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.

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.

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.

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 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.

Boann PX Cask

Boann PX Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - Leinster
Amber gold
47% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, honey, cream, vanilla, burnt sugar, raisins, molasses. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, astringent, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Raisins, orange peel, molasses, black tea, cinder toffee, hints of marmalade. 
Finish: Medium. Marmalade, cinder toffee, orange peel, molasses. 

Comments: 

Light and creamy, lots of orange notes, both peel and jam. There’s also something bitter sweet on the tongue, almost toasty. A very pleasant dram indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glendalough 7yo Mizunara Cask

Glendalough 7yo Mizunara Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - Leinster
Orange gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Mangoes, papayas, tyre rubber, pencil erasers, magic marker, pear drops, hints of soot. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, loosens, volatile. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Black pepper, fresh baked bread, pencil erasers, mangoes, papayas, white grapes, walnut skins. 
Finish: Medium. Papayas, lemon zest, mangoes, fresh baked bread. 

Comments: 

Fruity, but rather sulphurous. There’s a bitter, sooty edge that is apparent on the finish and towards the back of the palate. It builds to a nice cereally finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glendalough Single Cask Calvados Finish

Glendalough Single Cask Calvados Finish

Official bottling
Single pot still - Leinster
Amber gold
42% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cotton sheets, photocopy paper, apples, rye bread, pear drops, white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, astringent, cool. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Pear drops, rye bread, white pepper, apples, golden syrup, honey, vanilla. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, golden syrup, pear drops, apples. 

Comments: 

Feinty and loose, some fruity esters appear (that’s the Calvados cask). It’s fades to a short but intense malty, sweet finish. Enjoyable dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Teeling Blackpitts Big Smoke Cask Strength

Teeling Blackpitts Big Smoke Cask Strength

Official bottling
Single malt - Leinster
Dark gold, hints of orange
56.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Coffee, smoke, orange blossom, dark chocolate, soot, strawberry jam. With water, autumn leaves, peat, soot. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Orange blossom, lemon zest, smoke, peat, rubber bands, soot, diesel exhaust. With water, peat, rubber bands, lemon zest. 
Finish: Medium. Diesel exhaust, dark chocolate, coffee, lemon zest. 

Comments: 

Sooty and intense, but also floral. The orange blossom note merges quite with the diesel exhaust note, and overlays a not unpleasant, rubbery, slightly sulphurous flavour. Complex and interesting.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Boann Single Pot Still Marsala Cask

Boann Single Pot Still Marsala Cask

Official bottling
Single pot still - Leinster 
Bright gold
47% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon juice, pear drops, cream, milk powder, icing sugar, hints of cinder toffee. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Lemon juice, vanilla, icing sugar, marmalade, malted grains, toast, hints of sea salt. 
Finish: Long. Marmalade, lemon juice, cream, milk powder. 

Comments: 

Sweet, quite rich, with jammy marmalade notes. It’s lactic, but not the yoghurty sort of notes, instead it’s creamy and milky. Rather good.

Verdict:

I like this.

The Whistler - The Good, The Bad, The Smoky

The Whistler - The Good, The Bad, The Smoky

Official bottling 
Single blend - Leinster
Copper gold
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: White wine, diesel exhaust, white grapes, apricots, peanuts, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, oily, syrupy. 
Tasting:  Sour. White wine, lemon juice, vanilla, peat, diesel exhaust, soot, smoke, cream. 
Finish: Short. White wine, wet stones, pencil lead, diesel exhaust. 

Comments: 

Just a little smoky, and it’s not bad at all. Quite layered, lots of distinct tasting notes, mostly white wine and wet stones, it’s very gentle and welcoming as a peated dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Two Stacks Polaris 3.1 5yo Cab Franc Ice Wine Finish

Two Stacks Polaris 3.1 5yo Cab Franc Ice Wine Finish

Polaris, Two Stacks
Single malt - Leinster
Bronze gold
58% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peanuts, yoghurt, blue cheese, petrol exhaust, peat, tyre rubber, hints of tobacco leaf. With water, tyre rubber, soot, peat. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, tingly, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Petrol exhaust, raisins, apple juice, blue cheese, tobacco leaf, honey, peat, smoke, tarry rope. With water, apple juice, soot, tarry rope. 
Finish: Medium. Peat, soot, tyre rubber, apple juice. 

Comments: 

Well, I’m dubious about sweet wine finishes of peated whisky this menus odd, notes of blue cheese and tobacco appear, but they’re covered in a thick layer of soot and petrol. It’s fine.

Verdict:

I like this.

Killowen Rum and Raisin Single Malt (Great Northern)

Killowen Rum and Raisin Single Malt (Great Northern)

Killowen bottler
Single malt - Leinster
Yellow gold
55% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peanuts, yoghurt, sultanas, cocoa nibs, coffee, hints of butterscotch. With water, peanuts, farmyard, damson jam. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, warm, slippery, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Orange peel, sultanas, cocoa nibs, dark chocolate, cream, yoghurt, vanilla. With water, damson jam, rum, cocoa nibs. 
Finish: Long. Peanuts, white pepper, cream, hints of butterscotch. 

Comments: 

Sweet and nutty, but with a bitter edge. Water brings out some interesting notes, mostly from the cask, but there’s a big whiff of farmyard smells on the nose.

Verdict:

I like this.

Teeling Single Grain

Teeling Single Grain

Official bottling
Single grain - Leinster
Amber
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, honey, tutti frutti, orange peel, lemon zest, marmalade, apricot jam. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, mouth coating, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Honey, marmalade, brown paper, photocopy paper, oats, apricot jam, hints of lemon zest. 
Finish: Medium. Oats, honey, apricot jam, marmalade. 

Comments: 

Jammy and fragrant, for a no age statement dram (and it’s fairly young, probably under 7 years) it’s quite intense and layered. There’s a thickish layer of oats there too.

Verdict:

I like this.