Hell-Cath Maggie is distilled at the Cooley Distillery in Lough, Ireland and bottled in the US by Philips Distilling Co. What does that actually mean? I think it means this blended Whiskey is put together from bulk production using mixed grains for its blended whiskeys.
The Nose
I poured a dram into a Glencairn Whisky Glass and swirled it before nosing. Unlike a single malt distilled in a pot still, there are no butter cookie notes. I mention that because its one of the things I love about Irish Whiskey. The first thing I appreciate with this whiskey is a mixture of ethanol and leather.
The Palate
There is a hint of sweetness on the front of my tongue that quickly turns jagged and edgy on the mid tongue before finishing rough. For a 40% ABV, 80 Proof whisky it feels higher proof. That’s not a good thing. The alcohol really washes out any subtle notes the whiskey might have – if they are actually hiding in there at all.
The Score
Hell-Cath Maggie scores 32/100, making it suitable for Mixers or On Ice. It is a bit too rough and doesn’t have enough finer notes to sip at straight from the bottle. At $25 bucks I have better options that don’t have the rough edges. My first choice would be Paddy’s Old Irish Whiskey which I can get for a few bucks cheaper if I drive a little bit. My second choice would be to just pony up a few more bucks and grab a bottle of Jameson.
Color
A dark yellow that looks mildly artificial.
Proof
40.0% ABV
Pros
- Who doesn’t want to try a new Irish Whiskey?
- It really makes me appreciate Paddy’s which I can get at near the same price.
Cons
- There is alcohol in it if you want to use this for mixed drinks, but its not suitable for sipping.
- There are better options at the $25 price point.
