West Cork Black Reserve

I acquired two special batch Irish whiskeys late last summer via an online program in Virginia for rare and limited releases. I finally decided to open the first one tonight: West Cork Black Reserve. It's a blended whiskey with no age statement, made from Irish grain and malt, and it was finished for six months in American bourbon barrels that were double charred and first-fill. It's bottled at 86 proof, and only 4,800 bottles were produced. I paid a very fair $40 online. First, I must commend that this whiskey comes from one of just two privately owned Irish distilleries. That's a win for the smaller producers. My inner hipster loves supporting an underdog, haha. Anyway... In the glass, it's a deep, rich, dirty copper color, which makes me think it's not as young as I anticipated. Regardless of the double charring, it couldn't achieve this much color without aging a significant amount of time in oak. Swirling it releases a pleasant burst of oak, cinnamon, and pepper on the nose. On the palate, it's a delightful tribute to American bourbon: prominent oak, pepper, and a nice touch of vanilla sweetness. It's exceptionally smooth with an oily finish, reminiscent of Scotch, that lasts for a considerable time. It's very satisfying when enjoyed neat, and I suspect it would also work well mixed with Coke. Its relative scarcity likely means it won't be on many liquor store shelves, which is unfortunate. It surpasses most standard American bourbons and is actually my preferred Irish whiskey so far. If you happen to find it, especially at a good price, get a bottle and support the smaller operations doing great things in Ireland. Your inner hipster would approve, ha. 4 stars. Cheers.

Nose: Spices and fruits, primarily apples and pears, possibly some cherry. Hints of vanilla and honey. Some sweet bread/cookies are present. Oak notes are pronounced with a touch of light smoke. Palate: Smoothness of vanilla and the sweetness of dried fruits. Honey arrives in waves. The barrel's oakiness is more noticeable on the nose than the palate, but it's definitely there. Enjoyable! Finish: Medium-long. Very smooth sweetness towards the end, with honey remaining the most prominent note. Overall Impressions: A friend offered me a glass today after I assisted them with a move. This was very enjoyable from start to finish. It's my first time trying West Cork distillers, and I'm impressed. It's delightfully flavorful and not harsh at all. A very smooth and inviting whiskey!

This is my go-to Irish whiskey at the moment. Enjoyed neat, it has a pleasing vanilla sweetness that holds up, and an enchanting smoke note emerges through the bouquet. What really struck me was that it's smoky but not peaty or ashy. I really liked this neat and wouldn't mix it personally. If neat isn't your preference, it can handle a small amount of water (1/4-1/2) without losing much smoke, though the vanilla and sweetness are slightly less prominent then.

The bourbon influence is apparent, with molasses and vanilla alongside a touch of fruity tartness, and a faint trace of residual char. It's rather thin and lacks significant complexity.

Begins lightly, as one would expect from Irish whiskey, then transitions to a bourbon finish. It has a bit more bourbon character than I had anticipated.

Nose: Phenolic notes with hints of marshmallow and vanilla. Palate: Toasted vanilla and cream. Finish: Smooth with toasted marshmallow.