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Posts Tagged ‘Irish Whiskey’

Review: Writers Tears Copper Pot Irish Whiskey

Posted by Arctic Wolf on July 7, 2017

Bernard and Rosemary Walsh began producing their own independent Irish Whiskey brands in 2007 with the introduction of The Irishman 70 (aka The Irishman Original Clan in the USA) and The Irishman – Single Malt. In 2009 they expanded the portfolio with the introduction Writers Tears, a boutique brand which was created to bring additional nuance to the Irish Whiskey Category. Although these brands are distilled and aged by a third-party distillery, Bernard and Rosemary recently opened the Walsh Whiskey Distillery and began to produce their own new-make spirit in 2016.

The subject of this review, Writers Tears Copper Pot Irish Whisky, This Whiskey is a vatting of Single Malt and Single Pot Still whiskeys (60% Pot Still and 40% Single Malt), triple-distilled, and aged in American Oak ex-bourbon casks.

Here is a link to my full Review:

Review: Writers Tears Copper Pot Irish Whiskey

“… I really like the nose which seems very well-balanced with just the right amounts of spice and sweetness. Although the oak and barley-like scents dominate, they do not smother the lighter nuances which continue to wind their way into the breezes above the glass …”

Please enjoy my review which concludes with my latest mixed drink creation, the Munster Cocktail.

Chimo!

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Review: The Irishman Founder’s Reserve

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 28, 2017

Bernard and Rosemary Walsh began producing their own independent Irish Whiskey brands in 2007 with the introduction of The Irishman 70 (aka The Irishman Original Clan in the USA) and The Irishman – Single Malt. In 2009 they expanded the portfolio with the introduction Writers Tears, a boutique brand which was created to bring additional nuance to the Irish Whiskey Category. Although these brands are distilled and aged by a third-party distillery, Bernard and Rosemary recently opened the Walsh Whiskey Distillery and began to produce their own new-make spirit in 2016.

The subject of this review is Walsh Whiskey’s flagship brand The Irishman Founder’s Reserve. This is a direct descendant of The Irishman 70, made to the same recipe of 70 % Single Malt Irish Whiskey and 30 % Single Pot Still Whiskey (with no column distilled whiskey in the blend at all).

Here is the link to my full Review:

Review: The Irishman Founder’s Reserve

“… The immediate nose brings a nice combination of fine oak and grain spices forward with hints of ginger and orange peel in the breezes. This is quickly followed by nutty barley grain with aromas of hazelnut, almond, burlap and leather. A light sweep of vanilla with hints of baking spice (cinnamon and nutmeg) works its way into the air above the glass as do light impression of poplar and willow …”

I hope you enjoy the review, please stay tuned as next week I will take a look at the Writer’s Tears Copper Pot Irish Whiskey.

Chimo!

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Review: Writers Tears Red Head Single Malt Whiskey

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 16, 2017

Bernard and Rosemary Walsh began producing their own independent Irish Whiskey brands in 2007 with the introduction of The Irishman 70 (aka The Irishman Original Clan in the USA) and The Irishman – Single Malt. In 2009 they expanded the portfolio with the introduction Writers Tears, a boutique brand which was created to bring additional nuance to the Irish Whiskey Category. Although these brands are distilled and aged by a third-party distillery, Bernard and Rosemary recently opened the Walsh Whiskey Distillery and began to produce their own new-make spirit in 2016.

The subject of this review, Writers Tears Red Head Single Malt Irish Whisky, is a triple-distilled spirit matured in Spanish butts which were previously seasoned with Olorosso sherry. The Sherry butts impart both flavour and a coppery orange hue which has given rise to the name of the Whiskey, ‘Red Head’.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Writers Tears Red Head Single Malt Irish Whiskey

“… I gave the glass about ten minutes to breathe and the fine oak spices did not relent although I should note that there was also an accompanying sweetness of caramel and malt which promised to balance the dram. The different scents and smells melded together creating an impression of an oak and raisin syrup which was most delightful …”

Please enjoy my review Writer’s Tears Red Head Irish Single Malt Whiskey (released in Ontario this past Saturday through Vintages).

Chimo!

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Review: Hell-Cat Maggie Irish Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 10, 2017

Hell-Cat Maggie Irish Whiskey is produced and bottled by Ed Phillips and Sons located in Princeton, Minnesota. Examining the label, I determine that this Irish Whiskey is produced at the Cooley Distillery in Louth, Ireland. It is apparently distilled three times from a mash of un-malted and malted barley and aged for at least three years. The company’s website does not reveal a great deal more about the whisky. All I could find was this statement which spoke to the brand name and the copper pot distillation:

Hell-Cat Maggie was a member of the notorious Dead Rabbits gang that roamed the Five Points area of Manhattan in the 1840s. A feared streetfighter, Maggie wore razor sharp brass talons on her fingers and filed her teeth into points. Hell-Cat Maggie is an exceptionally smooth whiskey that is distilled in Ireland using the traditional single copper pot still method.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Hell-Cat Maggie Irish Whisky

“… A light astringency rises from the glass which seems to be associated with both alcohol and fine oak spice. Nutty barley aromas are at the forefront of the breezes. They combine with fine wood spice, impressions of willow and poplar bark, and some lightly sweet butterscotch. Cigarette tobacco, almond and very light vanillans round out the aroma …”

I hope you enjoy this review which kicks off a short series of Irish Whiskey postings.

Chimo!

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Cocktail Hour: The Emerald

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 4, 2017

For the next few weeks I will be mixing and tasting Whiskey from the Emerald Isle. The spirit from Ireland has been making a strong comeback as evidenced by a surge in sales worldwide including a 20% increase in sales in the United States last year (see: The Spirits Business).

In an effort to reflect this increased popularity, I am attempting to increase both in the number of reviews I publish, and in the selection of cocktail suggestions that I provide for Irish Whiskey.

With that in mind, here is a mixed drink that combines Irish Whiskey with Sweet Vermouth and Bitters. The libation is called the Emerald, and it is a close relative of the popular North American cocktail, the Manhattan. It is important, when mixing an Emerald, to consider the pairing of Sweet Vermouth and Irish Whisky as each spirit has a multitude of brands, and the flavour profiles of each can differ significantly. As I happen to be mixing with a flavourful copper pot distilled Irish Whiskey, I chose the bold Cinzano Rosso which also has a complex flavour profile, one which I felt would pair well with my chosen Irish Whiskey, Hell-Cat Maggie.

The Emerald

1 1/2 oz Hell-Cat Maggie Irish Whiskey
3/4 oz Cinzano Rosso Sweet Vermouth
3-4 drops Angostura Orange Bitters
Ice
Orange Peel & Brandied Cherries

Add the three ingredients with ice cubes into a metal shaker
Shake until chilled
Double strain into a Martini Glass
Garnish with a strip of Orange Peel and a few Brandied Cherries

Enjoy Responsibly!

If  you are interested in more of my original cocktail recipes, please click this link (Cocktails and Recipes) for more of my mixed drink recipes!

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Note: My new review for Hell-Cat Maggie Irish Whiskey will publish this coming Saturday.

Chimo!

 

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