Starting off as raw grains – barley & corn in this instance – grown in fields. Adding water & yeast, brewing, distilling & maturing. The solid grains are transformed into an aromatic brown alcoholic liquid.
The aromas emanating from Púca Irish Whiskey were particularly attractive.
Reflecting both the raw ingredients – a fresh sweet lightness from the corn – plus the cask influence – a lovely rich rummy nose full of dark caramels from the ex-rum & stout barrels used.
Last one on the shelf! c/othewhiskeynut
The palate is silky smooth with a wholesome mouthfeel. A touch of spice breaking through. The peppery spice slowly grows in strength giving a gorgeously prickly experience to the long lasting finish.
A lively & characterful blend!
There’s another similarity with the elusive púca spirits.
Aldi ad c/oAldi
Despite being available in Aldi for the excellent price of €25 – Púca Irish Whiskey didn’t appear on the date advertised. By the time I was informed they’d arrived – none were left on the shelves!
Well I’ve gotta hand it to Peter Mulryan & all the team at Blackwater Distillery for launching a sourced volume bonders blend & getting it seriously appraised by the Whiskey Nerd community.
Many other similarly styled brands are regularly lambasted.
But first to the whiskey.
Velvet Cap c/othewhiskeynut
A rich reddy brown hue with an invitingly warm hug of a nose.
The palate had a depth & complexity resplendent of the port, stout & rye cask finishing having worked their magic.
A touch of drying spiciness at the end added a final flourish to this characterful little blend.
An easy, entertaining & accessible whiskey that fulfills the brief Blackwater intended.
The much publicised launch coupled with the delightful sample package ensured a wide audience for the Facebook Live event.
Peter gave a fairly precise potted history of both the origins of Velvet Cap – as well as a synopsis of the modern Irish Whiskey Industry.
Velvet Cap sample c/othewhiskeynut
I welcome the growing diversity of styles, brands & flavours coming out of this wonderful renaissance in Irish Whiskey globally.
The rather narrow & monopolistic view that defined Irish Whiskey of the recent past is inhibiting the future growth today.
The mantra of honesty & transparency is leading to some entertaining avenues – and focuses the debate onto what is or isn’t written on the label – rather than on what the whiskey actually tastes like.
Does a whiskey that says the ‘wrong’ things taste worse than any others?
An emphatic NO from Whiskey Nut.
Hyde came in for a lot of criticism on this front.
Interestingly in blind tastings, the brand always scored highly on my palate, irrespective of the labelling – which has been amended.
The blended whiskey market is a crowded category. Most of the people purchasing these brands are not whiskey nerds.
The finer details of the sales patter, cask maturation, mashbill composition or distillery of source may not be to the fore here – but taste & accessibility might.
Taste is very subjective.
An interesting analysis of taste came my way recently. A worthy read.
The attractively simple & clean design of this Aldi supermarket release matches the clear & fresh taste of the poitín inside.
Dolmen Irish Poitín c/othewhiskeynut
Dolmens – or portal tombs – are found throughout Ireland. They date from 2,000 to 3,000 years BC and provide an insight into former civilisations that existed in Ireland.
Poitín is also a product of earlier times.
Times when there were no rules or regulations governing alcohol manufacture or consumption and poitín making was a locally based farm activity.
Today it is a growing category in the re-emerging Irish Whiskey scene.
It can be made from any grain – in either pot or column stills – and usually has not been aged in wood for added colour or flavour.
Dolmen Irish Poitín is quite a distinctive style of poitín.
Rather than displaying the somewhat oily & slightly sour taste experience I expect within this genre of spirit – Dolmen portrays a clean & refreshingly sweet bouquet to the nose.
This follows through into the taste which starts off rather soft & mild – easily approachable even – before a slowly warming reassuring heat makes it’s presence felt.
A pleasantly appealing & palatable poitín.
Poitín poetry c/othewhiskeynut
There’s a suitable storyline on the back label which combines history, myth, folklore and fancy and – unusually for a supermarket release – the distillery of origin.
Whiskey Live Dublin continues to grow every year. Not only in numbers attending this marvelous showcase of Irish Whiskey – but also the amount of exhibitors on display.
There are masterclasses held throughout the course of the day which provide access to the distillers, whiskey ambassadors, blenders & bottlers who are driving the current growth in Irish Whiskey. It was to one of those classes that I started my visit to this years show.
Alex Chasko – master distiller with Teeling Whiskey Co. – regaled us with the story behind the current Brabazon series of whiskeys – as well as introducing us to some choice single cask samples.
Brabazon tasting time c/othewhiskeynut
I was particularly taken by the 2001 Port Single Cask – especially in the newly released Tuath Irish Whiskey glass which was provided to visitors at the event.
Teeling & Tuath c/othewhiskeynut
After this highly enjoyable introduction – I joined the crowds in the main hall as I tried to sample my ‘hit list’ of whiskeys I’d either missed out on during the year – or were new releases appearing at the show for the first time.
The Glengarriff series from West Cork Distillers were on my list.
Glorious Glengarrif whiskey c/othewhiskeynut
I was highly impressed by the Peat Charred Cask single malt. The influence of the peat was clearly evident on both the nose and taste – yet there was a lovely earthy savouriness element to the expression too. Beautiful!
Dunvilles Three Crowns Peated c/othewhiskeynut
Talking about peat – Echlinville had their Three Crowns Peated on display – very appealing to my tastes. But what surprised me was their yet to be released peated poitin – Bán Barreled & Buried at 47.2% – now that’s a tasty innovation.
Now I’d heard Kilbeggan were showcasing some of their ‘experimental’ casks – as well as the current range of freshly re-branded (and even re-recipied in some cases) favourites too – so naturally I was excited by a 6 year old Rye Pot Still!
When will this stunner be released? c/othewhiskeynut
Rich rye on the nose & taste followed with some creamy smoothness. Stunning!
Peter Mulryan’s Blackwater Distillery – which is currently under construction in Co. Waterford – chose to reveal their Retronaut 17 year old single malt at the show – a must try.
Retronaut Single Malt c/othewhiskeynut
I can confirm the whiskey is every bit as bold & brassy as the elegantly designed label on the very attractive bottle.
At this stage in the proceedings – with a few samples onboard – chatting away with fellow attendees & stall holders began to divert me away from my ‘hit list’ as I was tempted into trying some surprising expressions.
Cork Whiskey Society had assembled a fine display of whiskeys from times gone by.
A bevy of beauties! c/othewhiskeynut
The Bushmills 5 year old single malt took my fancy and a sample was procured. Was it just me or did this bottle taste more bold & robust in flavour than some current releases?
A tasty blend c/othewhiskeynut
The Irish Whiskey Society’s excellent private bottling range continued to impress with a delightful blended offering sourced from the Teeling Whiskey Company.
A Single Cask Powers c/othewhiskeynut
The Powers range of single cask releases surprised me with the fine creamy single pot still character on this Celtic Whiskey Shop‘s 16 year old exclusive. I did miss the signature spice kick though.
Powerful bourbon c/othewhiskeynut
I also couldn’t resist a powerful Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel Bourbon at 65.4% – my sole American sample at the show.
Campbeltown’s Longrow Peated c/othewhiskeynut
Longrow‘s Peated Single Malt didn’t disappoint either – being my only Scottish dram on the day.
Apologies to all those I didn’t get round to sample, visit or even chat to – there is simply too much to cover in one session – which is part of the fun.
There were a few that got away – but the one I missed the most was the return of the indulgent donuts on the Dublin Liberties Whiskey stall!
WestmeathWhiskeyWorld 