Slane Irish Whiskey

A complex, Blended Irish Whiskey from Slane Distillery in Boyne Valley, Ireland, matured & blended using Virgin American Oak, Aged Bourbon Oak & Spanish Oloroso Sherry Casks. It begins aromatically with notes of just-baked cinnamon rolls with a touch of orange zest, sweet wood, toasted barley, caramel & ginger; while a rich & bold development adds flavors of Victoria Sponge Cake with plenty of jam & cream in the center, plus a hint of butterscotch; concluding with a balanced, medium-length finish with notes of honey on burnt toast and a whisper of spices. October 2020 / July 2022

Triple casked in virgin oak, previously used bourbon, and used Olorosa sherry casks. The nose suggests "Irish," but the initial taste is "bourbon." Sweet, butterscotch, vanilla, caramel, ginger, spice. A bit of water brings out the oak and some burnt toast and pumpkin pie. Spice throughout with sherry notes on the finish. I suspect the bourbon barrels were only used once and the Devil got less than his share. There's likely a considerable amount of single grain corn in the mix too. A good value Irish whiskey.

The barley is very prominent here, giving it a scotch-like character. Reportedly, the distillery is situated within a castle, with the surrounding land used for farming where they cultivate their own barley. This certainly comes through in the whiskey. It pairs wonderfully with tortilla chips and homemade guacamole. If you're celebrating an Irish holiday and drink this shortly after a bit of Jameson's, you'll find this one has considerably more flavor and a bit more intensity. Cheers!

Vanilla and flaky croissant on the aroma. Floral scent with mild alcohol. Light body; floral vanilla, soft cereal, and maple notes on the palate. A flash of alcohol, oat, and grassy spice in a short finish. It's somewhat a singular floral Irish whiskey, mellow, light, easy to drink. Adding ice diminishes it further, bringing out more floral sweetness in the finish. Pleasant to sip, effortless. It could work well in a Whiskey Highball, similar to one made with Japanese whisky.

A quite ordinary whiskey. It's light, yet still drinkable. The aroma presents some floral notes alongside honey and apple. The taste is somewhat improved, featuring honey with a touch of apple and spice. The floral character is absent on the palate. I'm not particularly fond of Irish whiskey, so take this opinion with a grain of salt.

It's young and vibrant. Initially, expect typical Irish whiskey notes of buttery shortbread, followed by a wave of sweetness and fruit from the Sherry influence. The finish is lacking, but considering the cost, it's superior to average within the affordable Irish category.