Origin: Waterford (Ireland)
Type: Single Grain Irish Whiskey
Strength: 48%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Bourbon and ex-Rye
Chillfiltered: No
Added colouring: No
Owner: WD. O’Connell Whiskey Merchants
Average price: € 70.00
Official website: wdoconnell.com
Vote: 87/100
Although many of the new producers who have recently appeared on the Irish whiskey scene are in fact independent bottlers at least in their early years, very few explicitly declare themselves as such.
After a life spent travelling the world gathering experience in the food & beverage industry, Daithí O’Connell decided to return home in 2017 and, given the turmoil in the Irish whiskey scene, embarked on the business of independent bottler, an industry whose tradition has important historical roots in Ireland.
Based in Kilmacthomas, County Waterford, W.D. O’Connell collects new makes and matured spirits mainly from the various distilleries in Ireland to mature, finish and blend, all directly on site including bottling.
Some 20 bottlings created so far, with a single cask line (split between Ireland and Scotland), two themed ones with Bill Phil (peated single malts, born in 2019 and now in its fifth batch) and the Bourbon & Rye Series (single grain matured in ex-Bourbon and ex-Rye casks, born in spring 2021 and now in its fourth batch), and their first single pot still, released in late 2021 and immediately sold out.
One of the special features of this IB is transparency: the origin of the distillate is always stated on the label.
The latest in the Bourbon & Rye Series, made from Cooley’s distillate aged between ten and twelve years in ex-Bourbon first fill casks that is blended (not finished) with ex-Rye casks, also American, producing 838 bottles in natural colour and without chillfiltering.
Tasting notes
A nose with muted tones, where nutmeg and dill dance on tiptoe over a bed of vanilla, unripe cherry, Williams pear, seed oil and bark. Unusually gentle for a single grain, with cereal impressions appearing at length accompanied by a very faint note of acetone.
Black pepper, ginger and a hint of paprika join with nutmeg to introduce an oily, full palate, where nuts (macadamia, walnuts) and fresh fruit (pineapple, pear) are caressed by vanilla, candied lemon, mint and vegetal notes, with a pleasant alternation of sweet and bitter, very drinkable.
Quite long finish with mentholated touches on vanilla, nuts, cereals and resin.
I rarely get a single grain in the glass that gives me satisfaction, often finding them a bit two-dimensional, whereas this one offers good depth with some even surprising notes. Good job.