Origin: Limerick (Ireland)
Type: Blended Irish Whiskey
Strength: 46%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Bourbon and ex-Rum
Chillfiltered: No
Added colouring: No
Owner: The Sailor’s Home Company
Average price: € 60.00
Official website: www.sailorshomeirishwhiskey.com
Vote: 83/100
Built in Limerick in 1856, the Sailor’s Home was realized as a kind of refuge for travellers, who would find comfort and shelter for the night at the mouth of the River Shannon. In reality, the initial intentions were soon thwarted and the building was first used as accommodation for the military, then as a station for the municipal police, and finally as a venue for events such as exhibitions and plays, and is currently abandoned.
Reflecting the spirit of travellers and explorers, the bottler of the same name was born in 2019. Like many others in Ireland, it doesn’t produce its own whiskey but creates blends using third-party distillate, with the aim of building its own distillery (sooner or later).
At the helm is Jack O’Shea (often referred to as O’Sé), a sprightly septuagenarian with long experience in the world of distilled spirits, having worked for several distilleries and with an in-depth knowledge of both processing and yeast.
The labels of the four bottlings produced so far (The Haven, The Journey, The Horizon and the present one) bear a serpentine inscription (‘Welcomes searchers & seekers, explorers and adventurers’) as well as various symbols related to the world of the sea and exploration, including the stylised palace entrance, birds, an anchor, sailor ropes, a sextant, a diver’s helmet and, of course, the shamrock symbol of Ireland.
The latest product in their small portfolio, released at the end of 2021 in 2,300 bottles, Caravelle is a blended of grain and malt that has undergone an initial ageing in ex-Bourbon casks before being refined in Martinique ex-Rum agricole casks, for a minimum total of ten years, and takes its name not only from the homonymous vessels but also from Presqu’ile de la Caravelle, a nature reserve in Martinique.
Tasting notes
As expected, the rum influence is clearly evident on the nose, brown sugar and pineapple emerge pompously from the glass along with sulphurous and vegetal veins. A hint of nutmeg intrudes gradually softer and sweeter notes, with peach, banana, vanilla and caramel leading the redemption of the bourbon casks, achieving a good balance between the two souls. Slight alcoholic sting in the background.
On the palate the rum takes the proscenium and almost the whole stage, sugar cane and tropical notes take centre accompanied by molasses, pear, anise and liquorice root, always with a sulphurous background note. The softer, sweeter part makes an appearance, pushed to the back, and the dram becomes drier and tannic in length.
The finish is quite long and dry, vegetal, pineapple, pear, brown sugar, aniseed.
The nose promises a commendable, rich balance that it then fails to deliver in the mouth, where it gets in favour of the finishing that eats up all the distillate. The blended doesn’t perhaps show enough backbone to withstand the influences, which may nevertheless find favour among lovers of the genre.