Slane Irish Whiskey (40%, OB, 2017)

• Category: Irish Blended Whiskey
• Origin: ?
• Bottling: Slane Distillery
• ABV: 40%
• Cost: £28.83

What they say:

Slane Irish Whiskey is a smooth spirit of natural character with untamed notes of oak and spice from a signature triple casked blend.

From the family Conyngham of Slane Castle, the barrel-raising art of Brown-Forman, and the proud people of Slane Village, this is a whiskey for those living the stories that will be told for generations to come.

Smooth, complex and robust. Slane Irish Whiskey marries toasted grain and malt whiskeys with the distinctive flavours of each cask.

Smooth with notes of oak and spice, each sip represents is a journey through the wild countryside and the chance to uncover the subtle layers of the whiskey’s complex character.

Slane Irish Whiskey takes many of its complex and smooth qualities from our signature Triple Casked process. Whiskey is aged in three varieties of casks: Virgin and Seasoned casks raised by hand at the venerated Brown-Forman Cooperages – and Oloroso sherry casks by way of Jerez in Spain. Once the liquid has been aged to perfection, it is masterfully blended to create an exceptional Irish whiskey.

VIRGIN CASKS:
Medium Char, Heavy Toast, Contributes Flavours of Toasted Oak, Vanilla

SEASONED CASKS:
Tennessee Whiskey and Bourbon Barrels, Contributes Flavours of Caramel, Plum, Banana, Butterscotch

SHERRY CASKS:
Oloroso Casks, Contributes Flavours of Raisin and Spice

Colour

A warm, golden topaz with hues of rich toffee…

Nose

Complex fruit with drizzles of caramel, butterscotch and vanilla; brown spice and toasted oak.

Taste

Spicy at first but quickly sweetened with rich caramel, vanilla and butterscotch atop a deep layer of dried fruit.

Finish

Lingering hints of dry fruit and caramelised wood sugar

What I say:

Sampled on numerous occasions during our visit and tour of the future Slane Distillery, during our deconstructed tasting at Slane Castle, during the Dublin Launch Party and more besides. This proprietary blend of Pot Still and Grain Irish Whiskey was distilled and matured to specification and then further matured for around 20 months in three different cask types to be re-blended into the final product with a flavour unique to Slane Whiskey. Presented in a very Rock ‘n’ Roll black bottle that pays homage to Slane Castle and the Conyngham family heritage.

Appearance:

Copper amber gold (11/20) , medium-fine tears leave fine legs

Nose:

Sweet and spiced, pencil shavings, fresh and toasted oak wood, floral, sweet fudge & candyfloss, caramelised sugars, butterscotch, mixed fruits, juicy apple and pear, red berries and dried fruits & nuts with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg spices

Taste:

Medium-light bodied, sweet, sandalwood, bubblegum, zesty pink grapefruit, raisin, fig/dried fruit, toasted oak, floral, pink peppercorns, woody spices such as cinnamon, vanilla cream and custard, bananas in brown sugar

Finish:

Medium sweet fruit & spices

Overall:

A deliciously accessible blend with plenty of fruit, wood and spices – pleasantly sippable neat but equally has enough flavour to carry well into mixers/cocktails and long drinks. Makes a perfect summer drink over rocks. Rewards spending time with as there is plenty going on in this blended Irish Whiskey.  A sign of great things to come from Slane Distillery!

Score: 83/100

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