Maybe it was the pubs being closed?
Spotting these Beer Battered Onion Rings in my local Lidl reminded me of pre-pandemic carefree days.
They made my basket.
They made my oven.
They made my plate.
They brought back memories of the good days,
And yearnings of days yet to come.
Sláinte
Popping into my local Carry Out for some last minute purchases – I couldn’t help noticing the new Irish Whiskey on the shelves.
2020 – despite COVID – has witnessed the continued growth of Irish Whiskey in terms of sales, diversity of brands and distilleries being built.
Never before has there been such a glorious out pouring of whiskey.
Kinnitty Castle is one of those new players.
Based just down the road from me in County Offaly, Kinnitty Castle has plans for their own distillery built on the Castle grounds within the old stables.
In the meantime – a couple of sourced releases are on offer to establish the brand.
The Dapper caught my eye.
Sporting a rather suave looking skeleton bedecked in glasses, sharp suit & tumbler of uisce beatha on the go – it exudes an air of cheeky fun yet steeped in heritage.
Very dashing!
There’s a bit of cask information on the rear – but a thorough tasting is far more enjoyable.
It’s almost if drops of the skeleton’s blood have imbued The Dapper with a ruby glow.
Dark rich & heavy aromas of fruity plums reeled me in.
A full mouthfeel bursting with flavour deliciously cascaded over my palate.
Contrasting dry & spicy vanillas danced merrily away on a long lasting finish.
The combination of Chablis casks & Virgin Oak barrels brought out a delightful depth & captivating complexity to this characterful blend.
A cracking little combo to introduce Kinnitty Castle Irish Whiskey to the world.
Sláinte
The Irish Whiskey 2010 -2020 Report is available here – IW 58pp A4 10 Year Report.pdf (9,061kb)
As it’s Day Of The Dead – I thought a Mexican Tequila would be in order to celebrate all those that have gone before.
Part of my miniature haul purchased back at the start of the pandemic – Agavales Blanco is a 100% Agave from a distillery in Jalisco – NOM 1438 – that produces many brands.
Classic clear colourless blanco.
Prominent & pleasing agave pungency.
A tad soft & easy on the palate – which may reflect the 35% ABV.
Opens up on the finish with prickly peppery spice & an enlivening bite too!
A rather gentle introduction into 100% agave.
Salud
It’s funny how much the world has changed.
Instead of physically going down to the shops & picking our whiskey off the shelves – it’s computer clicks & courier calls.
That’s why I got excited about Aldi’s Púca Whiskey.
Alas there was no show in my local store!
Usually I’d turn the quest to find a bottle into a blockbuster of The Hunt For Red October proportions – RIP Sean Connery – but due to COVID restrictions – travel beyond 5km was out.
So on to Plan B.
Supermarket Rum.
Purchased traveling South through the North during the heady days of summer when we were free to roam around the Emerald Isle.
A relatively plain & simple yet pleasing bottle.
A very attractive price – £11 – yet on tasting – superb!
This is everything I expect from a white rum.
Pleasing aromas of sweet funk on the nose.
A deliciously oily mouthfeel that coats the palate with sweet, heavy funky fruit.
All wrapped up with a characterful prickly peppery spice.
The Púca may have alluded me – but Asda’s White Rum is seriously pukka!
Sláinte
Well travel may be curtailed with COVID – but that doesn’t stop me from sampling the delights of Colombia, Guyana & Panama with these 3 rum miniatures!
Dictador XO Insolent, 40%, Colombia
The bottle is certainly attractive!
Very sweet fruit cake on the nose. Bit empty on the palate. Sweet but ultimately bland on the finish.
The nose promised much more – but sadly didn’t deliver for me.
El Dorado 12 Year Old, 40%, Guyana
What a contrast – nuttiness on the nose!
A gentle sweet & smooth palate that came to life on the finish. More of that nuttiness, touch of spicy tannic oak, good depth & flavour with a nice tingling dryness too.
Much more my style!
Ron Abuelo 12 Year Old, 40%, Panama
Sweet dark fruits on the nose.
Again – this rum came alive on the finish. A bit more bite from this one, the nuttiness more subdued, more whiskey like in the drinking experience.
A lovely sipper!
Thoughts
Sad to say Dictador fell flat for me – more style over substance with the fancy bottle.
Both El Dorado & Abuelo impressed.
El Dorado won out by displaying more rum like characteristics.
A very enjoyable miniature tasting!
Sláinte
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