Hell-Cat Maggie Irish Whiskey

How do you follow up a review of Highland Park 18? You don't. You don't even attempt it. So I'm navigating the Straits of Moyle, crossing the Irish Sea, and coming ashore in County Louth, Ireland. That's the origin of this unusual spirit - an Irish whiskey imported to the US and bottled in Princeton, Minnesota.... Hell-Cat Maggie Irish Whiskey. Naturally, a name like Hell-Cat Maggie isn't chosen randomly. This formidable historical woman was a famous member of the Irish-American street gang, "The Dead Rabbits," active in the Five Points neighborhood of Manhattan in the 1840s. She supposedly earned her violent nickname by sharpening her teeth to points and using brass claws in combat against other New York street gangs, particularly the anti-immigrant Bowery Boys. She passed away at the age of 25. So, how does the whiskey named after her perform? I suppose similarly, considering not much is known about it. It's apparently a mix of unmalted and malted pot still whiskies aged for a minimum of 3 years and first appeared in March 2015. What am I getting myself into? Nose: Young grain and malt. Check this spirit's birth certificate; I'm not convinced it's reached 3 years old. Notes of green apple caramel candies emerge through bitter wood and sweet ethanol. If something can smell vibrant, this is sharply so. Palate: Metallic green apples. Some bitter astringency and more wood than I anticipated given its youth. Subsequent tastes reveal more sweetness and a bready character. It's thin and light-bodied. There's definitely some grainy funk present. Finish: Short and intense. Not unlike the whiskey's namesake. Bready malt. The heat and bitter solvent notes linger a bit too long. Fortunately, it's only bottled at 40% ABV. My thoughts? I survived my encounter with Hell-Cat Maggie. I'll have to try it on the rocks and/or experiment with some ginger beer (Irish Mule) or vermouth (Emerald) to finish the bottle. I can't really recommend it neat, except perhaps for the marketing novelty. It was still interesting to try, though (and kudos to the creators for featuring a woman on the label). 2.5 ~ 71 ~ Below Average

APPEARANCE/ Warm, Rich, Dark Reddish Yellow Caramel SCENT/ Caramel, Nutty, Faint Sweetness FIRST TASTE/ Mild Alcohol, Caramel Nougat, Sweetness, Faint Corn FLAVOR/ Alcohol, Light, Nutty Sweetness, Caramel AFTERTASTE/ Smooth, Sweet, Fading Alcohol Burn, Sweet Burnt Sugar DRINKING VESSEL/ Caramel, Sweetness, Delicious 80 proof For the price, my friends, this is a fantastic and delightful discovery! While the reputation of a fierce fighter might be known, Hell-Cat Maggie Irish Whiskey is wonderful and uniquely full-bodied, making you want more. Remember, this stupendous, delicious price is for a remarkable spirit! Enjoy this famously tasty blended Irish whiskey with appropriate caution and respect! CHEERS:-) ADDENDUM Its excellent price and the surprising quality of its taste deliver a powerful combination! Drink responsibly! CHEERS

Nose: orange, lemon, starfruit, guava, butter biscuit, and butterscotch. Fuji apples with a light dusting of cinnamon. A slight grassy/hay mustiness. Vanilla, lemon sorbet. Taste: very watery with caramel and a toffee aftertaste. heavy oak at the start. maybe some light fruit notes too. Very disappointed because the nose was so promising, but it tastes like you diluted Jameson to 20% ABV. Perhaps good for mixing, I guess. Also, never add water; it makes it taste like a soapy banana.

Take note that this is a BLEND, not a single pot still as indicated. Nose: leather, vanilla, a hint of orange peel. Palate: watery, vanilla, citrus with a touch of honey. The finish is pleasant but disappears rapidly. Diluting it significantly diminishes the aroma and dulls the flavor while adding some spice to the finish. Overall: a good value for its price point, but not exceptional.

Smells of toast, ethanol, honey, toffee, grain, and a hint of lemon, but it's quite faint. It's sweet and thin on the tongue, with orange, sugar, caramel, ethanol, and a bit of burnt toast. The finish is short and sweet. Not much going on, but that's expected. Acceptable for a party, but that's all.

Less sweet than Jameson, offering a typical Irish whiskey character. It's a pleasant and enjoyable drink overall, representing great value for less than $20. Edit: The label does not state "Single Pot Still." Information indicates it's a mix of Irish corn and malt whiskies, thus it should be labeled "Blended Whiskey."