Origin: Cork (Ireland)
Type: Irish Single Malt Whiskey
Gradation: 43%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Bourbon First Fill, finished in virgin oak barrels
Chillfiltered: No
Additional coloring: No
Owner: West Cork Distillers
Average price: € 27.00
Official website: www.westcorkdistillers.com
Vote: 82/100
Another bottling of the Irish distillery in Cork, parte of the series that differs for the finishing.
These are the first whiskies produced on site, which follow bottling with declared ageing but made with distillates from external sources.
There’s not much information about these bottles, all from first-filled ex-Bourbon barrels, in this case finished for an unspecified time in U.S. virgin barrels.
Tasting notes
Light gold in the glass.
The influence of virgin barrels is clear on the nose, with the freshness of freshly cut wood along with intense aromas of walnut and pistachio that vibrate on vanilla, sponge cake, orzata. Resin. Very forested.
Initially peppery in the mouth on a silky texture, the presence of wood is less obvious than you expect, letting emerge the main ageing component in the shades of vanilla, yellow fruit (peach, apple), dried fruits, an impression of mandarins. Slightly balsamic background notes. Fresh and pleasant.
Not very long and peppery finish with wood, citrus, pistachio, vanilla.
If you don’t like the scent of wood in whisky, you should keep it very far away! Personally, I appreciate its freshness and simplicity, the wood is abundant but it is held to the limits of excess, with some not insignificant personality notes.
It certainly offers a different and original experience than many bottles in the same price range.
Reviews of West Cork whiskey in the blog
Other perspectives:
Irish Drams