St. Patrick’s Day is the annual celebration of every part from the Emerald Isle. It serves as the proper motive to loosen up with a pint of the black stuff and sip away on dram of Irish whiskey. However whereas Irish whiskey is extra common than ever, this has not at all times been the case.
A interval within the early- to mid-Twentieth century noticed the variety of distilleries in Eire collapse from over 100 to only two: Bushmills in Co. Antrim up north and Midleton in Co. Cork down south – by the late Sixties. A mix of two World Wars and the Prohibition period in America had been the important thing causes for this dramatic droop and disappearance of many beloved manufacturers.
A 3rd distillery, Cooley in Co. Louth, didn’t seem till the late Eighties. It’s only throughout the final decade that Irish whiskey has begun to rise once more from the ashes. A real renaissance is going down, pushed by the craft and artisanal distilling motion that has swept throughout the nation.
Whereas that is nice and refreshing, it implies that shoppers are confronted with an ever-increasing quantity of younger whiskey. Though the marketplace for this continues to develop, so does the will for older vintages. The latter are more and more uncommon and scarce, making them extraordinarily sought-after by Irish whiskey connoisseurs.
These restricted, high-aged whiskeys are sometimes in a really completely different league by way of each worth and high quality. Under, we check out 4 of one of the best super-premium and collectable Irish whiskeys which might be at present available on the market.
Bushmills 36 Years Outdated Hill Road Version
Northern Eire’s Bushmills, positioned simply two miles from the UNESCO World Heritage Web site at The Big’s Causeway, holds the oldest distilling license on the earth, courting again to 1608. As one of many two survivors of the Irish whiskey crash, it additionally holds a few of the rarest and most extremely aged spirits in its warehouse.
This new bottling represents the oldest whiskey ever launched by Bushmills in Europe. It’s unique to the legendary Irish whiskey retailer The Good friend at Hand, positioned on Hill Road in Belfast. The whiskey was distilled and crammed to French oak ex-sherry casks in November 1986, earlier than 4 such casks had been condensed all the way down to a single ex-Oloroso sherry hogshead in 2001.
The prolonged secondary maturation has given this uncommon 36-year-old whiskey an beautiful character and profile. Anticipate notes of recent honeycomb, toffee and ripe tropical fruits mixed with warming wooden spices, milk chocolate and hazelnut praline.
Underlying hints of malted barley, cocoa powder and ginger cake add additional depth and complexity.
RRP: £5,000.
Accessible at: The Good friend at Hand. 35-43 Hill St, Belfast, BT1 2PB
Midleton Very Uncommon fortieth Anniversary Ruby Version
The Midleton Very Uncommon model has lengthy been thought of the head of Irish whiskey high quality. This yr it celebrates 40 years because the inaugural version was launched in 1984, a second which many see as traditionally altering the trail of Irish whiskey ceaselessly. Ruby is the gemstone related to a fortieth anniversary.
This commemorative instance of the well-known mix options whiskeys distilled by all three males who’ve held the coveted title of Grasp Blender for Midleton Very Uncommon over the past 4 many years. Simply three casks, every holding a posh mix, have been married collectively earlier than being moved to ex-ruby Port casks for a nine-month ending interval. A number of of the whiskeys included date again 40 years.
The whiskey opens with a heady fragrance of pink berry fruits and fragrant spices, complimented by inexperienced orchard fruit, vanilla pod and dried citrus peel. An evolving tropical observe comes by means of, as do these of cinnamon and clove. A vibrant floral attribute additionally develops in the direction of the top.
RRP: €20,000/£17,250
Accessible at: Midleton Very Uncommon
Redbreast 27 Years Outdated
This bottling is one other iconic and prestigious Irish whiskey. The Redbreast vary is without doubt one of the most awarded on the earth and the 27 Years Outdated sits proper on the prime. Batches are launched on an annual foundation and the standard stays constantly excessive. Redbreast is a single-pot nonetheless whiskey, that means it’s made utilizing a mixture of malted and unmalted barley.
The Redbreast 27 Years Outdated has been matured in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks for a lot of its life. However a remaining ending interval in ex-Ruby Port barrels has enriched its flavour profile and pushed it in an opulent course. Additionally it is bottled at cask energy and offered in an exquisite pink glass bottle and picket casket.
This whiskey is filled with fruity aromas and flavours – suppose black cherry, prunes and pink summer time berries mixed with pineapple, mango and blood orange. A touch of peach additionally sits within the background, as does loads of milk chocolate and caramel-like notes. Warming oak spice and a few gingerbread spherical issues off properly.
An absolute stunner.
RRP: £475
Accessible at: The Whiskey Alternate
Teeling 30 Years Outdated
The Teeling household are Irish whiskey legends and key figures in its resurrection. Not solely did they set up Cooley distillery in 1987 and produce many manufacturers and whiskey types misplaced to historical past, however additionally they introduced whiskey making again to the centre of Dublin when founding the Teeling distillery in 2015.
Teeling was the primary new whiskey distillery in Dublin for 125 years and is now a significant vacationer attraction. Its core vary options a number of award-winning whiskeys that they’ve distilled within the years which have adopted. Nonetheless, when the household offered the Cooley distillery in 2011, additionally they acquired many elderly casks of maturing whiskey. These are launched as prestigious bottlings on occasion.
The 30 Years Outdated is one such launch. It was distilled and crammed to ex-bourbon barrels in 1991 and left to mature quietly. The ultimate twist noticed this spirit transferred to ex-Sauternes dessert wine casks sourced from France.
The result’s a velvety and gentle whiskey that drips with lush tropical fruit, peach and apricot notes. Add in honey, golden syrup and a twist of grapefruit peel and you’re in for an actual deal with.
Irish whiskey at its absolute best.
RRP: £875
Accessible at: Grasp of Malt
