The Irishman Cask Strength (2017 Release)

This review is actually for the 2015 bottling, not the 2017. This is a quality product. The typical Irish characteristics are present – vanilla, apple, toasted bread, and a touch of jam – but there's an appealing savory herbal note to the dram, akin to fresh sage. For a cask-strength whisky, it has very little burn; it offers a bit of a kick but isn't overly harsh. I remain impressed with the output from Walsh Whiskey; both The Writer's Tears and The Irishman lines have consistently met expectations. It will be interesting to see what they produce as their inventory matures!

Nose: Sweet, barley, tropical fruit. Palate: Spicy, pepper, chili, ginger, toasted oak, nuts, baked apple, apricot. Very malty. Finish: Medium length. Pepper, ginger, malt. A spicy, sour sensation on the aftertaste. It's sour, malty, and spicy, with hints of tropical fruit and nuts. The aftertaste has many sour spices. It doesn't seem to be its stated ABV, but it's still a bit too harsh. Overall, it's acceptable.

Tasted without knowing what it was. Smell: vanilla, bourbon wood, pine Flavor: spice, cinnamon, cherry, white grape Wood influence: Score: 4.25 stars Comments: quite pleasant. An enjoyable combination of flavors and mouthfeel. Reminiscent of Strathclyde 29 from Cadenhead's. Could it be from a grain distillery? Perhaps it's like an Old Pulteney. Might be grain based.