Egan's Fortitude Single Malt

This sample, provided by the Celtic Whiskey Club, initially suggested Egan’s Fortitude single malt would be quite promising: ✅ Not chill-filtered ✅ 46% Alcohol by Volume ✅ Fully matured in Pedro Ximenez Sherry casks The initial aroma was pleasant, evoking Cadbury’s fruit & nut chocolate and Christmas mince pies. However, the palate felt hot and spirity, suggesting a young distillate, and the sherry maturation imparted a dry, musty, tannic character. The finish continued the hot and tannic profile, with prominent notes of pepper, strong tea, and nuts for me. Overall, it was rather unmemorable, leaning towards unpleasant. It possessed a harshness and youthfulness, and the full maturation in PX seemed a futile effort to smooth the edges rather than a deliberate method for achieving harmony or depth.

Nose: Sweet, with notes of honey, raisins, artificial chocolate powder, and marzipan. An unusual sulfurous, 'baby vomit' aroma. Palate: 'Hot' and sweet, with sherry, chocolate, and dried fruit. A sourness underlies the predominantly sweet sherry notes. Finish: A moderately short finish. Sweet, with cocoa and dried chocolate powder. Faint hints of smoke. This deviates from a typical Irish whiskey. It offers layers of fruit and cocoa from the PX cask, but it accentuates a rather raw spirit rather than masking it. It's quite rough and potent – a pub whiskey at best.

The aroma has some chocolate and oak. The taste includes a little chocolate, perhaps some spice/malt/woodiness, and a dark fruit flavor in between, possibly plum. The finish is a slightly sharp burn that lingers briefly. I'm not sure why this has such a low rating; I find it quite good. It's a bit different from other Irish whiskies I've sampled.

On the nose and palate, it's like a Chocolate Eclair. Unlike other Irish whiskeys I've had. A bit of splash tempers the heat, but it diminishes it rather than opening it up. An ice cube would be a good addition.

Add a little water and let it sit for a few minutes. It mellows out. From beginning to end, it's like chocolate mousse. A long lingering aftertaste. I've never had anything similar. That makes it more appealing.

Uncertain about this one. Intense sherry on the nose, but it doesn't resemble a high-quality PX cask. It's pleasant but slightly medicinal. Primarily detect dry sherry notes. Some chocolate is present, but it's not an exceptionally complex whiskey.