The attractiveness of their dumpy bottles complete with horned stoppers was heightened by the quality of the tasty liquid inside.
This trio of whiskey was recently sampled in the fabulous Dead Centre Brewing in Athlone.
Elegance Single Malt, 46%
Elegance by name – elegant by drinking experience.
Enjoying this classic ex-bourbon cask only matured whiskey. Provided a richness on the palate followed by a frisson of spice on the rear topped off with a gentle kick.
Nice!
Triple Wood Single Malt, 46%
Rich, sweet sherry bomb of a blend.
Triple Wood displayed a smoother, sweeter palate marrying together a combination of ex-bourbon, sherry & red wine casks in juicy fruitiness.
Sweet!
Diamond 10 Year Old Blend, 46%
A rich vanilla & caramel nose captivated me.
The sumptuousness of this whiskey was balanced by an appealing woody spiciness which added an element of prickliness on the finish.
Lovely!
Thoughts
All of these divergent whiskeys impressed with clean, clear flavours.
Despite the grandness of Diamond, I was drawn to the simple pleasures of a well presented standard ex-bourbon matured single malt in Elegance.
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?
Stripped of any clues as to what’s before you it heightens your senses to the tastes & flavours experienced on drinking the liquid.
Presented before me were 6 samples. I duly poured them into 6 identical Túath glasses & proceeded to savour the contents.
For some reason I thought this was a rum tasting – & quickly revised this theory as No 1‘despite having a bit of a sour nose the lack of body on the palate & high ABV kick signalled to me a poitín! Can’t say it did much for me. Nice experience – but not an approachable spirit’.
There was no No 2 so No 3‘proved intriguing. The pale yellow colour, soft fruity nose, easy palate with slight hints of burnt notes on the rear drew me in. I could drink this one again!’.
With No 4 ‘I experienced a slightly musty nose, indicative of long ageing, perfectly fine palate yet lacked a bit of body & very dry on the rear. Rather nonplussed by this one’.
No 5‘had a sherry like influence, smooth & silky on the palate with a nice touch of dryness on the rear. Could be a low ppm peater? Not quite enough to excite me if it is’.
No 6‘initially blew me away! Suggestive of high ABV. On a 2nd tasting it still didn’t entice me’.
No 7 ‘kinda hooked me, if only for a more pronounced smoky influence. Elegant yet challenging all at the same time’.
So that was it! My initial thoughts are in italics.
Given that Smögen is a bit of a unicorn bottle – hard to get hold of, pricey & limited edition – as are some of the other bottles – I think Dunville’s 1808 performed extremely well on my palate.
I took away a few themes from this tasting. High ABV can blow away the flavours for me & make for a challenging drinking experience. Sherry cask influence isn’t my style of choice & when it comes to enjoyable, affordable drinking – you can’t beat a good blend!
What would your palate have chosen?
Sláinte
Many thanks to fellow Whiskey Blogger S for the blind samples & bottle photo.
The rise of Irish Whiskey continues at an unprecedented pace & anything that gets you noticed in an ever increasing marketplace is a bonus.
May Lóag Irish Whiskey’s attractively designed bottles crowned with distinctive ‘Bull Horns’ evoking tales of Táin Bó Cúailnge – Cattle Raid Of Cooley – certainly stand out from the crowd.
The publicity is slick, contemporary, very active on social media & appears to target a demographic & culture of bling that wouldn’t include myself.
That’s Jatt Life.
Jatt Life info
There’s little information on the bottle – but tasting & enjoying the contents is my motivation.
That’s Jatt Life.
A lovely rich nose redolent of succulent dark fruits complemented by hints of woody oak.
The mouthfeel is deep & luxurious.
More woody spice comes through leaving a dry tingling on the long finish.
That’s Jatt Life.
Often virgin oak maturation can be quite aggressive – but additional finishing with sherry oak has introduced a wonderful luscious rich fruity interplay.
That’s Jatt Life.
Enjoying Jatt Life
A very engaging & characterful blend.
Congratulations to Jatt Life – expanding the Irish Whiskey category.
Despite my own personal preferences, sherry finished whiskey remains the category of choice for sales & any new brand – like Barr an Uicse from Wicklow – usually have an offering in this style.
An opportune sample at my local O’Briens displayed a fresh & vibrant grainy nose overlaid with deeper, darker notes of sweet plums from the sherry influence.
WestmeathWhiskeyWorld 