The Irishman Cask Strength 55.2% ABV

Tasted as party of the @TweetTasting for @WalshWhiskey on twitter on 10/3/2021.

The Irishman Rare Cask Strength (55.2% alc) is Ireland’s most exclusive Whiskey, distilled 3 times and carefully aged in American Oak Casks. Each year Bernard Walsh selects a handful of exceptional casks to make this the benchmark for Super Premium Cask Strength Irish Whiskey. It is available in strictly limited quantities with just 4,250 bottles produced for 2020. Each bottle is uniquely numbered and signed.

Walsh Whiskey

Appearance

It beads up on the swirl line, the beads slowly turn into syrupy thick legs, it’s medium to deep gold in colour.

Nose

We have stoned fruits here. Juicy bubble gum fruitiness comes through with a fizziness up the nostrils. Slowly it develops and we’re into dunnage, earthiness, menthol, new leather, old style window putty and linseed oil. The last of the development bring raisins, toast and biscuits, with perfume, floral aromas and furniture polish. It is a lovely nose to be honest. With a drop of water sweet pastries and tropical muesli come from the glass.

Palate

A lovely mouthfeel, it’s sweet, lemonade, apricots, pears, cherries, and very syrupy. Lovely and warming, and gently spicy with black pepper, oak, cinnamon, then icing sugar, and sugar coated sweet lemon slice jellies jump in. There are some dark fruits lurking here also, figs, clove and dates, a high cocoa content dark chocolate too, with time these flavours push forward. I’m adding aniseed and bitter black liquorice too, and yet stone fruits still muscle in. With time tropical fruits really take over. The whole thing is so well married. After adding a drop of water black coffee, oak, black peppercorns and a touch of honey come through.

Finish

Very long and warming with more spiciness, lots of ginger and cinnamon, and really oily on the lips. A touch of salt and pepper along with stoned and dark fruits are superbly balanced.

My thoughts

Another Walsh Whiskey that iv’e thoroughly enjoyed to be honest. Sometimes it’s a fight to get aromas and flavours from whisk(e)ys at cask strength, some need a drop of water. There’s no such issue here, we’re straight into the goodies. I have tried the it with water just to see if it gives anything else.

Would i buy a bottle?

I’d have to say that if i had the funds available i most likely would buy a bottle, there’s a whole lot of flavour for the money. It is a pleasure to sit and sip, at least an hour in my humble opinion.

Thanks to – @WalshWhiskey, @TheWhiskyWire and @TweetTastings (all Twitter).

Image credit – @TheWhiskyWire (Twitter).