Origin: Carlow (Ireland)
Type: Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Strength: 46%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Sherry Oloroso
Chillfiltered: No
Added coloring: No
Owner: Walsh Whiskey
Average price: € 50.00
Official website: walshwhiskey.com
Vote: 83/100
After some time we return to Mr and Mrs Walsh with one of their two labels, Writers’ Tears, which in its basic version is a blended pot still.
Here, on the other hand, we have a single malt aged for an indefinite period of time in Spanish casks seasoned with Sherry, thus moving away from the Irish tradition, in the wake of the differentiation and research that the new wave of the green island has been accustoming us to for some time now.
Triple distillation for a whiskey coming from a third party (Bushmills, probably), first edition in 2016 while the one in my hands is the second bottled in October 2020.
The bottle itself deserves a note, with a ‘teardrop’ just below the neck and a nice sleek design, like all those on the label.
Tasting notes
The nose shows all its youthfulness with intense wood spices (nutmeg above all) and an acidic, vinous note imbued with a herbaceous soul on which marzipan, pear, plum, orange marmalade, lemon and a touch of anise are grafted. Sherry but not too much.
The body is quite light, with a discreet oiliness but not lacking in backbone, thanks also to a well-present alcohol content, with an initial peppery note that anticipates a palate where the influence of the fortified wine appears more clear-cut. Spices, sultanas, dried nuts, prunes, candied orange, dried apricot, marzipan and cereal, which remains centre stage and acts as a trait d’union to the dram. Notes of chocolate and tobacco on the length.
Quite long and spicy finish of wood, dried fruit, cereal, chocolate, tobacco.
A whiskey that plays on finesse, which with its (probably) young age and Sherry influence may seem like an oxymoron but it works. It doesn’t offer any particular depth or layering, and there’s no shortage of smears, but it does show how you can bring out the malt while using a potentially opaque cask. And that’s no small feat.
Reviews of whiskey from Walsh Whiskey in the blog:
The Irishman Cask Strength 2020
The Irishman Small Batch
Writers’ Tears Copper Pot