The Dead Rabbit Irish Whiskey

This is a 5-year-old sourced Irish whiskey, intended for a New York City whiskey bar called The Dead Rabbit. Thankfully, it's widely available and not exclusive to the establishment. Having never heard of the bar before it was suggested to me, this will be my initial impression. Nose: Vanilla, sugar cookie, and toffee. Apple, pear, and white grape, along with apricot. Sweetness like custard and vanilla frosting. Some nutty notes (walnut, cashew) and toasted oak. It's light but appealing. Palate: Caramel, vanilla, toffee, malt, and sugar cookie. Floral notes mingle with more apple (Granny Smith), pear, apricot, and white grape. Lots of brown sugar. Roasted cashew and oak. Finish: Caramel and brown sugar. Apple and pear. Vanilla and toffee. Roasted cashew and oak complemented by cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg, extending into a medium finish. This whiskey is quite interesting. Its youth is apparent, but it also offers a great deal. It reminded me of Jameson Gold, which makes sense, as I believe it's the only other Irish whiskey I've encountered aged in virgin oak. A sound concept, excellent value. I'd be willing to pay more to see this approach applied to a whiskey aged twice or thrice as long. For this version, it's good stuff, rating 3.5/5.

I hadn't heard of The Dead Rabbit Irish whiskey, but I was curious and decided to try it. I have to admit, the flavors are not what I anticipated. Upon the first taste, I noticed a well-balanced sweetness and spice. It was evident these flavors came from the whiskey's 5-year aging in bourbon barrels. The oak wood finish is definitely present, stemming from the Virgin American Oak it was finished in; those wood flavors are quite pronounced and come through nicely. There's a slight bite to the finish, though it's a bit dry, which isn't usually my preference. However, I've grown accustomed to it, and it provides a different aftertaste that I'm beginning to appreciate more.

Remarkable! A classic fruity character from Ireland is present, but I was surprised by its profound, deep sweetness. It has a flavor like toasted marshmallows that caresses the tongue very softly, accompanied by a bold barrel spice at the finish. The spice becomes more prominent with each sip, eventually dominating, yet the smooth, buttery sweetness persists. An exceptionally smooth finish, goes down easily, almost like water. For an Irish blend, this is difficult to surpass, particularly as a regular choice. Quick note: Adding a few drops of water is recommended. It truly enhances the fruity notes and slightly mellows the spice. Much improved, in my view.

Nose: honey, a subtle hint of buttery malt, nutty grain notes, some fruitiness, prominent oak barrel influence, a trace of the bourbon effect from barrel aging, vanilla and cherry notes reminiscent of bourbon. Palate: honey, light fruit, abundant oak, ample barrel spices, a slightly herbal note with a peppery conclusion. It's certainly a distinct take on Irish whisky. Not bad, but not quite what I anticipated. For individuals who enjoy bourbon but wish to broaden their whiskey horizons, this serves as a good entry point to something different.

A surprising Irish whiskey. The aroma has classic notes of honey and sugar cookie, with the added vanilla characteristic of bourbon. Upon tasting, the impact of charred oak is immediate and lingers, though sweetness emerges toward the end with vanilla and a touch of caramel. It's certainly unique, but sadly not distinctly Irish when I'm craving one, and certainly not comparable to a good bourbon. I'm unsure how often I'd want something that seems to fall between the two categories.

Tasted neat. This is one of the better Irish whiskeys available. It shows a medium caramel color and offers a sweet, woody aroma with hints of vanilla on the nose. The taste is also woody, with caramel and a subtle orange flavor. The woodiness lasts longer than the sweet citrus, but the alcohol burn is brief. It's a very light whiskey and easy to drink.