HYDE No. 8 Heritage Cask Stout Cask Finish

A bit of a struggle with this Hyde number five. Tonight's pour is Hyde No. 8 Heritage Cask Stout Cask Finish Irish Whisky. A peculiar blend of 75% grain whiskey from ex-Bourbon casks and 25% single malt from Oloroso sherry casks, all brought together in a stout barrel from Cotton Ball Brewing Co. for six months. Honestly, it sounds like a way to hide subpar spirit with strong cask character. Let's see. Nose: Light with a hint of raw spirit. Malty notes emerge with soft vanilla cream soda and a gentle coffee cake essence. With patience, a red berry note appears. Palate: Full and rounded. Pleasantly juicy, featuring custard cream biscuit, nutmeg and clove spice, rich raisin, and chocolatey coffee. Finish: Brief. Toasty butterscotch, stewed fruit, and dark chocolate bitterness. I'm pleasantly surprised. This is quite delicious with a good spectrum of delicate, cereal, sweet, and woody notes. The grain-forward aspect isn't as prominent as I expected; the sherry cask and stout seem to merge and harmonize effectively. A touch of brightness and citrus might elevate the overall deep, dark profile, but it's thoroughly enjoyable and offers great value for the price. A natural comparison is Jameson Cask Mates Stout Edition, which I rated 2.75/5. This Hyde stout provides a bit more intensity than the Jameson and a slightly darker character that, in my opinion, distinguishes it. Hyde cumulative scores No. 3 Aras Cask Bourbon: 2/5 No. 4 Rum Cask Finish: 1.75/5 No. 6 Presidents Reserve: 2.75/5 No. 7 Sherry Matured 1893: 3/5 No. 8 Heritage Stout Cask Finish: 3.5/5

A sophisticated Irish Whiskey from Hibernia Distillers in County Cork, Ireland. It's a triple-distilled blend of 75% grain and 25% malt Whiskey. The grain component was aged in ex-Bourbon casks for four years, while the malt spent the same duration in former Oloroso Sherry butts. The blend was then transferred for an additional 6 months to a cask that had been infused with Stout from the Cotton Ball micro-brewery. Only 5000 bottles were produced. It presents an aromatic beginning with hints of coffee, caramel, spices, and fruits; its rich and complex character adds notes of malt, milk chocolate, and caramel; culminating in a bold and creamy finish with notes of honey and stewed fruits. July 2020 / September 2022

Easy to drink, a little fruity, not spicy. A bit expensive for what it offers.

A standard Irish whisky. It's acceptable, but neither outstanding nor poor.