Tag: 42% ABV

Glendalough Double Barrel Irish Whiskey

TJ Provost

Glendalough Double Barrel Irish Whiskey has a lot of credentials. It won a Double Gold Medal at the 2015 San Francisco Spirits Competition, another Gold Model in 2017, and wasin the Wine Enthusiasts Top 100 Spirits in 2019.

Glendalough Double Barrel Irish Whiskey
Glendalough Double Barrel Irish Whiskey

This Glendalough was first aged in American oak barrels, then finished in Spanish oak Oloroso Sherry barrels.

With all those credentials I was excited to crack the bottle open.

The Nose

I poured a dram into a Glencairn Whisky Glass and swirled it for a moment before taking a whiff. The nose is burnt oak mellowed by sweet vanilla. It was hard to pick which one hit me first. Each time I breathed in this Glendalough I picked up different notes.

The Palate

The mouth feel was smooth and creamy that coats the back of your throat in spice as you swallow. Just like the nose, I found that each sip brought out a different aspect of this whiskey. At times the spice was almost overwhelming, with the oak and spice turning to black liquorice on the swallow.

Glendalough Double Barrel is stilled using a column still. From what I can find, they use a Coffey Still, which was on of the first commercially available continuous stills.

Why does that matter? This Glendalough Double Barrel is shooting for pot distilled flavors and notes, but you just can’t get there without using a pot still, which retain more flavors. Column stills tent to produce higher alcohol content, lighter flavored alcohols. Which is where this Glendalough Double Barrel comes in. It is trying to be a budget pot still in flavor, and actually does a decent job of getting there, but not all the way.

There are hints of deeper flavors from the time spent in the sherry casks, but the oak notes burn across a lot of the more subtle flavors.

The Score – Glendalough Double Barrel Irish Whiskey

For me this Glendalough Double Barrel Irish Whiskey scored a 74/100.

I will absolutely order a dram of this if I’m out and about, and it is clearly in the Sip Worthy category, but for me it didn’t make it into my Whiskey Safe which means I won’t be keeping an unopened bottle on hand to enjoy after the Zombie Apocalypse has started.

Color

Deep golden yellow.

Proof

42.0% ABV | 84 Proof

Pros:

  • The nose has depth and complexity.
  • Strong oak and toasted wood. If you like your whiskey on the stronger side of the flavor profiles, this might be for you.
  • Subtle sweetness that vies with the oak and sherry to be tasted.

Cons:

  • Never quite achieves the butter cookie notes I love in other Irish Whiskeys.
  • The toasted/burnt oak can really overpower the other tastes.

McConnell’s Irish Whisky

TJ Provost

McConnell’s Irish Whisky was apparently very popular before I was born. Up until 1958 it was known world wide as a solid Irish Whiskey choice. The dram that is available now in 2020 may not be what’s available in a few years. Why? Conecuh Brands is working with Great Northern Distillery until a new, dedicated facility is built, which will be the future source of these bottles.

The current dram is a blend of 5 year and younger whiskeys, or if you want to be true to the McConnell’s branding, whisky.

McConnell’s Irish Whisky
McConnell’s Irish Whisky

The Nose

I poured way too much into this Glencairn Whisky Glass! Oh well, I guess I’ll have to sip it down a little first. The nose is pleasant. It’s light and full of cereal and malt and is quite enjoyable on the nose.

The Palate

The first note on the pallet is sweet and malty but its quickly overpowered with a bit of alcohol burn that really shows this whiskeys rough edges on the finish.

The Score – McConnell’s Irish Whisky

Overall this is Sip Worthy, but only barely. McConnell’s Irish Whisky scored a 66/100

Color

Deep golden yellow.

Proof

42.0% ABV | 84 Proof

Pros:

  • Dirt cheap. I picked up this bottle for $25.
  • Great budget bottle if you want quantity over quality.
  • There are some sweet butter cookies under the rougher edges of the dram.

Cons:

  • The first note on the tongue is sweet followed by butter cookies, but instead of lingering, its quickly overpowered.
  • The aftertaste is rough and jagged.

See how all Whiskeys, Tequilas and Vodkas Rank!

The Dubliner 10 Year

TJ Provost

I’ve had this bottle of The Dubliner 10 Year in the back corner of my Whiskey Shelf for a few months but it finally cycled to the top of the list, and I am very happy it did.

The Dubliner is a Single Malt, traditional copper pot still Irish Whiskey that is aged in Bourbon Casks for 10 Years. I am super excited to try this Single Malt after thoroughly enjoying its blended brother The Dubliner.

The Dubliner 10 Year
The Dubliner 10 Year

The Nose

The nose on this 10 Year Old Irish Whiskey is a treat. It is full of malt, vanilla, and honey that has notes of fruit and spice all around its edges. It is lovely, complex, and swirling.

The Palate

The mouth feel is clean and crisp. This is a very Sip Worthy, smooth whiskey. When I reviewed The Dubliner blended version I was impressed. That version scored an 80/100 at a very affordable price point of around $30 bucks.. The Dubliner 10 Year takes the goodness from the blended version and adds several layers of lovely complexity. The front of the tongue sings with honey and malt that rapidly turns to woody vanilla on the mid tongue that just as quickly turns to dark fruits and dry oak that comes from all those years in the Bourbon Casks.

The Score – The Dubliner Irish Whiskey

The Dubliner Single Malt earned every point of its 89/100 points.

Color

Light and rich amber.

Proof

42.0% ABV

Pros:

  • Lovely, swirling, complex nose.
  • Deep, clean, rich flavors that highlight the time spend in those Bourbon Casks.

Cons:

  • I haven’t seen another bottle in my local stores, and now I have to add it to my “must buy” if I see it list.
  • New Irish Whiskey drinkers will really enjoy this, but maybe start them on the blended The Dubliner version and build up to this more matured version.
  • I know prices vary widely from state to state, and even from store to store, but if this comes close to a bottle of Redbreast 12, well, I have to go with the Redbreast 12.