The first in a series of limited-edition releases from The Legendary Silkie Irish Whiskey Collection, Red Silkie is finished in both Rioja and Ribera del Duero wine casks, giving it an aromatic sweetness with dry wine notes. It was inspired by the last journey of Donegal lord Red Hugh O’Donnell.
Appearance: Honey gold with a (convenient) red hue. A pleasing thick film forms and morphs into a corrugated curtain of thick legs and a deep beaded swirl mark.
Nose: That wonderful Irish whiskey staple of malt, cereals, and honey melting together with raspberries, strawberries and green apple skin. Some soft brown sugar layers on top of the other aromas.
As the glass matures and gets some air there are fruit and pastry notes, buttery and mellow.
Palate: Just as sweet as the nose would suggest. The lovely honey cereal notes and more mellow creamery flavours are consistent with the nose. It’s an exceptionally easy sipper, dare I say, almost too easy. It carries the ABV almost too well and reminds me of a 40% whisky, very light.
There’s a light black pepper note that starts off very subtle and gently builds, it never amounts to much, just sits in the background.
Orangeade notes emerge towards the finish.
Finish: Short to medium. Butter, cereal, orangeade and honey linger for a short while. Not much else going on.
Overall: It’s a great entry-level Irish whiskey given how friendly and light it is. Having purchased and loved the CS Silkies I can say without a shadow of a doubt that they’re superior.
