Killowen distillery claims to be Eire‘s smallest distillery, working two handmade copper pot stills. Additionally they’re the one instantly fired stills within the nation. Brendan Carty based the model in 2017 so it’s clear that immediately’s evaluation just isn’t about their very own spirit.
Killowen Dalriadan – Half 1 of two is an 11-year-old blended malt whiskey impressed by the traditional kingdom of Dál Riata. It’s composed of 40% of smoky peated whisky from Islay (Caol Ila) and 60% triple distilled whiskey from a distillery within the North of Eire (our guess could be Bushmills?). Whereas the Islay part matured in ex-bourbon hogsheads, the Irish half additionally spent three years in oloroso sherry butts.
Killowen The Dalriadan – Half 1 of two – 11 yo (57,5%, OB 2021, Oloroso sherry butt end, 386 btl.)
Nostril: fairly fruity, exhibiting peaches, lemon sherbet and hints of pineapple sweet. Some raisin richness too. Behind this can be a drier layer of leather-based and coal smoke – a younger however reasonably closely peated Islay profile. Burnt wooden chips, hints of pancetta. Collectively they create a type of sweeter model of Caol Ila, so to talk.
Mouth: an analogous sweetness and fruitiness. There may be pineapple and a touch of mango, with candy lemon sweet on the facet. It confirms the Bushmills provenance. Delicate greener, grassier notes within the background, in addition to a pinch of white pepper. All this comes with beneficiant peaty notes, smouldering ashes and charred notes. Good steadiness, though the warmth is a little bit an excessive amount of.
End: lengthy, nonetheless reasonably scorching, with natural smoke, minty notes and cracked peppercorns.
Take a great high quality Islay single malt combined and mix this with a fruity Irish whiskey. What’s to not like? Each elements are nicely dosed, going backwards and forwards with out overpowering one another. It will not be consultant of Killowen as a distillery , however as a blender they know what they’re doing. The one draw back is the value – bear in mind it’s solely a 50 cl bottle. Nonetheless accessible from The Whisky Alternate.
