WEST CORK LIMITED RELEASE BLACK CASK IRISH WHISKEY

Detailed DescriptionA new whiskey from the impressive West Cork Distillers. This is a blended Irish whiskey contains two thirds grain and one third malt, which is then matured in first fill Bourbon casks, before being transferred for a finishing period in with a no. 5 level char. Usually distillers only go to no. 4 level char (55 seconds of fire) at a maximum, which is known as the alligator char, due to the pattern it produces on the cask looking much alike the skin of an alligator. Whilst Buffalo Trace did experiment with a no. 7 level char – 3 minutes 30 seconds of flame – West Cork are still pushing the boundaries here with this “double charred” barrel. Char has two effects on the whiskey: it adds flavour, and filters the whiskey in the barrel, removing impurities. The result is a stunningly flavoursome whiskey with a tremendous balance of sweetness and smoke.West Cork Limited Release Black Cask Irish Whiskey Tasting NotesNose: Quite refined and polished on the nose with aromas of sappy oak, vanilla, wood shavings, ginger and cinnamon.Palate: Light and delicate. Quite easy to drink with well balanced oak flavours of vanilla, chocolate, ginger and other spices.Finish: Lingering.Distillery InformationFounded in 2003 by three close friends Denis McCarthy, Ger McCarthy & John O’Connell in Union Hall, West Cork, Ireland; West Cork Distillers was inspired by the proud history of artisan food & beverage production in Cork. The trio had some experience of this in their previous occupations, as Ger & Denis were deep sea trawlermen and John was a research & development scientist for some large blue chip food & beverage companies.