundalgan Stout Cask, Single Malt, 42%

The first of a trio of single malts featuring different cask finishes. The Stout Cask offers up an almondy nutty nose. Soft yet rich on the palate, a prickly tingling on the rear no doubt added to by the extra 42% presentation.

Dundalgan IPA Cask, Single Malt, 42%

I’m not a fan of IPA in craft beer – but in whiskey it does add a light fruitiness to the palate with a hint of bitterness on the rear.

A refreshing contrast to the other offerings.

Dudalgan Sherry Cask, Single Malt, 42%

You could say – along with the Blended Whiskey – this is the most traditional offering in the portfolio. A soft easy nose segues into a mild & gentle palate topped off with a dry spice on the rear.

Well balanced.

Thoughts

Regardless of your palate preferences there’s a Dundalgan to suit all – although I’m still holding out for a smoky version myself!

Given that all these whiskey are presented with natural colouring & non chill filtered at an affordable price they offer an impressive array of flavours.

My choice steers me towards the honest simplicity of Blended Irish Whiskey & the refreshing lightness of IPA Cask.

Which ones would you have chosen?

Sláinte

West Cork Distillers website here.

Red Locks Irish Whiskey, 40%, Blend

The recent World Whiskies Awards 2023 brought a gamut of worthy winners allowing them to boost their profiles & increase sales.

I enjoy perusing the winners – seeing what I’ve already enjoyed – what I could possibly obtain – or simply drool at the unavailable.

One winning bottle that struck me as being eminently affordable – in America – yet unavailable in the country where it was produced – Ireland – caught my eye.

Welcome to Red Locks Irish Whiskey.

Winning the Irish category for Blended Whiskey is no mean feat.

Congratulations to both Kieran Folliard – the entrepreneur behind the brand – and Noel Sweeney – the master blender who created the whiskey.

Kieran – who runs a chain of Irish bars & restaurants in Minnesota – previously launched 2 Gingers Irish Whiskey in the US.

2 Gingers achieved being the only whiskey to survive the shutting down of supply to 3rd parties when Beam took over control at Kilbeggan/Cooley Distilleries in Ireland. The very distilleries Noel Sweeney was Master Distiller at.

Perhaps being a big hit with it’s many customers influenced that decision.

Well the dynamic duo are back again with Red Locks.

Using a combination of ex- sherry, bourbon & rye barrels along with some virgin casks too, this 80/20, corn/barley, column/pot still mix clearly impressed the judges at the World Whiskies Awards.

It’s just a pity I’ll be unlikely to enjoy it in it’s home country of Ireland!

Sláinte

Images courtesy Red Locks website here,

& World Whiskies Awards 2023 page here.

Blog about Beam shutting down supply here.

2 Gingers acquired by Beam here.

Ballydoyle Irish Whiskey, First Spirits 8yo Peated Malt & Barr an Uisce 10yo Single Malt, 40% to 46%

Finishing off my miniature sample selection from the Celtic Whiskey Bar & Larder is this tasty trio of Irish Whiskey.

Starting with Ballydoyle, a blend produced for the famous horse Racing Stables in Tipperary,

First Spirits 8yo Peated Malt follows – peat isn’t just a Scotch flavour you know,

Concluding with Wicklow brand Barr an Uisce 10yo Single Malt.

Ballydoyle Irish Whiskey, 40%

Light straw in colour. Leathery, fruity, sweet caramel & vanilla nose. Lovely rich mouthfeel. Classic ex-bourbon cask Irish Whiskey – & a very nice example too!

First Spirits 8 Year Old Peated Malt, 46%

I’m drawn to the lightness of colour in peated whiskey. I’m drawn even more to the rich smokiness of imbibing such a creation. First Spirits satisfies my smoky cravings!

Barr an Uisce 10 Year Old Single Malt, 46%

Golden brown spirit. Sweet dark fruity nose. Enjoying the woody influence on the palate. A very fine aged single malt.

Thoughts

What a fabulous trio of Irish Whiskey!

With a never ending array of increasingly exotic cask finishes it’s a welcome treat to go ‘back-to-basics’ with wonderfully produced ex-bourbon cask matured Irish Whiskey.

Each had their own special charms, every one offered different elements, yet all connected to my senses.

Obviously First Spirits peater was my favourite – but the others were a delight to savour.

What Irish Whiskey do you savour?

Sláinte

All bottle images courtesy Celtic Whiskey Shop & Celtic Whiskey Bar & Larder.

Further information on Ballydoyle Irish Whiskey here, First Spirits here & Barr an Uisce here.

Gauldrons, Blended Malt, 46.2%

My favourite whisky shop in Anstruther doesn’t just do novelty whisky – it also does proprietary brands.

Respected bottlers Douglas Laing are behind this Gauldrons Blended Malt.

Described as ‘ a marriage of aged single malts from Campbeltown‘ Gauldrons is presented non chill filtered with no colouring.

Suitably pale in the glass – always a good sign in my book.

I’m getting a soft kiss of smoke with old leather on the nose.

Easy mouthfeel – sweet & biscuity – builds with intensity to a prickly drying crescendo.

Was expecting a bit more of a peat hit – Gauldrons was quite mild mannered & tame in that respect – yet otherwise a decent dram.

Sláinte

The Wee Couper Of Fife website here.

Douglas Laing website here.

All images authors own.

The Jockey vs The Fisherman, Blended Scotch Whisky, 40%

When in Anstruther I usually pick up a few bottles in the Wee Couper Of Fife Whisky Shop.

They have a varied selection of miniatures – mainly for the tourist trade – as well as single cask bottlings for the aficionados.

I enjoy sampling the miniatures myself – so picked up a pair of themed minis from the Cumbrae Supply Co.

The Jockey & The Fisherman sport stylised images of their namesakes, are presented at 40% with no mention of distilleries sourced from, nor chill filtering or added caramel, which I’d expect for this type of product.

Without further ado I poured some glasses.

The Jockey

Sweet biscuity malt, very easy palate, slight hints of drying leather on the rear.

A very decent blend.

The Fisherman

Similar nose, if anything an easier palate, softer, sweeter, with less dryness on the rear.

Thoughts

I was expecting to find this pair to share the same source – but they did differ slightly on drinking.

For me The Jockey has pulled clear of the sedentary Fisherman.

An entertaining duo!

Sláinte

Cumbrae Supply Co website here.

Wee Couper Of Fife website here.

All images authors own.

Crag & Glen, Blended Scotch Whisky, 40%

I picked up Crag & Glen on my last Scottish trip.

Usually I stop at the last supermarket before the ferry to top up on haggis & booze that isn’t readily available in Ireland.

Sadly the Asda in Girvan had only 1 haggis left & it was too early in the morning for alcohol sales – so another plan emerged.

Sainsbury’s in Lisburn provided my needs.

There are no Sainsbury’s in Ireland – hence Argos pulling out – but Northern Ireland has them – so I indulged in some supermarket spirits.

I do enjoy trying out this category. There can be some good ones & being only a 35cl serving the outlay is minimal. Pity there’s little choice in this size.

Crag & Glen is Sainsbury’s own bottling. It has a suitably bold name that conjures up romantic notions of rugged Highland scenery, magnificent stags & warm drinks by a roaring fire.

Can tasting the whisky match the imagery?

First thing I notice is the golden brown hue of this 3 year old – very suggestive of added colouring & chill filtering – which you kinda have to expect at this price point.

The nose is mild, caramelly & honeyed sweet.

The label very aptly displays ‘smooth & rounded‘ – an accurate descriptor of the mouthfeel.

The finish is the best bit for me – a warm juiciness topped off with joyful prickliness leaving a dry lip-smacking finale.

As basic supermarket brands go Crag & Glen lives up to it’s imagery – minus the roaring fire!

Sláinte

Link to Sainsbury’s whisky page here.

Argos pulls out of Ireland here.

Fercullen Falls, Small Batch Irish Whiskey, 43%, Blend

When Powerscourt Distillery originally released their core range of Irish Whiskey much of the commentary made a big play of the fact Head Distiller – Noel Sweeney – had overseen the distilling of the liquid whilst at Cooley Distillery & then latterly supervised the blending of the casks at Powerscourt.

Now Mr Sweeney has left Powerscourt – does this lessen the ‘story’ of the whiskeys?

If you rate whiskey by the personality of key players involved in bringing it to market – then perhaps yes?

On the other hand, if you appraise a whiskey based on the taste & flavour of the liquid in the glass before you – it doesn’t matter.

Most whiskey has been produced by a large team of mainly un-named people who all contribute – in one way or another – to making & marketing the final product.

That product – especially if it’s a core release like this Fercullen Falls blend – can be presented to the public as a consistent expression regardless of the potential changing personnel who participate in its existence.

As it is, Fercullen Falls is a non-age statement blend of whiskeys both from outside sources and Powerscourt Distillery itself.

I like the name.

Fercullen Falls themselves are an impressive spectacle set in Powerscourt Estate grounds – and well worth a visit they are too!

So, onto the whiskey!

Pale straw in colour. No mention of added caramel or chill filtering.

A very easy, pleasant soft aroma of vanilla & caramel.

Smooth palate with a touch of honeyed maltiness on the body.

Livens up on the finish with a lovely prickly sensation & decent depth of flavours which fade slowly.

A very well-presented easy drinking blend with no rough edges, fine heritage & an entertaining flourish on the finale.

Sláinte

All images authors own.

Fercullen Falls Whiskey information here.

Noel Sweeney information here.

A Trio of Blacks Irish Whiskey, Triple Threat, Maple Mayhem & Black Smoke, 40% to 43%.

Blacks of Kinsale are currently building their own distillery. In the meantime they have released this core rage sourced Irish Whiskey trio to entice you in.

Presented in attractively liveried bottles bearing their trademark flying crow emblem the names allure to the beer brewing background of Blacks.

I was fortunate enough to be sent a sample pack from Blacks to taste.

All thoughts on the whiskey – as always – are my own.

Triple Threat, 40%

As the name suggests, this Irish Blended Whiskey is aged in a triple cask trio of bourbon, sherry & virgin oak casks.

Light brown in colour. The nose wasn’t giving much away, sweet grainy vanillas. A silky mouthfeel. Honeyed. Drying spiciness on the rear enlivens this solid starter of a blend.

Engaging!

Maple Mayhem, 43%

An unusual one this – aged in maple bourbon casks!

Wasn’t sure what to expect – yet the nose offered up a rich dark sweetness that pulled me in. Smooth palate grows into a surprisingly complex dark honey yet spicy & tingly finalé.

Enticing!

Black Smoke, 43%

A more conventional heavily peated offering.

Have you ever noticed heavy peaters tend to be the palest whiskey out there?

Black Smoke is no exception!

That coastal, iodiney peat is evident on the nose – yet doesn’t overpower. Very engaging on the palate. It’s the finish that excites me. The warming hug of a turf fire heats up & pulls me in with it’s comforting embrace.

A solid sod of turf to please the palate!

Thoughts

This trio of Blacks Irish Whiskey are currently available (Oct ’22) in the sub €50 category level – prices subject to upward pressure in the ongoing economic climate.

They offer a solid & surprisingly complexity of flavour.

Black Smoke would be my whiskey of choice here – but Maple Mayhem engaged me more than I expected with a heavy sweetness that enticed. Triple Threat meanwhile isn’t threatening at all – just a good solid blended Irish Whiskey!

Fabulous to taste the growing array of Irish Whiskey out there – which one would please your palate?

Sláinte

Blacks of Kinsale website here.

The Spirits Business article on economic situation here.

Bottle images courtesy Blacks of Kinsale.