Malt Mission 2010 #395

Bushmills 16yo

Irish Single Malt Whiskey

40% abv

£50

$80 (USD)

Still in the snow-covered highlands. We had a short thaw, but otherwise my month in Dufftown has been a winter wonderland. Hope I get out of Aberdeen on Wednesday. Hope you get where you need to be for Christmas, too. Have a happy one, drambassadors.

The last of a string of Irish tasted here on the mission, this one comes from Ireland's oldest distillery. In this case, not only is it triple distilled but matured in three different casks: ex-bourbon, ex-sherry, and ex-port. The crazy bit is that it is matured in each of these casks in succession.

TASTING NOTES:

Sweet and candied, raw corn on the cob, extrememly fruity, blackberry squash, blueberry buns, orange syrup.

If the nose was sweet the palate is beyond. Gummy bears, grape candy, blueberry jam. Juicy, soft, really easy to drink.

SUMMARY:

I might give this a go as my new conversion whisky, one for the folks who say "I hate whisk(e)y" or for the American whiskey drinker who has sworn off anything else. This is likely as close to flavoured whisky as is legal. In fact, blind, I would have been puzzled, for sure, probably thought it was Canadian (they can add 9.09% "other").

Worlds better than I remember the 10yo (Malt Mission #82) but I am not sure I would ever reach for this were it on my shelf. Sure, I like my sweet whiskies, but this is like kids grape juice boxes or something. If the craving struck, I would probably just enjoy a glass of grape juice and have a Talisker DE before bed.

Second opinions from the guys at Edinburgh Whisky Blog.

Malt Mission #391
Malt Mission #392
Malt Mission #393
Malt Mission #394

Malt Mission HOME

Malt Mission 2010 #394

Connemara Turf Mór

Irish Single Malt Whiskey

58.2% abv

£50

$80 (USD)

Following up last week's Connemara Sherry Finish post, this is the second of their Small Batch Collection series. Launched in December, poured at The Whisky Show 2010, and featured on many-a-blog already, this Connemara is apparently the peatiest Cooley spirit ever bottled clocking in at 50ppm.

For more distillery info and to see all Connemara and Cooley had on the mission, click HERE.

TASTING NOTES:

Clay, lemon sponge cake and sawdust at first. Diesel, wellies, cut raw sweet potatoes, and more cake and vanilla.

Mineralic, certainly smoky, but sweet and salty with marzipan and soil. Appetising and tongue-tickling effect.

SUMMARY:

Not sure if this is noticeably smokier than standard Connemara as I have nothing on hand to compare it with, but it is definitely one for the mud-lovers. Like a civilized protester, this dram is angry about the University fees but not about to break a charity shop window, piss on Churchill, or burn a bus shelter.

Second opinions at Whisky Notes, Whisky Apostle, Whisky for Everyone, Dramming, Dom's blog, or JSMWS.

Malt Mission #391

Malt Mission #392

Malt Mission #393

Malt Mission HOME

Malt Mission 2010 #393

Connermara Sherry Finish
Single Malt Irish Whiskey
40% abv
£49
$80 (USD)

Thirty years ago, the world of Irish whiskey was essentially a monopoly with the only two distilleries, Jameson (Midleton) and Bushmills, in the hands of just one company. Today, those distilleries straddle two companies, PernodRicard and Diageo and the undeniable catalyst for this, along with the general revitalization of the category, was John Teeling, the businessman behind Irelands third distillery, Cooley.

In 1987 Teeling got in to the whiskey game, converting an old potato spirit distillery into two distilleries for pot still and colum still distillation. This inspired the big boys to get creative (for the first time in 50 years), and rode the wave of Irish whiskey's growing popularity to a success story all his own. With Locke's, Greenore, Tyrconnel, and Connemara, whisk(e)y drinkers who used to turn up their noses at Irish have firmly plopped their beaks deep in the glass (and tails between their legs).

This is the first of the Small Batch Collection from Connemara and all the bottles that they will ever make are out in the market. Once they're gone, they're gone. New release in the series launched last month and the sample just arrived (thank you, Rachel). To be tasted soon...

TASTING NOTES:

Baked fruits, burnt brown sugar, soft sweet impressions overall. Mossy, grassy and moist. Toffee and leather.

Toffeed, orange, spice and smoke, sherry toastiness, turning herbal or grassy again. Long, gentle finish of sherry and smoke and spirit in lovely balance.

SUMMARY:

An IWSC 2009 Gold Best in Class winner, this whiskey is an absolute treat. And drinkable in hearty sips. Dangerous.
Second opinions at Whisky for Everyone

Malt Mission #391
Malt Mission #392
Malt Mission #394

Malt Mission HOME

Malt Mission 2010 #392

Bushmill's Black Bush

Blended Irish Whiskey

40% abv

£22

$35 (USD)

First thing I want to mention is THIS blog creating a whisky advent calendar, something I swore I would do "next year" every year since since 2006. It is in Swedish, and seeing as you already drink like a viking, it is about time you learned how to speak like one.

Now, back to Black Bush. No, not THIS Black Bush, the Northern Irish, award-winning blend from Ireland's oldest working distillery which has been owned by the two global spirit giants: Jameson owners Pernod Ricard (1987-2005) and Diageo 2005- present. Still practicing triple distillation of their malt whiskey, Black Bush is 20% matured grain whiskey blended with 80% malt matured in sherry-seasoned casks.

I was supposed to in Dublin today to meet with my global colleagues but the weather has scared those of us on this snow-covered island into staying put.

For all Bushmills had on the mission, click HERE.

TASTING NOTES:

Grass, grapes, apple cider, raisin and soft anise on the surface with brown sugar, nuts, and Christmas cake at deeper levels.

Nuts again, wood, honey, and more raisins. Simultaneously fresh, light, and rich.

SUMMARY:

Really nice balance in this whiskey, certainly quaffable but also sippable with enough going on to keep you entertained.

Malt Mission #391
Malt Mission #393
Malt Mission #394

Malt Mission HOME

Malt Mission 2010 #391

Danny Boy
Blended Irish Whiskey
40% abv
£20
$24.99 (USD)

My years in the US taught me many things, but in the world of whiskey it was a true eye-opener to see the sheer volume of Irish whiskey that America throws down its throat. From only four distilleries operating in Ireland (Bushmills, Cooley, Midleton/Jameson, and the recently re-opened Kilbeggan distillery), at least ten times as many labels are currently out there in the market.

This is just one of many brands one finds on the shelves and in this case, it comes from Cooley distillery, makers of Kilbeggan, Tyrconnel, Locke's, and Connemara whiskies.

This growing segment of the world of whisk(e)y has, to date, received only a small fraction of the ink spilled on its Scottish cousins even though as little as a century ago it outperformed Scotch globally. Back in 1994, Jim Murray wrote The Irish Whiskey Almanac, and a few years later Classic Irish Whiskey but since then the topic has generally been relegated to a chapter in books covering Scotch AND Irish whiskies or world whiskies, like Murray's own World Whiskey Guide (2002).

While the world wide intraweave has literally over one hundred English language Scotch whisky blogs, there are currently only a handful of dedicated Irish ones. The folks at Irish Whiskey Chaser provide a useful links page for the Irish whisky drinker/researcher.

The future seems bright for Irish whiskey. With annually increasing sales as a category, increasing variety of flavour (pot still grain, pot still malt, column still, peated, wine casks, etc.) and with apparent reinvestment from all corners of the industry, not least of all William Grant & Sons purchase of Tullamore Dew with an apparent clear intent on building a distillery in Ireland, Irish whiskey is on a path to regain a good chunk of what it lost back in the 1920s.

Goodness knows they could use it right now. So go grab a bottle of Irish. In fact, while you're at it grab some sherry; they say Spain could be next.

Tasting in "the valley hushed and white with snow"...

TASTING NOTES:

Pencil shavings and sweet, vanilla-accented spirit.

Toasty and nutty oak impressions, new make grain sweetness, and some sweet strawberry jam in there, too.

SUMMARY:

Really, very much as expected. Young, simple, innoffensive verging on bland but entirely enjoyable whiskey. The website tells us the whiskey is "just like the famous and much loved melody." Perhaps... if sung by your half passed-out uncle.

Malt Mission #390
Malt Mission #392
Malt Mission #393
Malt Mission #394

Malt Mission HOME

Malt Mission 2010 #378

Connemara 12yo
Irish Single Malt Whiskey
40% abv
£55
$95 (USD)

Another Irish drop, and an unusual one at that as it's only distilled twice (most Irish is triple-distilled). And in pot stills, no less, the way God intended...

"The saviour of Irish whisky", the artist formerly known as John Teeling, purchased this County Louth-based distillery and Christened it Cooley, the artist formerly known as Ceimici Teo. Launched in 1996, Connemara was the name they gave the pot-still produced spirit and in 2003 this limited-availability 12 year old was launched.

While many spirits producers saw tough times in 2008-9, Teeling and company reaped the rewards of their continued investment (buying new stills, firing up the long silent Kilbeggan, building a new bottling plant, repackaging Connemara...) reporting a 50% jump in sales and doubling of profit*

For more distillery info or to see all Connemara had on the mission, click HERE.

*- MWY2010

TASTING NOTES:

If my nose had teeth and a jaw it would be chewing these aromas. Heavy, musky, oily, damp, swampy. And all the while pleasant and appetising.

Softer than expected, fire blackened marshmallow, honey, burnt wood, sweet tobacco smoke. Szechuan peppercorn (take that Malt Impostor!), buttery croissants, jam, and a nice fruit and oak balance.

SUMMARY:

mmmYeah. Deeply diggable. And I dug it, dig?

Malt Mission #376
Malt Mission #377
Malt Mission #379
Malt Mission #380

Malt Mission HOME

Malt Mission 2010 #376

Jameson Irish Whiskey
40% abv
£17
$25 (USD)
$30 (CAD)

Married to a member of the Haig Scotch whisky dynasty, founder John Jameson moved from Scotland to Ireland and began making the water of life in 1780. Originally produced at one of the six Dublin distilleries, Jameson is now distilled way south at the Midleton distillery in Cork, an impressively large complex built adjacent to the old Midleton distillery.

The "new" Midleton distillery makes Jameson (a mixture of pot still and grain-distilled spirit of malted barley, green barley, and other grains), along with RedBreast (100% pot still, but not 100% malted barley), Paddy (blended), Tullamore Dew (blended), and of course Midleton Rare (available since 1984). As Kate Hopkins observes in 99 Drams of Whiskey, although owned by different companies (since 2005), some Jameson is still bottled at Bushmills and Midleton's continuous stills produce the grain going into Black Bush and Bushmills Original.

Jenna Masoli took her stage name from that of her favourite drink.

Jameson has grown volume sales 3x since 1995. Today, 30 million bottles are sold worldwide annually so the flavour certainly agrees with the masses. Let's see how it goes down on the malt mission.

For all Irish had on the mission, click HERE.

TASTING NOTES:

Vanilla, lemondade, oak, Sprite, gentle clove spice, too.

Nice oily texture, waxy. Some heat. More spice than the nose indicated, balanced against a strong bready sweetness, barley sugar, and maple. Honey. Vanilla.

SUMMARY:

In the USA it is really noticeable just how huge a brand Jameson is. It is everywhere and very often a suggested shot by bartenders or by friends when out at the bar. A pretty serious shot, in my mind, and I love whisk(e)y. So, I am surprised that it is such a widely done thing here.

Contrary to common practice, I would not recommend this as a shot. That being said, its honey and vanilla finish after a slippery texture down the hatch is a good combination, but aren't all good whiskies then good enough to be shot? My point is this whiskey is worth sipping, rocks or whatever. What's the rush? Tasty, clean, straightforward stuff.

Malt Mission #375
Malt Mission #377
Malt Mission #378
Malt Mission #379
Malt Mission #380

Malt Mission HOME

Malt Mission 2009 #326

Michael Collins
Single Malt Irish Whiskey
40% abv
$40 (USD)

That's right, this whiskey sets out to embody the 'heroic spirit' of Irish revolutionary leader Michael Collins. Known as "The Big Fellow" in his life, this whisky is sourced from the "wee county" on the east coast of Ireland and was launched in the USA in the spring of 2006. Like these whiskies had on the Malt Mission, this single malt is pot distilled twice at Cooley Distillery and was created by Sidney Frank, a modern master of marketing in the liquor business.

There was a time when Irish whiskey was booming and the nation's spirit was available across the world. In fact, it is said that near the end of the 19th century there were over 400 brands of Irish whiskey being sold in export markets, namely the USA. Prohibition in America killed demand in Ireland's largest export market. Partly due to the results of the actions of Michael Collins (and others), Irish whisky was suppressed as an export by the British government eventually leading to a collapse of the Irish whiskey industry. Now here is an Irish whisky named after him... hmm... Ironic?

There is no age statement but as Collins didn't live beyond 31 years of age, it is safe to assume this whisky has had a similarly short life in oak casks. I have read that it is 8 years old on the website and Kevin at The Scotch Blog says that they use smaller oak casks to accelerate the effects of oak influence.

TASTING NOTES:

Sweet and malty, some dried fruits like raisins, and impressions of ice cream: pralines and cream, rum and raisin, and good old french vanilla, all with a faint peatiness that adds a degree of depth.

Slightly hot, with potato bread, vanilla, and hints of roasted sweet potato. Burnt rosemary and baked fruits. Some smoke, burnt sugar, and milk chocolate.

SUMMARY:

Impressive, well-rounded, and a good whaff of smoke for those into that sort of thing. Great mouthfeel as well. There is a slightly hard attack on the palate that makes it a dram that may be tough to sip at length. To be fair, I have nosed and tasted it neat. Ice subdues this spirity element and the cream and fruitiness of the whiskey shine through. Also unleashes even more of the smoke. Worth a try, for sure. Funky love it/hate it bottle, too.

Malt Mission #325
Malt Mission #327
Malt Mission #328
Malt Mission #329
Malt Mission #330

Malt Mission HOME

Malt Mission 2008 #237

Greenore 8yo
Single Grain Irish Whiskey
40% abv
£25

Distilled at Cooley, Ireland's only independently Irish-owned distillery, Greenore is a grain whiskey of the highest quality. Over a decade after his academic studies into the decline of Irish whiskey, ambitious Irish entrepreneur John Teeling (and other investors) bought and converted a site on the east coast of Ireland into two of the most critically acclaimed Irish distilleries operating today. Other treats from Cooley that we've enjoyed thus far on the mission can be seen HERE. See their site for more.

Irish whiskey has a reputation for being lighter and "smoother" than Scottish whisky. This is partly because of the method of distillation that typically sees the Irish distill their spirits thrice while the Scots (with a few exceptions) distill only twice. It also is because Irish whiskey does not use peat to the same degree that Scotch whisky producers do. Cooley tosses out both of these Irish "laws" using peat (Connemara) and not (always) triple distilling.

Greenore 8 year old is matured in 100% first fill ex-bourbon casks. The best casks of maturing grains are selected to become constituents in the Greenore. The rest is destined for blended whisky. This results in a limited batch of 5000 bottles with a 15 and 18yo expected over the next few years. This limited expression 8yo has already sold out in most places. Jack Teeling informs me that the 15yo will be launched in April 2008.

Greenore 8yo won gold medal at the 2004 International Wine and Spirits Competition and has been enjoyed by yours truly on a sunny Sunday afternoon or two.

TASTING NOTES:

Sweet, appetising and organic nose. Sweet with vanilla, dried banana chips, and coconut oil. Bourbon-y sweetness that gets the mouth wet in anticipation. Organic like fresh corn, green tomatoes, chlorophyll.

Mmm, buttery and fruity. Toasty. Caramel. Almonds with a twist of watery lemonade. Honeyed finish with a tinge of those organic notes found on the nose.

SUMMARY:

Superficial stuff first, I like the bottle design (like the Arran Anniversary shape) and the cork is fat and tight giving a nice loud sssquuueeepft when you open it. This is a light, fresh, and invigorating whisky that is perfect for a summer day. Very bourbon-y without any of the harder tannins but might be a bit sweet and cloying for some people or even for some moods. Could do well in a cocktail in place of bourbon, or even rum. Yet more evidence that great things can come from the world of grain whisk(e)y.

Malt Mission #236
Malt Mission #238
Malt Mission #239
Malt Mission #240

Malt Mission HOME

Malt Mission 2007 #213

The Tyrconnell
Single Malt Irish Whisky
40% abv
£22

Another Irish today. We'll head to Japan tomorrow.

Named after a racing horse, The Tyrconnel (tire-kon-ill) was the flagship brand of the Watt distillery (1762). It was a bestselling whisky in the US before prohibition and didn't survive into the post-war period. Ireland's only independent distillery, Cooley Distillery, has recreated the brand and it is now the fastest growing Irish single malt and a real award winner, most recently having its 10yo Sherry finish win "Top Irish Whisky for 2007" at the Malt Maniacs Awards.

TASTING NOTES:

Sweet fresh apricots, oats and malt. Slightly phenolic with magic markers and ash.

Big maltiness, rich breadiness that is quite toasty. Grilled cheese sandwich. Hay.

SUMMARY:

Simple, malty, and easy drinking. Feels like it is on the verge of exploding with heights of flavours, but never really takes off. But this is not necessarily a bad thing. Rounded, straighforward, very pleasant and hearty whisky.

Malt Mission #211
Malt Mission #212
Malt Mission #214
Malt Mission #215

Malt Mission HOME

Malt Mission 2007 #212

Tullamore Dew
Irish Whiskey
43% abv
£17
$29.15(CAD) $25(USD)

Now we'll have a couple Irish whiskies, an under-represented sector of the whisky market here on Dr. Whisky, but the country of origin for many extremely popular and often excellent whiskies.

Tullamore Dew was first distilled in 1829 and takes its name from its town of origin and the initials of an early owner, Daniel E Williams (DEW). After 1887, the line "Give every man his dew" appeared on every bottle. Irish whiskey was extremely popular the world over, but a combination of American prohibition and trade/economic fallout following the Irish War of Independence(1922) effectively killed the prominence of Irish whiskey on the world market. Today, many distilleries and distilling companies have made great strides towards once again becoming a force to be reckoned with on the world whisk(e)y stage. Tullamore Dew is no longer produced at the original distillery in Tullamore, but in Cork. It sells in excess of 2.5million bottles per annum.

TASTING NOTES:

Odd whisky nose. Copper, envelope glue, herbs(basil). Cigarette smokers' breath. Very faint cherries. Polish Vodka-like.

Soft cherry ice cream and vanilla to start, soft, um, dew-y or misty impression upon swallowing that goes from flavours of juicy stone fruits to a drying oakiness.

SUMMARY:

Odd stuff. Very particular. Unlike anything else I've had on the mission.

Malt Mission #211
Malt Mission #213
Malt Mission #214
Malt Mission #215

Malt Mission HOME

Malt Mission 2007 #102

Connemara
Peated Irish Single Malt
40% abv
£25
$65(CAD)
$40(USD)

The term 'whisky' is an Anglicisation of the gaelic term 'uisge beatha'. For reasons unknown to me, the spelling of the term in the English language is 'whisky' in Scotland and Canada, and 'whiskey' in America and Ireland. Although there are slight variations in recipe, both spellings refer to a grain-based distilled spirit, and in spite of the fact that some wealthy businessmen are working to call Indian 'whiskey', rum, and horse piss 'WHISKY', this is the way it should, and hopefully will, always be. Go grain, or go home.

It is said that Ireland was once home to 2,000 whiskey distilleries, but by 1980, this had been reduced to 2, both owned by a single company. Interested in more information? Get THIS book.

Studying at Harvard Business School in 1970, John Teeling began an investigation into whether or not it would be possible to revive the fortunes of the Irish whiskey business. His research caught the passion of Willie McCarter at MIT and 17 years later, with the help of John Power, they raised £3million and purchased the Ceimic Teo distillery in Dundalk, a vodka producing plant. They also purchased Locke's Kilbeggan Distillery in 1988 to use as a storage site for the future Cooley whiskies. In 1989, two pot stills were installed and production commenced.

Economic difficulties hit them almost immediately but were resolved through the involvement of independent investors and bright ideas rather than Cooley just being swallowed up by Irish Distillers (this did almost happen, however, but was deemed illegal by the Competition Authority). One thing that helped the economic situation of the distilling company was to enter the 'retailer's-own' sector and begin producing in-house brands for British supermarkets Sainsbury's and Waitrose.

Cooley's has a capacity to produce 10million litres of whiskey per year and currently has a wide range of different releases: a single grain called Greenore, and blends Kilbeggan, Inishowen and Millar's Special Reserve. They also produce three different single malt ranges: Locke's, Tyrconnell, Connemara. Knappogue Castle is also sourced from Cooley distillery from 1990-1992, and Jon, Mark, and Robbo's Smooth, Sweeter One uses Cooley malt whiskey.

Cooley's malt whiskies are unique from most Irish whiskies in that they are distilled only twice, rather than the traditionally Irish triple distillation. Connemara is even more unique in that it is the only Irish peated whiskey. It was officially launched in 1996.

TASTING NOTES:

Honey and lemon, green grapes, skin cream/lotion. Very fresh on the nose. The peat is in there, but it is all so perfumed, estery, and free of the associations that often appear with peat smoke that it could go unnoticed. Apple crumble, margarine, and a touch of animal hide.

Okay, well the smoke will not go unnoticed on the palate, but it is so clean, and surrounded by floral sweetness, that to compare it to a Scottish whisky would not quite be fair (to either). Peated barley at the heart of the flavours, grassy, and increasingly drying. Oak and almonds.

SUMMARY:

A unique peated whiskey experience. Very drinkable, even quaff-able, with sweetness, and an interesting summer weeds type of presence. And plenty of peat, but don't expect a peat beast; this is driving-through-the-country window-seat-peat.

Malt Mission #101
Malt Mission #103
Malt Mission #104
Malt Mission #105

Malt Mission HOME

Malt Mission 2007 #82

Bushmills Malt 10yo
Single Malt Irish Whisky
40% abv
£24
40.85(CAD)
$35(USD)

The first Irish I have had in this Malt Mission.

Like Scottish distilleries Auchentoshan and Hazelburn, Bushmills in Ireland is made from two different kinds of malts, one unpeated and one slightly peated, and is triple distilled in the traditional Irish way. Only 16 miles west of Islay, Bushmills insists it is the oldest distillery in the world. True? Not true? Don't really care right now.

It is the largest distillery in Ireland and, in addition to this 10 year old, produces a 16 year old Triple Wood and a 21 year old, as well as blends Black Bush, 1608, and Original.

This dram is raised to commemorate the anniversary of the passing of an inviting, inspiring, and impossibly hilarious Ed Musial.

TASTING NOTES:

Corn syrup, Sprite or 7-Up, wine spritzer. Sour apples, goat's cheese, some spice. Not overly inviting.

Hot on the tongue. Raw corn, burnt toffee, old moldy/mouldy wood. Bran. Green apples, brown sugar and oak.

SUMMARY:

None of us really understand... why? Could be our mood. But Jed still managed to down three drams while Beth and I sat reluctantly drinking our first. Either way, God bless you, Ed. Cheers, Slainthe, and know you are loved.

Malt Mission #81
Malt Mission #83
Malt Mission #84
Malt Mission #85

Malt Mission HOME