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.