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!
Now here’s a whiskey I instantly fell in love with!
Shortcross Rye And Malt is the 2nd release from the boutique Rademon Estate Distillery in Northern Ireland.
It marks the return of rye to Irish Whiskey with a bold & unapologetic offering.
The 1909 Royal Commission into whiskey – which paved the way for the modern industry we know today – mentions Irish Whiskey usually being made with a mixed mashbill of barley, oats, wheat & rye.
I’m very pleased to see distilleries like Rademon exploring the rich flavours these grains deliver.
Being a self confessed lover of rye – Shortcross Rye And Malt displays that classic rye nose to draw me in.
Some describe it as dry sweet biscuit, my other half experienced almondy nuttiness.
A warming luscious mouthfeel.
The dryness of the rye has been balanced by a barley creaminess.
Offering both depth & complexity Rye And Malt finishes with a flourish of dry peppery spice that delights.
Love it!
Shortcross double distill Irish grown rye & barley & present the whiskey non chill filtered, natural colour at 46%.
Thomas Connolly have an extensive array of Irish Whiskey to suit all palates – especially rye heads!
Irish Whiskey is often triple distilled, but this triple tasting includes rum distilled at the Copeland Distillery in Donaghadee.
I’d already purchased their Smugglers Reserve Overproof – read about it here – & found it a lively powerfully funky rum.
Their Smugglers Reserve Bordeaux Cru Rum at 42% won out over a couple of other Irish Rums also due to the funk – blog here.
Image c/o Copeland Distillery
So will the standard Smugglers Reserve at 40% hold up to scrutiny?
Well the nose certainly promised it would!
That sweet fruity funk lured me in. An engaging oily mouthfeel enveloped the senses delivering that rich funkiness & prickly enticing spice on the finish.
Lovely stuff.
Image c/o Copeland Distillery
The last remnants of my Grand Cru sample continued to delight. If anything – it delivered a more mellowed & cultured mouthfeel. Perhaps some would find this more appealing – but the straight forward bold flavours of the original still won me over.
Image c/o WhiskeyNut
The Overproof meanwhile managed to excite!
A powerful explosion of funky flavour, high ABV & an intense drinking experience is something to behold.
I must say I was mightily impressed by all 3!
That fruity funk signature note I love presents itself clearly in all variants making it hard to choose a favourite.
For ease of delivery, richness of flavour & overall accessibility & affordability however – I’m giving it to Smugglers Reserve, 40%.
Who got the funk?
Copeland Rum’s got the funk!
Sláinte
For clarity, Overproof was purchased in Donaghadee, Grand Cru was sample swapped & Original was kindly donated by Copeland Distillery.
I always find it fascinating looking back into the history of Irish Whiskey.
This 1983 publication on Old Bushmills catalogues the rich tapestry of the distillery through it’s folklore, scenery, politics, changing fortunes, characters & calamities.
The book clearly displays there’s a lot more to simply enjoying the glass of whiskey in front of you – there’s always a whole back story.
Illustrated with many photographs & tales of the people involved – both from the boardroom as well as the distillery floor – Spirit Of The Age is a testament to the longevity of Irish Whiskey.
At the time of publication Old Bushmills was owned by Irish Distillers – but history is ongoing & Tequila makers Jose Cuervo are now in control.
Ironically one of Bushmills biggest sellers no longer bares it’s name – Proper Twelve has now overtaken the lead sales position Bushmills used to enjoy – and marks yet another chapter in the changing faces of Irish Whiskey.
I found this highly informative & entertaining publication through Libraries Ireland – well worth reading.
Long may Old Bushmills continue producing Irish Whiskey!
Northern Irish Whiskey isn’t a separate category – although shifting political structures between Ireland, UK & Europe might influence that.
Presented before me were 5 sample bottles, below are 5 impressions in italics before the reveal & the 5 bottles uncovered.
Bréifne – Hinch Single Pot Still, 43%
Pale straw. Intriguing nice deep nose. Clean, fresh, spicey & sweet. Rye like finish. Nice!
The spice was so intense & lively I could’ve mistaken this for a rye whiskey! Hinch SPS is a sourced product while their own distillate matures. Really enjoyable.
Slemish – Powers Distiller’s Cut, 43.2%
Dark straw. Clean, sweet dark fruits. Shy palate. Nice depth & spice on the finish. Yeah!
Of the 3 Midleton brands, Jameson, Paddy & Powers, Powers has always been my favourite. This blind tasting only appears to confirm this with the latest UK Distiller’s Cut edition.
Iveagh – Kirker & Greer, 10 Year Old Single Grain, 43%
Golden brown. Expressive. Wine cask influence? Warm, inviting. Soft finish. Spice on rear. Interesting.
Kirker & Greer are a Belfast based independent bottling company revitalising an old tradition. An easy going single grain offering.
Donard – Bushmills American Cask Finish, 40%
Dark straw. Mild, mellow & sweet. Smooth easy palate. Touch of spice on rear. Grand.
I’d have to congratulate Bushmills on releasing some new bottles to market & updating their core range labels – even if I found this one rather ‘pedestrian’.
Oriel – Bushmills Caribbean Rum Cask Finish, 40%
Dark straw. Cookie dough. Slightly muddy. Smooth, mellow & soft. Short finish. Not exciting.
Sadly this one just wasn’t for me.
Thoughts
I had an entertaining evening picking out the flavours from this quintet of whiskey.
There was a clear winner – as well as loser – on my palate with the middle 3 being somewhat closer in experience.
In terms of trends my palate appears to favour the spicey side of things – usually non chill filtered & natural colour helps too. Which partly explains the poor showing of Bushmills here.
The tasting also shows no division regarding sourced or distillery product in enjoyment of the whiskey.
The tasting is what it’s all about at Whiskey Nut.
Nestled a stones throw from the picturesque harbour of Donaghadee sits Copeland Distillery.
Pretty Harbour, Pretty Distillery!
Part of a growing resurgence in spirits distilling popping up all over Ireland, Copeland don’t restrict themselves to whiskey – exploration of gin & rum is also ongoing.
Using rum from Barbados along with some distilled in Donaghadee itself – Copeland have released this very attractively presented Overproof Rum.
Now Barbadian Rums tend to display a rather sweet tooth on my palate – but I did notice the long fermentation time used. This generally boosts the richness of the flavours.
Information
I was also intrigued by the French Pinot Noir barrel ageing – along with the Overproof strength!
Despite not being able to purchase at the actual distillery when I visited – a local off-licence satisfied my curiosity.
There is a sweetness to the nose – but it’s augmented by a richness of depth & a welcoming hint of soft fruity funk.
Very enticing!
Initially smooth & mouth coating – the intensity of the high ABV gradually kicks in with a melange of prickly heat & bold flavours in an entertaining explosion!
The rich dark juicy fruitiness is complemented by a dry oaky spice – all pleasingly topped off by a decent & well balanced frisson of funk!
Powerful & bold – yet packed full of flavour – Copeland Overproof Rum is certainly worth exploring!
Copeland Distillery are one of a growing collection of new Irish Whiskey Distilleries making inroads to market.
Copeland Whiskey c/othewhiskeynut
Despite having laid down their own stocks – they have yet to mature – Copeland have taken the route of releasing a sourced blend to build awareness of the brand, gain valuable practice & knowledge regarding marketing, packaging, blending as well as cultivating relationships.
I think it’s a commendable exercise – especially when I get the opportunity to try out a sample bottle!
Story time c/othewhiskeynut
The presentation is very attractive.
The story plays up the rich maritime history of Copeland Distillery’s home town of Donaghadee in Northern Ireland – which I’m immediately drawn to having been a seafarer in the past.
But it all comes down to the liquid – so a sample was poured.
Copeland in a Tuath c/othewhiskeynut
The nose is rich & inviting. A satisfying display of depth coupled with an attractive bite & hints of wood.
Silky & smooth on the palate. Waves of flavour ebb & flow on a gentle tide.
A delightful spiciness opens up on the finish with succulent fruit juiciness fading to a dry tingling.
As I sit tasting a whiskey, relishing it’s flavours & relaxing in the warmth of the brown spirit – my mind often wanders to the stories contained within the glass.
You could say it’s the ‘Message in a Bottle’ that often excites me.
Coleraine Distillery used to produce first class whiskey. Opened in the early 1800’s – Coleraine made triple distilled malts of distinction before struggling during the two world wars eventually coming under the ownership of nearby neighbour Bushmills. It was converted to a grain distillery in it’s latter years before falling victim to Irish Distillers rationalising plans in the 1970’s when grain production was moved to the New Midleton Distillery & Coleraine closed for good.
This is the Message in a Bottle.
So I took a sip.
Comes with an E & House of Commons logo c/othewhiskeynut
The current incarnation of Coleraine is a budget priced blend trading off it’s past glory. The nose has that e150 caramel characteristic of an entry blend – the taste is rather muted but approachable – the finish is slightly harsh but not unwelcoming – overall no strong flavours, no surprises, but for the price point – it’s grand.
This is the Message in a Bottle.
So I took another sip.
There is no distillery by the name of Coleraine anymore. c/othewhiskeynut
Brexit – for those that don’t know – is the name given to the process by which Britain will leave the European Union after the historic vote in 2016.
Northern Ireland is part of Britain – along with Scotland, England and Wales.
Depending on how the talks go – Northern Ireland will be out of the European Union (EU) by 2019.
As ‘Irish Whiskey’ is an EU definition – Regulation 110/2008 – I’d argue that definition no longer applies post Brexit. I cannot see how a non EU country will be allowed to label itself the same as an EU country.
This is the Message in a Bottle.
So I took another sip.
Neck detail c/othewhiskeynut
Now initially this means whiskey collectors will have a field day. Just think – all the whiskey producers in Northern Ireland will no longer be able to label their produce as ‘Irish Whiskey’.
To the best of my knowledge they are all engaged in making, planning or building a whiskey distillery. After 2019 they will all be out of the EU – and if you click on the names you will be guided to their websites.
Do you think the 27 remaining member states will allow a non-member state to trade under an EU registered label?
I think you will get a resounding non, nein, nie, ne ………… and so on.
This is the Message in a Bottle.
So I continued to sip and ponder.
Post Brexit is Bushmills non-Irish? c/othewhiskeynut
But it gets more complicated.
There is no grain distillery in Northern Ireland.
At one fell swoop all blends produced there will now become whiskey made in an EU country – Ireland – as well as a non EU country – Northern Ireland.
That will go down well with the Brussels bureaucrats!
It was beginning to wreck my head too!
This is the Message in a Bottle.
I needed another sip at this stage.
Ring ring, Brexit calling! c/othewhiskeynut
But wait a minute. Doesn’t Bushmills export some of it’s liquid South for other bottlers & blenders to use?
Won’t that be subject to import taxes & customs control?
Won’t the resultant whiskey become a non EU product or a hybrid whiskey at least?
This is the Message in a Bottle.
And it was all getting a bit too much for me – and another song popped into my head.
WestmeathWhiskeyWorld 