HYDE No. 6 President's Reserve Sherry Cask Finish

A delicate, Blended Irish Whiskey by brothers Conor & Alan Hyde for Hibernia Distillers in Ireland made from a blend of 75% 8-year-old grain & 18-year-old Single Malt Irish Whiskeys matured in Ex-Bourbon & ex-Sherry casks producing 5000 bottles. It has an aromatic birth with notes of lavender, lemon, plantain, caramel & oak; while a balanced life adds notes of grains, vanilla, toffee, espresso & baking spices; that leads to a delicate & smooth death with notes of coffee, honey & spice. April 2019 / May 2020 / September 2019 / 2021 / 2022

Light nose, unexpectedly "heavy" and rough palate with intense earthly, grassy and herbal tones, not really sweet

Number three in my Hyde exploration series is No. 6, the Presidents Reserve Irish Malt Whisky. In this pour we have a blend, a mix of 18 year old single malt and 8 year old grain whisky married together and finished in an Olorosso Sherry cask. Hyde seem to rest heavily on their awards and accolades, a quick visit to their home page shows this. I am always wary these days of distilleries that chase awards as if that will mask poor substance. With this reserve there is an award of ‘winner’ for the 2018 World Whisky Awards Irish blend category. Given the performance of No. 3 and No. 4 I am not holding my breath… N: A little thin with an immediate malt forward profile that is undercut by a slightly intrusive spirit presence that I am certain will be the grain contribution. Shy, some light vanilla and biscuit character and maybe some fresh blossoms melded with some chocolate that suggests the age of the malt component. A little caramel does develop after about 10 minutes of gentle swirling but more spirit also comes out and I struggle to find the direct fruit character of sherry. P: Good texture with a creamy-milk chocolate feel. Sweetness from the grain component is not overwhelming and whilst very sugar forward there is a deeper red fruit, stewed apple, and cinnamon-clove presence to stop it running rampant. The age becomes evident here in the tannic oak presence which is a little aggressive, not for being too big, but rather from seeming to exist separately from the other flavour profiles. Occasionally there is a floral touch or perfumed quality which lifts the palate nicely. F: Medium. Tannic, plump raisin, milk chocolate. Maybe I’m already biased by a somewhat negative response to No. 3 and No. 4, but this does not seem like a world beating whisky to me. There are some interesting flavours in here. A floral lift on the palate and a quite pleasant and rich soft finish are enjoyable, yes. But, there is not enough going on to excuse the lack of nose and the distinctly unbalanced palate. Rather than a world beater, this seems like a poorly conceived way to stretch some dwindling aged stock out and I am left wondering what this could have been if it was just the 18 year old malt on its own. Or perhaps this really was the best Irish blend around in 2018, which seems like a damning indictment to me. Distiller whisky taste #170 [Pictured here with another Western Australian LCT-Pegmatite. These little pegmatite slices are from Mt Ida in the Western Australian goldfields and are comprised primarily of white spodumene and pink lepidolite, both important lithium minerals. This now emergent lithium deposit was found by an exploration company whilst reviewing historical drill core from a ceased gold mine; and set to me to define and characterise.] Hyde running scores No. 3 Aras Cask Bourbon: 2/5 No. 4 Rum Cask Finish: 1.75/5 No. 6 Presidents Reserve: 2.75/5

Nutmeg, sweet, nutty, spice, vanilla