Curraghmore Triple Cask Matured (bottled 2025)

Curraghmore Triple Cask Matured (bottled 2025)

Curraghmore Estate
Single pot still - Leinster
Amber copper
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, malted grains, cream, white pepper, hints of yoghurt. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, syrupy, astringent, hot. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Lemon zest, foam shrimp, malted grains, white pepper, meringues, hints of yoghurt. 
Finish: Medium. Malted grains, raisins, meringues, white pepper, gentian. 

Comments: 

Sweet, but also quite spicy and a little lactic. It’s the little pricks of white pepper as opposed to the richer pops of black pepper. It’s sweet and malty and also builds to a nice, slightly bitter finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Ardara Single Malt 2025 Release

Ardara Single Malt 2025 Release

Official bottling
Single malt - Ulster
Dark gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, smoke, raisins, pencil erasers, fresh cut grass, farmyard, hints of charcoal ash. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, mouth coating, thickens, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Peanuts, peat, charcoal ash, vanilla, pencil erasers, fresh cut grass, gentian, smoke, hints of tarry rope. 
Finish: Long. Vanilla, dark chocolate, raisins, charcoal ash, peat. 

Comments: 

Peated Irish whisky. This is rather thick and heavy, upending the Irish whisky stereotype. The bitterness is herbal and vegetal, with quite a big lick of sulphur.

Verdict:

I like this.

Kinahan’s Small Batch Irish Whiskey (bottled 2022)

Kinahan’s Small Batch Irish Whiskey (bottled 2022)

Kinahan’s 
Blend
Golden
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemons, peaches, apricots, cream, malted grains, vanilla, hints of yoghurt. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, mouth coating, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sour. Malted grains, peaches, cream, sour cream, white pepper, vanilla, hints of yoghurt. 
Finish: Long. Lemons, vanilla, malted grains, white pepper. 

Comments: 

Lactic and tart, but also laden with lots of stone fruit and vanilla. The finish is long and citrusy. Plenty of sweet maltiness. Rather tasty.

Verdict:

I like this.

Whistler PX I Love You

Whistler PX I Love You

Official bottling 
Single malt - Leinster
Amber red 
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Strawberry jam, leather, red grapes, milk chocolate, fresh baked bread, pumpernickel, nutmeg. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Strawberry jam, malted grains, pumpernickel, vanilla, brown sugar, leather, hints of farmyard. 
Finish: Medium. Vanilla, brown sugar, leather, malted grains, coffee. 

Comments: 

Very sweet whisky, it must have been an active cask. It tastes like strawberry jam on toast, with more intense bready notes with a leathery back note. Quite a good exhibition of wood influence.

Verdict:

I like this.

The Busker Single Malt Small Batch No 1

The Busker Single Malt Small Batch No 1

Official bottling
Single malt - Leinster
Amber brown 
46.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, fresh baked bread, orange peel, white pepper, cinnamon, hints of grapefruit. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Orange peel, raspberry jam, fresh baked bread, malted grains, red grapes, raisins, hints of cinnamon. 
Finish: Medium. Raisins, raspberry jam, malted grains, cinnamon, orange peel. 

Comments: 

Orangey, lots of malted grains and raisins. Quite spicy too, with plenty of cinnamon and white pepper. The finish isn’t so long, but brings more of the jammy cooked fruit notes.

Verdict:

I like this.

The Busker Single Grain

The Busker Single Grain

Official bottling
Single grain - Leinster
Golden
44.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Chocolate, vanilla, desiccated coconut, orange peel, nutmeg, toffee. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, mouth coating, volatile, tingly.
Tasting:  Sweet. Toffee, caramel, black pepper, menthol, nutmeg, hints of fresh baked bread. 
Finish: Short. Toffee, orange peel, vanilla, brown paper. 

Comments: 

Quite a simple, straightforward whisky, with toffee, caramel, and grain whisky note if desiccated coconut. Plenty of vanilla and brown paper as well, flavours I usually associate with bourbon.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glendalough Pot Still Virgin Irish Oak Batch 2

Glendalough Pot Still Virgin Oak Batch 2

Official bottling
Single pot still - Leinster
Dark gold

43% ABV
Dram

Nose: White pepper, malted grains, lemon zest, yuzu, cream, hints of white wine. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, mouth coating, cool, slightly tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour salty. Photocopy paper, malted grains, lemon zest, sea salt, yoghurt, white wine, hints of yuzu. 
Finish: Short. Sea salt, lemon zest, malted grains, white pepper, yoghurt. 

Comments: 

Quite tart and lactic, which is to me a characteristic of pot still whisky. Lost of fruity citrus notes along the edges which emphasise the sour flavours. The finish is brief, intense and a little minerally.

Verdict:

I like this.

Killowen 3yo Barantuil Pinot Noir Firkin

Killowen 3yo Barantuil Pinot Noir Firkin

Official bottling 
Single pot still - Ulster
Amber gold
57% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, malted grains, icing sugar, lemon zest, yoghurt, hints of raisins. With water, white pepper, icing sugar, persimmons. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, mouth coating, volatile. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Raisins, damson jam, yoghurt, lemon sherbet, icing sugar, cola nuts. With water, icing sugar, damson jam, persimmons. 
Finish: Short. Cloves, lemon sherbet, damson jam, raisins. 

Comments: 

Fruity, spicy, lots of deeply sweet notes. But there’s also a lactic note that’s quite prominent. Water brings out a powdery sugariness and persimmons. 

Verdict:

I like this.

The Whistler Mosaic Marsala Cask

The Whistler Mosaic Marsala Cask

Official bottling 
Single grain - Leinster
Golden
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, honey, peaches, ice cream soda, desiccated coconut, hints of nutmeg. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, syrupy, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Desiccated coconut, raspberry jam, vanilla, honey, cola nuts, cloves, nutmeg. 
Finish: Short. Vanilla, molasses, honey, cola nuts, cinnamon. 

Comments: 

Fruity and fragrant, lots of honeyed notes and plenty of ja. The Marsala cask sweetens what is already quite a delicate and sweet whisky. I’d have gone a little gentler with the wood but it’s a decent dram nonetheless.

Verdict:

I like this.

Kilbeggan Double Distilled 11yo

Kilbeggan Double Distilled 11yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Leinster
Amber gold
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, lemon sweets, malted grains, green apples, fresh cut grass, hints of yoghurt. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, static, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour. Green apples, malted grains, peaches, fresh cut grass, white grapes, honey, hints of cinnamon. 
Finish: Short. Green apples, nutmeg, white grapes, cinnamon, fresh cut grass. 

Comments: 

Tart and light, lots of volatility, which brings evaporating notes of green apples, grass and white grapes. No water, it’s too light, but it’s quite intense on the tongue with a little spiciness.

Verdict:

I like this.

Cooley 17yo Batch 1

Cooley 17yo Batch 1

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - Leinster
Straw
48.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Yoghurt, white wine, sour cream, white grapes, ink, nail varnish, hints of white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, cool, oily. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Yoghurt, sour cream, white grapes, raisins, mangoes, nail varnish, malted grains. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, coffee, molasses, nail varnish, yoghurt. 

Comments: 

Quite lactic, with tropical fruit and plenty of maltiness. Even on the tongue the lactic note persists. The finish is quite short but intense, with a bitter, watery edge.

Verdict:

I like this.

Dingle Grianstad an Tsamraidh

Dingle Grianstad am Tsamraidh

Official bottling
Single malt - Munster
Dark gold
52.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Plums, white grapes, vanilla, strawberry jam, cloves, cinnamon, prunes. With water, damson jam, cloves, white grapes, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, hot, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Black tea, black pepper, prunes, strawberry jam, cloves. With water, gooseberries, strawberry jam, cloves, black pepper. 
Finish: Medium. Orange peel, plums, strawberry jam, black pepper, brown paper. 

Comments: 

Quite fruity, lots of estery notes, but the whisky isn’t as funky as a pot still. Lots of winey notes too, and water brings out some of the cloves and pepper even more. Interesting dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Teeling 15yo Single Grain Sauvignon Blanc Cask

Teeling 15yo Single Grain Sauvignon Blanc Cask

Teeling bottler
Single malt
Pale copper
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: White wine, vanilla, popcorn, golden syrup, photocopy paper, nutmeg. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, hot, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Pear drops, vanilla, popcorn, nutmeg, white grapes, white wine, hints of cinnamon. 
Finish: Short. Pear drops, vanilla, popcorn, nutmeg. 

Comments: 

Sweet sour, lots of estery notes, with fruit and grain. Quite well spiced, cinnamon and nutmeg abound. The white wine cask is quite prominent. I don’t think this is from Teeling distillery itself, it’s just a little too old.

Verdict:

I like this.

Clonakilty Single Pot Still

Clonakilty Single Pot Still

Official bottling
Single pot still - Munster
Golden
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Ink, magic marker, sour cream, cooked rice, raisins, white grapes, hints of icing sugar. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Magic marker, cooked rice, malted grains, white grapes, honey, dark chocolate, white pepper, hints of orange blossom. 
Finish: Medium. Ink, molasses, sour cream, cooked rice, white grapes. 

Comments: 

A rather funky distillate, lots of fermented notes, particularly sour cream. But there is also a deep sweetness, with floral notes overlaying it. I’m still not sure about pot still whisky but it’s certainly something that stands out.

Verdict:

I like this.

Clonakilty Port Cask

Clonakilty Port Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - Munster
Golden, hints of pink
43.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: White chocolate, fresh cut grass, straw, raisins, raspberry jam, orange blossom, hints of white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Fresh cut grass, straw, raisins, honey, black tea, white chocolate, orange blossom, hints of toffee. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, white chocolate, orange blossom, straw, hints of toffee. 

Comments: 

Batch 44. Nice sweet notes of white chocolate and a very floral and fruity orange note too. It’s clearly malt, but it’s not very apparent till the finish. Sweet and luscious.

Verdict:

I like this.

Dingle Conocht an Erraigh

Dingle Conocht an Erraigh

Official bottling
Single malt - Munster
Amber copper
50.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sandalwood, pineapples, green tea, apricots, honeydew melons, cloves, nutmeg. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, warm, volatile. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Pineapples, pear drops, papayas, honeydew melons, cloves, vanilla, hints of fresh baked bread. 
Finish: Medium. Toffee, cloves, fresh baked bread, vanilla, pear drops. 

Comments: 

Fruity, with big notes of pineapples and honeydew melons. There’s a woody floral note on the nose as well. Perhaps it struggles slightly - even north of 50% the flavours are not too powerful - but it’s well constructed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

The Whistler Imperial Stout Finish Batch 003

The Whistler Imperial Stout Finish Batch 003

Official bottling 
Single malt - Leinster
Dark gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Dark chocolate, raisins, molasses, golden syrup, coffee, hints of Demerara sugar. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Molasses, dark chocolate, nutmeg, coffee, cloves, menthol, hoppy beer, soot, diesel exhaust. 
Finish: Long. Coffee, diesel exhaust, molasses, raisins. 

Comments: 

Beery and malty, with a smoky edge that’s almost catches in your throat. Well layered and nicely flavoured, plenty of chocolatey stout.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

The Busker Single Pot Still

The Busker Single Pot Still

Official bottling
Single malt - Leinster
Amber 
44.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Farmyard, mushrooms, peaches, winter melons, white grapes, malted grains, cucumbers. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Mushrooms, peaches, autumn leaves, malted grains, farmyard, white grapes, menthol, hints of roast chicken. 
Finish: Medium. Peaches, autumn leaves, farmyard, white grapes, menthol, hints of bananas. 

Comments: 

Quite feinty, with earthy notes of fermentation. Lots of mushrooms and peaches, and there’s a hint of something vegetal and savoury on the edge of the tongue. Interesting dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

The Donn Irish Whiskey 7yo 2023 Edition

The Donn Irish Whiskey 7yo 2023 Edition

The Craft Irish Whiskey Co
Single malt - Unknown
Dark brown
46.15% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cola nuts, orange peel, chocolate, sandalwood, raspberry jam, rye bread, hints of black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, astringent, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raspberry jam, chocolate, black pepper, orange peel, vanilla, cream, cola nuts. 
Finish: Medium. Orange peel, cola nuts, raspberry jam, chocolate. 

Comments: 

Sweet and rich, quite unlike a normal Irish whisky. Lots of fruity and chocolatey notes. I have no idea which distillery this is from.

Verdict:

I like this.

The Busker Single Malt

The Busker Single Malt

Official bottling
Single malt - Leinster
Pale amber 
44.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cola nuts, raisins, oak chips, malted grains, chocolate, black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, tingly, warm.
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Cola nuts, raisins, malted grains, black pepper, orange peel, chocolate, hints of sandalwood.
Finish: Short. Malted grains, black pepper, raisins, walnut skins, hints of chocolate. 

Comments: 

Sweet and intense, lots of nicely layered flavours. Mostly herbal and fruity, but with a nice barley sweetness underlying it. Surprisingly good for such a young malt.

Verdict:

I like this.