Writers' Tears Double Oak

This is the final pour for St. Patrick's Day 2025, after having Boxty Pancakes with Mushrooms and Cabbage. I've already reviewed Method and Madness Garryana Oak and Teeling Single Malt Red Wine Cask. Now, I'm concluding the evening with Writers' Tears Double Oak. My initial review ever on this platform was of Writers' Tears Copper Pot, which I didn't find particularly impressive. I recall my assessment: superior to Jameson and Tully, but not sufficiently noteworthy to justify double the price at that time. I had previously tried the Double Oak expression and recognized its superiority. However, it was priced around $45, which I considered excessive. How much things have changed! The Double Oak is now retailing for $60, although it's currently on sale this month, dropping back to $45. In today's market, that feels like a bargain, especially since this is a perfectly acceptable whiskey. $45 seems like an appropriate price point. This whiskey is matured in bourbon and cognac casks, and I do appreciate a good cognac finish. When discussing cognac-finished spirits, my mind immediately goes to golden raisins. It's the primary association that comes to mind with a cognac finish, present on the nose, palate, and throughout the entire drink. This expression also offers a honeysuckle aroma, which I perceive as a balance between the bourbon influence and the cognac, along with mandarin orange. There's also a scent reminiscent of a woman's floral shampoo, a fresh quality to the honeysuckle that evokes clean laundry on a warm summer day, much like a pleasant laundry detergent. The palate echoes that lemon detergent note, though I certainly wouldn't equate it to actually drinking detergent, which would be quite unpleasant. The lemon flavor blends with a pleasing vanilla note and the reappearance of those golden raisins. The complexity is limited beyond these elements, perhaps a subtle hint of ginger on the finish as it transitions. Nevertheless, what it does, it executes well. Perhaps not $62 well, which was its full price after roughly 5 years of inflation (I believe I purchased this after its appearance on the Whisky Advocate Top 20 in... let me check... 2019. It was ranked #10, so it's been nearly 6 years). However, it is definitely worth $45 now (even though $45 seemed high then, I was in... well, the same tax bracket, though now I'm higher within it. For context, Old Ezra 7 was ranked #7 and cost $40, now it's $80). Ah, the bygone era when spirits were more accessible. Frankly, I'm not sure where this is leading, other than to say it's been a challenging decade so far, a world in disarray. Writers' Tears is a respectable whiskey that, like many other producers, might be overestimating its market value and our willingness to spend on their products. This might explain why I found it on clearance. Among the spirits I sampled tonight, this is my third review and it ranks third in my estimation. This isn't to say you should avoid it. Just ensure you're purchasing it at a fair price. So, after 179 reviews, I find myself in a similar position as I was with their Copper Pot expression. It's quite approachable, but it's certainly not an Irish powerhouse. It's no Conor McGregor.

Writers Tears expressions consistently bring a smile to my face. This is partly due to their drinkability and also because of fond memories from St. Patrick's Day 2017. With a very young baby then, and my wife working nights, I took the little one to a friend's gathering for Irish fare and generous whiskey pours. To contribute, I brought a bottle of Writers Tears Copper Pot, the only version I could find in the US at the time. It, along with the Redbreast 15 brought by the baby's godmother (who happened to be a Presiding Bishop), was finished that evening. It was a wonderful night of good food, excellent whiskey, and great company, chatting late into the night while my baby slept soundly in her carrier. Beyond those pleasant recollections, this sibling to the Copper Pot has much to offer. It's a blend of single malt and single pot still whiskies, aged in bourbon and cognac barrels, with both influences discernible, though the cognac barrel aging is most prominent. The nose has a mildly citrusy, very sweet note reminiscent of Circus Peanut candies, a signature of cognac barrel aging. The American oak contributes a hint of sweet coconut and spice. The spirit itself shines through with notes of lemon zest, frosted cereal, apple, pear, almond, and toasty wheat. The palate is smooth, rich, and oily, characteristic of single pot still whiskey, with sweet fruit leading, followed by drier, spicier notes toward the finish. The finish is medium in length and drier than anticipated, but concludes with that distinct cognac barrel character emerging at the end. Is it groundbreaking? Perhaps not. Is it the best value ever? Possibly not, but it's reasonably priced. Is it a delicious, easy-drinking whiskey? I believe so, possessing that subtle charm and approachability that fine Irish whiskey often achieves. It's akin to "Linger" by The Cranberries in a glass – you might not always seek it out, but it's undeniably pleasant for what it is.

Nose - Smells like shortbread cookies, berries, cinnamon, and other baking spices, with a subtle hint of oak/vanilla, and cooked fruits (apples/pears). Palate - Full-bodied and exceptionally rich. Flavors of cereal and graham crackers, dark berries, milk chocolate, toffee, cinnamon spice, and pepper. Finish - Lingers for a long time. It coats your tongue and isn't excessively harsh. An excellent blend of complex tastes. I found Irish Tears' Copper Pot to be enjoyable, but I expected more drama from a whiskey named "Writers' Tears." It should possess a complexity worthy of the name. The aroma of Copper Pot struck me as underwhelming. The flavors were good but almost too sweet and faded quickly. When compared to Copper Pot, the Double Oak variant is noticeably darker, resembling Green Spot. The Double Oak also has a higher alcohol by volume at 46% (non-chill filtered) compared to Copper Pot's 40%. Since some of my preferred whiskies are experimental ones with different barrel finishes, I was very eager to try this one, given its finishing and higher proof. The positive outcome is that Writers' Tears Double Oak meets all three criteria with an abundance of each. It presents an intriguing aroma. While Copper Pot smelled of green apples and malt, the Double Oak evokes freshly baked apple pie, complete with notes of sugar, browned pie crust, baked apples, and cinnamon. On the palate, the Double Oak is loaded with captivating flavors that coexist harmoniously without being overly sweet. The flavors also coat the mouth and persist for a considerably longer duration on the finish. I hadn't anticipated sufficient differences to justify the price difference between Copper Pot and Double Oak, but I was pleasantly surprised. Similar to Teeling, this offers another intriguing variation on standard Irish whiskey, and I appreciate it.

This newer style of Irish whiskey is a fine representation of the emerging generation in Ireland that's committed to crafting excellent spirits. The initial taste suggests they're on the correct path, and while this is genuinely good, it's not quite exceptional (though acceptable for its price point!). This spirit is a combination of single pot still and pure malt from the distillery, which, in my opinion, disqualifies it as a blended whisky. The distinction is noticeable. It has an appealing color, and the aroma is sweet, fruity, and clean. On the palate, it's very smooth, though less fruity than the initial impression might suggest. The cognac cask and pot still components create an interesting dynamic:) The finish is of average length, but the characteristic smoothness of Irish triple distillation dominates, leaving a pleasant, balanced sensation on the palate.

My bottle is from 2019. The aroma was very welcoming. It resembles their Copper Pot but possesses more depth and a pleasant hint of the cognac barrel. The palate is a mix. It doesn't seem well-balanced. It's moderately smooth, but feels overly caramelly, and then certain spicy notes overshadow the whiskey's flavors. It's also too oaky. The finish was somewhat peculiar, with both sour and bitter tastes. This is likely due to the old cognac barrels. Adding water significantly improved its balance and opened it up. The whiskey notes became more prominent, gradually transitioning to cognac barrel hints towards the end. The finish also improved but remained too brief for its 46% ABV. I wasn't particularly impressed with this release overall. Their Copper Pot is a superior whiskey for its cost. Double Oak appears overrated.

Writer's Tears. An intriguingly named whiskey, both cool and quite silly. A bold Irish spirit... (clever enough to bypass security... elderly gentleman). Let's have a taste and a little weep. On the nose, expect ripe peaches, brandy, and subtle oak. The palate is impactful with some warmth, featuring abundant stone fruit. It has a pleasant, substantial mouthfeel, complemented by notes of honey and grape. The finish is of medium length, with the honey flavor becoming more pronounced. If tasted blind, one might mistake this for a younger Cognac, as the spirit's grain character is overshadowed by the fruit. It might not be ideal for sipping neat; perhaps it benefits from ice. This would truly excel as the foundation for any peach-based cocktail. Forget peach schnapps and reach for this bottle instead.