Ireland | Page 2 | NYC Whiskey Review

Redbreast – Lustau Edition

March 2, 2023 Ireland

Name: Redbreast Lustau Edition

Color: Gold brown

Nose: Orange, almonds, sweetness

Taste: Fruits, honey, sherry finish

Redbreast Lustau Edition is from the Midleton Distillery in Cork, Ireland and was released from the “Jameson Clan” in 2016. I say the Jameson Clan because Redbreast is produced by and tastes a lot like Jameson whiskey.

The Lustau Edition is a non-aged stated whiskey that spends around 9-12 years in American and European Oak casks and is finished in Oloroso sherry butts. In my opinion the Redbreast 12 and 15 year-olds have that Jameson flavor in the taste profile. If you are not aware, I would rather drink piss than Jameson Whiskey. However, to my relief, I could not taste the Jameson or “J-Bo” as it is called by the millennials in my office. Lustau is sweeter due to the sherry finish and has a good taste and a nice balance. I think if I had sampled a larger dram I would eventually noticed the flavor of Jameson and ended up not enjoying it. I almost bought a bottle for my bar this summer but I chose not to because of this concern.

The name “Lustau” comes from the Lustau Sherry Company in Spain where Midleton purchases the casks. “Butts” are a type of wooden cask (barrel) and are mainly used in sherry maturation. They are longer and slender than regular casks and are made from European Oak. A butt holds approximately 130 US gallons. Many distilleries buy these used sherry butts to mature their whiskey to obtain the sherry flavor in the whiskey profile.

Butt Cask:

Price around $80 it’s a bit pricey but worth it if you like Red Breast or a sweeter whiskey.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

West Cork 12-Year-Old Sherry Cask

December 2, 2022 Ireland

Name: West Cork 12-Year-Old Sherry Cask

Color: Gold

Nose: Malt, honey, vanilla, flowers

Taste: Malt, honey, vanilla sherry, dried fruit, cream

23 Days until Christmas! Do you have your bottles ready for the Holiday Season?!

The West Cork Distillery was founded in 2003 in Skibbereen, Ireland. The whiskey is 100% malted barley, aged 12 years in first fill bourbon casks, finished in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, and bottled at 43% abv. I have seen this whiskey on social media and in a few bars, but I had not sampled it until dropped by the Dead Rabbit in NYC for a dram. I was planning to sample a Jameson expression, but they were having supply chain issues so West Cork was the next choice.

I was pleasantly surprised by the flavor profile of West Cork 12 Sherry Cask. The balance is good and smooth for an Irish Whiskey. It has a Jameson/Glenlivet type body but a far better flavor profile. As I mentioned every March in my reviews, I am not a big fan of Irish Whiskey due to the cream finish. It’s not a bad thing, just not my preferred flavor profile. I have met Irishmen who cannot enjoy Scotch and Scotsmen who cannot drink bourbon. It is all a matter of opinion, and I don’t think St. Patrick really cares.

Other expressions available are: Black Cask, Single Malt, Cask Strength, Peated Charred Cask, Bog Oak Charred Cask, IPA Cask, Stout Cask, Rum Cask, Calvados Cask, Virgin Oak Cask, and Port Cask.

Priced around $65 (or $18 a glass) and very nice stuff. I look forward more in the future.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Jameson Crested

March 17, 2022 Ireland

Name: Jameson Crested

Color: Light Yellow

Nose: Malt, citrus, flowers, sherry

Taste: Malt, citrus, flowers, light cream

Jameson Crested Whiskey is one of many expressions from the New Midleton Distillery in Dublin, Ireland. This expression was originally titled “Crested Ten” but Jameson decided to drop the “Ten” from the title. I am going to guess it had to do with it being a non-age stated whiskey. The actual age of this whiskey is 3+ years which is pretty much the minimum. It is bottled at 40% abv and aged in ex-bourbon and sherry cask.

Crested has a nice pot still malt flavor, good sherry notes, and is well balanced. It is smooth to drink neat, would do well on the rocks, or in an Irish Coffee. I am not a fan of Jameson expressions or most of New Midleton’s rename cousins in more expensive bottles, but this one is good. As of this review it is the best of all Jameson labeled whiskey I have sampled. I might buy a bottle if I had to go a party in Southie (Irish section of Boston). Hell’s Kitchen (former Irish section of NYC) is now all hipster millennial snowflakes so they can go drink flavored Vodka.

Priced around $45 and good stuff for a Jameson label.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Slane Irish Whiskey

March 9, 2022 Ireland

Name: Slane Irish Whiskey

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Malt, oak, vanilla cream, flowers

Taste: Malt, oak, vanilla cream, flowers

This is going to be short, never a good sign on NYC Whiskey Review.

Slane Irish Whiskey is sourced, blended, bottled at 40% abv, and aged in triple casks. On the bottle these casks are listed as virgin, seasoned, and sherry. From my research the barrels may be Bushmills, Jack Daniels, and Forester Bourbon. I am not able to confirm if this accurate and the marketing of the casks names does not really align with these other distilleries.

This whiskey did not impress me, nor did it get better with a couple of drops of water. It is very cheap tasting and has an odd finish.

Priced around $30 and is slugging whiskey and not worth the money.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Paddy’s Old Irish Whiskey

March 31, 2021 Ireland

Name: Paddy’s Old Irish Whiskey

Color: Light Yellow

Nose: Malt, cream, honey citrus, flowers

Taste: Malted blend, honey, white fruit, light pepper

Review:

Paddy’s Old Irish Whiskey is produced by the Midleton Distillery which is the largest distillery in Ireland and produces many whiskeys such as Jameson, Midleton, Powers, Redbreast, and Yellow/Green/Blue/Red Spot (aka “the Spots”).

The name “Paddy” in Irish means “Patrick” but is also a derogatory term for the Irish. In my hometown of Boston, the “Paddy Wagon” is your worst nightmare after a night out drinking or leaving a Patriots game. The name originated from the cops rounding up drunk Irishmen to clear the streets back in the day, hence the name.

Paddy’s is a malted blend, triple distilled, aged for up to 7 years in oak casks, and bottled at 40% abv. The body and cost per bottle are similar to Bushmills Original or Famous Grouse for light flavor profile and cost per bottle. There is not much, if any, of a cream finish that many Irish whiskeys tend to have. This one is just a simple slugging whiskey.

Priced around $25 and a summer slugging whiskey on the rocks or a budget bottle for a party.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Jameson – Black Barrel

March 18, 2021 Ireland

Name: Jameson – Black Barrel

Color: Copper

Nose: Jameson, white fruit, flowers, citrus (lemon)

Taste: Jameson, nuts, caramel

Review:

Jameson Black Barrel is an expression from Jameson that is the best whiskey I have tasted so far from the Jameson Distillery. I found it better than the IPA and the Stout Editions and gives Red Breast a run for its money. Black Barrel is bottled at 40% abv and has a higher amount of single pot still aged whisky in it. It is also aged in double charred first fill bourbon cask, hence the name “Black Barrel” due to the char level.

At first try the taste is same as the nose. On the second sip you get the caramel finish and a good balance of flavors. The balance is well crafted and you can sip this one neat. It is not the best Irish Whiskey I have ever had but it is good for its price point.

As I have mentioned in the past, I am not a big fan of Jameson whiskey. The flavor profile and the baseline taste are just not my thing. I do shit on them a lot, but it really drives me crazy is when people get excited for basic Jameson. It is like the low-quality whiskey produced by Jim Bean, John Walker, Dewar’s, Four Roses, etc. All major distilleries has the bottom barrel crap whiskey to “keep the lights on” as the expression goes. Black Barrel is surprisingly good stuff. I might put it on my bar to have one Irish bottle on the ready for friends and family that come over for a drink

Priced around $60 and the best of the Jameson expression line I have tried for the month of St. Patrick’s Day.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Knockmore Irish Whiskey

March 25, 2020 Ireland

Name: Knockmore Irish Whiskey (Batch 14)

Color: Light Yellow

Nose: Malt, grass, fruits

Taste: Malt, cream, vanilla, coconut, light oak

Review:

I am going to close out this months Irish Whiskey review with the opposite of a BANG. I like to keep it real and review everything that I can taste regardless of quality or status.

Knockmore Irish Whiskey Batch #14 is a non-aged started whiskey aged in ex-bourbon casks and bottled at 80 proof. Blend of aged single malts around 8-10 years but does not smell or taste like that length of time. Batch 14 is the title, but I don’t think it matters.

It has been created by Southwest Spirits and Wine (from Texas) due to a merge between Southwest Distillery and Prairie Creek Beverages. Knockmore won a award in 2017. I wonder what major spirit company was sponsoring an award show….hint hint.

Hard to nose, and has a light cream taste and noncomplex taste profile.

Price around $35 and tastes like dog shit with water. and I got to taste it for free. I would not buy a bottle.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Temple Bar Irish Whiskey

March 19, 2020 Ireland

Name: Temple Bar Irish Whiskey

Color: Yellow

Nose: Honey, spices, flower, red fruits

Taste: Vanilla, fruits, sweet cream

Review:

Temple Bar Irish Whiskey is an Irish whiskey named after a historic pub in Dublin, Ireland with the same name. The pub was founded in 1840 and the whiskey comes from the Cooley Distillery which is located in Ireland. Cooley produces a few other whiskeys which are the following; Kilbeggan, Greenore, Connemara, The Tyconnell, and 2 Gingers.

Temple Bar Irish Whiskey is a triple distilled, 100% malted barley (single malt), and is aged in ex-bourbon and port casks. I discovered this bottled because my sister used to be in liquor sales and left a bottle in my mother’s home for me. It should be noted; I usually need it on my trips (stress relief).

The Temple Bar having their own line of whiskey is “cool” but nothing new. Many individuals and businesses have their own brand of whiskey that is named after their bar, business, or ego. A few examples include; Dead Rabbit (NYC Bar), Kirkland (Costco), Total Wine (Grangestone), Proper 12 (Conner MacGregor), and Blackened (Metallica).

Price around $50-65 and ok for a drink on the rocks. Not bad, not good. You be the judge.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Redbreast – Lustau Edition

West Cork 12-Year-Old Sherry Cask

Jameson Crested

Slane Irish Whiskey

Paddy’s Old Irish Whiskey

Jameson – Black Barrel

Knockmore Irish Whiskey

Temple Bar Irish Whiskey

Search:

Newsletter Subscription

Recent Posts

Categories