Glendalough Double Barrel Single Grain

Heavy burn with sweet nutty notes

Stronger than their poitin, this is also a bit more complex

Introduced to this whiskey at Portstewart Golf Club, Northern Ireland, back in Sept. 2016. Admittedly, the mystical experience of playing this majestic masterpiece, and host of the 2017 Irish Open, may have prejudiced my sensibilities, but I found the spirit to be quite likable. This young distillery started as an aging and finishing agent of whiskies acquired elsewhere, but now has a new facility scheduled to open in 2017. For me, this double barrel offering lacked the sweetness often associated with a blended Irish whiskey, and was more reminiscent of a dry Scottish highlander. The spirit imparts a fruitiness that complements well with elements of vanilla and almond. All in all, this portends a bright future for a concern founded by 5 friends with a dream. I may have rated it higher, save for the spirit's fuzzy heritage.