Clonakilty Whiskey...

Yes, yes, I know, I've already written about a whiskey this month (blog), but I was drinking in the Hastings Jolly Fisherman (blog) yesterday, and Oliver waved a not yet opened bottle in front of me, and tempted me to buy a glass of it. I'm easily tempted, no control! 😉 So there it was, distilled in County Cork by Clonakilty (website), their 46.0% Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, I'll have some of that, thank you very much! 

Clonakilty is quite a new distillery, set up in 2019, and they use only barley grown in Co Cork, the whiskey is triple distilled in copper pot stills, and matured in ex-Bourbon, Oloroso and Amontillado casks. This produces an aroma strongly teasing me with vanilla and hints of citrus and butterscotch, and tasting gently of vanilla with a hint of pear, orange and butterscotch, smooth, but you know the alcohol is there whilst drinking and as it goes down, good stuff, sláinte!

Christmas Whiskey, Oh Yes, Another One...

From the North of Ireland, Dunville's (website) Three Crowns (43.5%), a blended Irish Whiskey, with a second ageing in Oloroso Sherry casks. The original Three Crowns Whiskey had been discontinued in the 1930s after being around for 100 years, but the Echlinville Distillery acquired the Dunville name, and relaunched Three Crowns in 2016.

A deep golden colour and a sweet and slightly spicy aroma, with vanilla and fruit. To taste, it has a big full body with butterscotch commanding the hints of nutmeg, dried fruits and toffee. Very warming as it goes down, leaving a pleasant satisfying finish, slainte! 

November Whiskey of the Month

My November 'Whiskey of the Month' is The Sexton (40% - website). This triple distilled, in copper pot stills, single malt whiskey was created by Master Blender Alex Thomas at the Bushmills Distillery in Northern Ireland. It is aged for at least 4 years in Oloroso Sherry casks made from European oak, apparently grown in France. It is sold in unique octagonal bottles, and is the best selling Irish single malt whiskey in the USA, first being sold there 7 years ago, shortly afterwards in 2018 brought home and sold in Britain and Ireland. 

The Sexton is a pretty reasonably priced whiskey, with a deep golden colour. It has a spicy caramel aroma and is slightly sweet to taste, with subtle hints of cinnamon and butterscotch, the colour and flavours coming from the Spanish Oloroso Sherry seasoned casks used in the ageing process. Very smooth and luxurious, and so easy to drink, slainte! 👍