I not too long ago had an opportunity to sit down down with Padraic Coll, co-founder of the Clonakilty Distillery, when he visited Boston to debate the corporate’s whiskey line and future plans. Certainly one of Clonakilty’s extra thrilling tasks is collaborating with native breweries throughout the U.S., growing older their Irish whiskey in quite a lot of distinctive beer casks. They’d simply collaborated with native brewery Jack’s Abby, growing older their whiskey in Framinghammer, a powerful Baltic porter. I attempted the end result: huge malty spine, sturdy chocolate notes, and positively a winner because the colder months method. I left our assembly excited for the way forward for the Clonakilty model.
A part of that future was detailed in our final assessment of their whiskey, Double Oak, which detailed Clonakilty’s dedication to terroir and the cultivation of native barley. However at present, most of Clonakilty’s whiskey is sourced from different distilleries, and although we would guess from the place, they received’t inform. At this level, it’s the additional growing older that makes the whiskey distinctively Clonakilty.
After my assembly with Coll, I used to be left with samples of two very completely different Clonakilty whiskeys to pattern for a proper assessment. Let’s give them a attempt.
Clonakilty Port Cask End Irish Whiskey – On the nostril, this triple distilled Irish whiskey is mild, brilliant, and fruity, exhibiting strawberry, peach, and cream notes together with somewhat vanilla and cereal grain. Not what I anticipate when Port casks are concerned, however nonetheless agreeable. The palate is a bit heavier with a pleasant steadiness of cereal grain and toasted malt hitting first. Peaches and cream observe, which additionally provides the whiskey a stunning mouthfeel. Peppery spice comes subsequent, with a end that’s pretty lengthy as these notes disappear. I’d not have guessed this was completed in Port casks, however it’s a well-integrated product that followers of Irish whiskey will need to attempt. 87.2 proof. A- / $53
Clonakilty Chateau La Cardonne Bordeaux End Single Malt Irish Whiskey – The nostril of this double distilled single malt whiskey introduces balanced notes of honey, vanilla, and a contact of pink fruit. The palate is pleasant, oily and mouth-coating with wealthy notes of honey and toasted malt. Some pepper arrives mid palate. When a little bit of water is added, which I like to recommend, the pink fruit peeks by together with a contact of salinity, which provides an attention-grabbing complexity. The end is lengthy and gratifying. A distinctively Irish and scrumptious single malt. 92 proof. A- / $50
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