islay_emissary
Midleton Dair Ghaelach Bluebell Forest
Single Pot Still — Ireland
Reviewed
August 29, 2019 (edited September 12, 2023)
Wow, this whisky is special. It consists of single pot still spirits aged from 12 to 23 years in ex-bourbon casks then finished in virgin Irish oak (19 months) felled in the Bluebell forest of County Kilkenny at 130 years of age (Tree No. 4). The wood is dried and coopered in Jerez, Spain then sent back to Ireland for filling. It’s bottled at a cask strength ABV of 56.2% and comes at you headfirst like a fire breathing dragon. It’s rich amber in color suggesting sherry aging, and guess what? It also smells and tastes a bit like sherry aged whisky. I had to scour the literature to assure there were no sherry components mentioned. An exceedingly splendid nose is dominated by unique Irish oak swirling in a rich cloud of ethanol, and accompanied by sweet vanilla, nutty chocolate, and a measure of spice. Tasting is initially smooth and succulent, but if drank too quickly the virgin oak tannins will strip away whatever protective coating your taste buds can muster and introduce you to a good dose of astringency and alcoholic burn. Taking your time or adding water will tame the dragon and make for a most pleasant experience. The palate is very much like the nose adding stone fruits and peppery effervescence that fade into the finish. Here the signature oaken tannins proclaim their heritage, and leave you huddled in a warm, lengthy afterglow. The laser etched oak packaging features craftsmanship comparable to the Macallan Lalique series and makes for a handsome keepsake. This whisky checks all the boxes and I rate it at 5 stars. Please keep in mind, I may be slightly biased by a beautiful country, friendly people, and incredible golf courses we will soon be visiting. :)
300.0
USD
per
Bottle
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Excellent review Rick!
@cascode I wish we had something like that over here. I thought they needed to have special approval or something from the Scottish whiskey governing board or whoever to create sampling for sale. His prices r waaay cheaper than MoM
@Soba45 My mistake, I thought Vintage Direct had it but I’ve just checked and it was the Grinsell’s Wood expression, and it’s gone now anyway. I don’t think there ever was any Bluebell Forest out here. Re. SMWhiskies, it’s a great source of tasting samples - most of mine have come from there. It's a 1-man company and Ian is a nice guy. He ships quickly and packages the goods excellently. One thing to watch - if you are buying anything from him that is a batch release then email first and have him confirm the actual batch he has in stock, as he is sometimes slow to update the website.
@Rick_M Its NZ..free University fees..plus I'm a firm believer pay your own way..haha :-)
@Soba45 - don’t you have kids to put through college? :)
@cascode Where did you see for sale in Australia? I couldn't find it
@cascode @Rick_M After I saw this I went hunting but no luck. I did find a place SMwhiskies in Australia that does heaps of great samples of Midleton single cask, Barry Crockett and Very Rare at great prices so I've hoovered a few up to collect when I'm over there next week. Can't wait to try them all!
Nicely captured. I love this whiskey and already am looking forward to hopefully sampling it again at WhiskeyLive later this year.
@cascode - haven’t had the BC, but it’s very much available in my area and at more favorable pricing. Will probably try and find a sample when in Ireland.
@PBMichiganWolverine - I’ve had most of the popular Irish single malts and blends at one time or another, but only a few of the single pot stills I’ve reported recently. This was definitely the best along with a Midleton VR drank years ago and would also rate at 5 stars.
@Rick_M I just checked and locally this costs not too much more than Barry Crockett Legacy. Have you tried both and if so would you rate the Dair Ghaelach more highly? To date the BC is the best Irish I've tasted.
Sounds magnificent!
Would you say this is the best Irish you’ve had?