Glendalough Irish Pot Still - Irish Oak
The Basics:
Glendalough Distillery
86 proof - NCF
NAS - 4 Total Years Maturation
Tree #8A, Cask #2, Batch 1
$60 MSRP
Nose:
Black Tea, lemon curd, raspberry, and vanilla.
Palate:
Cocoa, smoked pecans, vanilla, dark honey, honeydew melon, red delicious apples, and black pepper.
Finish:
Medium finish with lemon peel, chocolate toasted hazelnuts, leather, and brine.
Final Thoughts:
This latest release from Glendalough Distillery is matured in ex-bourbon barrels before being finished in Irish Oak casks, which, for those who are unfamiliar, is a very big deal! In fact, it is such a big deal that each bottle tells you which specific 130 year-old oak tree the staves came from (mine was tree #8A). The nose begins with a strong black tea and lemon curd before turning into rich cocoa, honey, and smoked pecans on the palate. The whiskey rounds out on the finish with a nice leather and brine note that leaves you wanting another sip to start the journey over again. While the whiskey certainly has a great back-story, it also holds up in tasting to make this a very enjoyable pour. For any Irish whiskey fan, or someone looking to get into another whiskey category, this is an excellent bottle to grab.