Browsing the cheese aisle in my local Dunnes Stores a feta cheese caught my eye.
Barrel Aged Feta c/othewhiskeynut
‘Barrel Aged’ it stated.
What barrels & for how long?
Turns out beechwood for a minimum of 60 days.
Beech Barrels c/othewhiskeynut
I couldn’t discern any wood influence – but enjoying the feta brought me back to lazy beachside days in Greece tucking into a wholesome & fresh feta cheese salad after the previous nights entertainment.
I was away for a few days taking advantage of the fine weather.
Random pub.
Entering a bar for the first time always engenders a sense of excitement.
Random whisky.
You never know what to expect.
Spotting the large green label of Hunter’s Glen on the shelf – it immediately stood out as something I’d not had before.
Hunter’s Glen Scotch c/othewhiskeynut
Establishing it was Scotch Whisky and not rum – either would have been acceptable – a glass was ordered.
Mmmmmm.
Standard entry level blend material.
Caramelly nose, sweet, smooth & soft with a hint of smoke enlivening an otherwise easy drinking experience.
But who or what is Hunter’s Glen?
The front label states ‘Clydesdale Scotch Whisky Company’, who are part of the Whyte & Mackay group specialising in supermarket blends for Lidl.
All the way from Greece? c/othewhiskeynut
The back label does mention Lidl, but of Greek origin.
Quite how it ended up in a bar in the West of Ireland is beyond me.
But as a whisky with no pretensions or provenance – I enjoyed it for what it is – a perfectly acceptable everyday sipper with a slightly smoky tingly dryness on the finish.
Sláinte
Header image courtesy of Irish Times article here.