Jacques Senaux red absinthe is a uniquely coloured absinthe with real wormwood.

Distiller: Teichenne Distillery | ABV: 75% | Price: €8

The Jacques Senaux 70 (for 70% alcohol) Green reveals particularly pronounced notes of star anise.

The Jacques Senaux 70 Green comes in a very nice rectangular bottle topped with a large uncommon cork. A Green Fairy is shown on the label, harmonizing the overall look even more. The louche action that appears during the addition of water is quick and thick, leaving a beautiful milky green colour.

The absinth Jacques Senaux 70 Green is for liquorice lovers!

Also available in black, red, and blue colour.

Distiller: Teichenne Distillery | ABV: 70% | 

A strong absinthe with a good flavour of liquorice. This contains real wormwood (Thujone) and it best reduced down with some water.

Distiller: Teichenne Distillery | ABV: 80% | Price: €9

The black Jacques Senaux Absinthe is the highest strength version which has aniseed, herbs & pepper plus plenty of alcohol. Should be drunk with a mixer.

Distiller: Teichenne Distillery | ABV: 85% | Price: €10

Havana Club Añejo Especial is a blend of rums aged for up to five years produced from the fermented molasses of sugar cane harvested in Cuba. The molasses is combined with yeast and water, distilled using column stills, and aged in white oak barrels.

Havana Club was founded in 1878 by Jose Arechabala and later nationalised after the Cuban Revolution in 1959.

Distiller: Hanvana Club | ABV: 40% | €5

This rich, dark, fine Old Jamaica Rum, produced from the finest sugar cane, captures the spirit of adventure associated with sailors and the sea. Sea Dog is Ireland's number 1 Dark Rum.

During the middle of the 1500's John Hawkins the leader of the infamous Sea Dogs plundered the wealthy merchant ships trading in the lawless Caribbean Sea. He helped himself to the richest treasures the Caribbean could offer but there was one prize he cherished above any other. The fine, dark, Jamaica Rum, destined for European Royalty, rarely found its way past the thirsty Sea Dogs. Sea Dog Dark Rum is distilled in the tradition of that treasured spirit and maintains the same dark, mysterious character. Sea Dog has a truly unique taste and aroma evocative of Old Jamaica.

Distiller: Jim Bean | ABV: 37.5% | €5

Probably the most prestigious light Cuban rum, Havana Club 3 year old infuses an extra touch of quality into rum cocktails and is great with just about any mixer we can think of.

Distiller: Havana Club | ABV: 40% | €5

Introduced in the summer of 2010, Elements Eight Spiced is perhaps the first super-premium spiced rum, infused with a variety of fruits and spices including cinnamon, ginger, vanilla and honey. Judging by the rave reviews this seems to have raised the stakes in a very lucrative category – replacing the old Sailor Jerry recipe as the must-have spiced rum.

Distiller: Element Eight | ABV: 40% |

Tanqueray is one of our favourite gins, so any special variant is something to be happy about. This is brilliant stuff, flavoured with Rangpur limes – a zesty and very juicy Indian variety. The results are lip-smackingly delicious.

Distiller: Tanqueray Distillery | ABV: 41.3% | Price: €6.50

What makes this gin great is, obviously, the taste. I liken the aroma of cold gin to a bouquet of flowers you should smell them. Gordon’s smells sweet and piney with hints of burning alcohol…in a good way. The flavour of Gordon’s London Dry Gin essentially breaks down into five parts; evergreen, citrus, floral notes, spice, and smoothness. Evergreen is the pine flavour that comes from the juniper, citrus, florality and spice all come from the bouquet and botanicals. Smoothness determines the quality of the base alcohol. The evergreen flavour rates about a 4 present and pronounced but in a way that is not in your face about it. The heat I’ll rate at a 4, no burn up front, but there is some unpleasantness on the back end after the exhale.

Citrus is about a 2; there is a hint of orange and lemon peel are complements next to the juniper like a bass player, there, but if done well unnoticed. Here is where Gordon’s triumphs, the botanicals they have arranged here truly are the star. The Angelica root’s musk is proof positive that this recipe is old and cheap. Able to outshine the harsh booze (to an extent) while extending a helping hand to other more delicate scents and flavours to earn a 5. What I think is black peppercorn finishes off the array of flavours in a very palatable way so spice is a 1. If you’re drinking Gordon’s London Dry Gin neat, the finish is sweet on the lips, bitter in the mouth, and fire in your throat.
So what exactly makes this gin taste the way it tastes? What sets it apart? It’s the aged juniper berries. The only ingredient that makes gin, gin. These berries are hand-picked each year and then aged for two years to strengthen the oils and mellow out the strong evergreen flavour. I realise this is a lot of info, so let me sum it up for you.

-Gordon’s London Dry Gin is the OG or Original Gin of the modern era.
-The flavour is mild, OK on it’s own, but should really be playing second fiddle to stronger citrus flavours to really bring everything out.

Distiller: Cameronbridge Gin Distillery | ABV: 47.5% | Price: €5.50

On the nose, elderflower and elderberry give the gin some lift, but it never strays too far from a core juniper backbone. Shortcross has a classic yet contemporary flavour. Verdant notes from juniper and clover are layered with the lemony coriander spice. There’s a delicate peppery yet leafy (angelica) finish too, with an overall oily mouthfeel that adds a rich texture to the experience when tasted neat. Elderberries emerge to taste too, complementing the floral elements well. It’s not often that a gin has a sense of place. Few set out to achieve it and even fewer succeed.

In this light, Shortcross is an intriguing gin that’s true to the base idea of “Craft Gin”, which should be about having its regional accents as well as the small batch methods that the term implies. It’s impossibly smooth too. We’ve tasted it time and again and never quite believed the 46% ABV (it really is) as it’s simply so soft and elegant.

Distiller: Rademon Estate Distillery | ABV: 46% | Price: €7

First up is the colour. It looks something like a children’s drink resembling Pedialyte or those orange hugs. I had the same sort of cognitive dissonance when drinking the Tru gin. If my Gin and Tonic isn’t crystal clear, it doesn’t feel like a gin and tonic.

As for the taste it goes surprisingly well in a gin and tonic, but prepare not to fully experience the saffron. In a gin and tonic, the saffron and fennel come through, but in a balanced manner. There’s a strange sweet taste- not bad, just strange, almost as if there was already simple syrup in the gin. Despite the sweet undertone, this gin does not go well in a Tom Collins, Martini nor in any other drink that has a strong sweet or sour component. The flavours seem to clash with one another. Dare I say, I found the perfect gin for a Churchhill Martini, or even to be sipped on the rocks. Honestly, these two methods are probably your best bet for really appreciating the subtle saffron flavour that seems to really come out as you sip it.

Distiller: Gabriel Boudier Distillery | ABV: 40% | Price: €5.50

Taste and Nose
Cucumber and citrus on the nose. A tad lemon, but there’s a nice bit of juniper in here. Recognisable as not normal Gordon’s for sure. That faint vegetable note, although sweet, might be enough to push folks out of the comfort zone.

Taste is weak and slightly sweet at first, culminating rapidly with a flash of heat and juniper. The middle is where a lot of the traditional gin notes lie. A little bit of coriander, and some earthiness, a bit citrus. It’s nice. The finish is cooling, rather quiet but leaves a long lingering note of cucumber and juniper. Finishes quite smooth, but at 37.5% alcohol, you might expect this a little.  A little bit of bitterness on the long finish.

Mixing.
The promo material for Gordon’s crisp cucumber proudly states that it’s meant to be mixed with tonic. So of course that’s where I’m going to give it a try first. The cucumber comes out really nicely with tonic actually. Just adding a hint of sweetness, and a bright note of juniper. It really maintains a lot of that London Dry formula but with the added sweetness of cucumber. Quite nice, and understated. The cucumber is in nice balance.

Folks who like the idea of a martini but don’t like a lot of power might like this. Basically it would make a really easy sipping martini almost on its own. It doesn’t pack a lot of punch, so it can be overpowered in drinks, though I find that the flavour of the cucumber comes through somewhat even still.

Distiller: Cameronbridge Gin Distillery | ABV: 37.5% | Price: €5

What makes Edinburgh Gin so unique and distinctive, are the carefully selected, notoriously soft Scottish botanicals, which are mixed with heather and milk thistle, and added at the final production stage.

Distiller: Spencerfield Spirit Co. Distillery | ABV: 43% | Price: €5

I am really regretting not visiting this brewery when I was in Bruges. The brewery makes three beers: Brugse Zot, Straffe Hendrik Tripel and Straffe Hendrik Quad. I have had the Zot, so I just need to buy the Tripel now.

As for the quad, this must be one of the lightest quads I have ever had. The flavours have a way of just melting away into your mouth without oppressing you too much on the way. It should be noted that there is still a significant amount of body and flavour, just compared to other quads, it seems a little light (which is actually a good thing).

The bottle says there is a "clean dryness" that I suppose is what I am trying to get at. There are light hints of dried fruits and a sweet maltiness. Also, as this beer warms up, it seems to get a little smoother and more drinkable. Quite a surprise.

Distiller: Brouwerij De Halve Maan | ABV: 9% | Price: €5

I am really regretting not visiting this brewery when I was in Bruges. The brewery makes three beers: Brugse Zot, Straffe Hendrik Tripel and Straffe Hendrik Quad. I have had the Zot, so I just need to buy the Tripel now.

As for the quad, this must be one of the lightest quads I have ever had. The flavours have a way of just melting away into your mouth without oppressing you too much on the way. It should be noted that there is still a significant amount of body and flavour, just compared to other quads, it seems a little light (which is actually a good thing).

The bottle says there is a "clean dryness" that I suppose is what I am trying to get at. There are light hints of dried fruits and a sweet maltiness. Also, as this beer warms up, it seems to get a little smoother and more drinkable. Quite a surprise.

Distiller: Brouwerij De Halve Maan | ABV: 11% | Price: €6

This beer pours a clear, dark red-brick brown colour, with two chubby fingers of puffy, finely foamy, and somewhat fizzy beige head, which leaves a bit of thickly sudsy forest canopy lace around the glass as it very slowly sinks away.

It smells of bready and doughy caramel malt, bittersweet cocoa powder, some mixed dark fruitiness (raisins, dried cherries, and bruised apples), an ephemeral yeastiness, a sort of sweet nuttiness, and very subtle leafy and mildly perfumed floral hop bitters. The taste is gritty and grainy caramel malt, a twinge of biscuity toffee, besotted black orchard fruit (essentially the same from the aroma), dead-seeming yeast, an oily bar-top nutty character, brown sugar syrup, and more plain herbal and estery floral hoppiness.

The bubbles are pretty low-key in their workaday frothiness, the body a decent medium weight, and generally smooth, just a hint of yeast and alcohol ingress keeping this from obtaining top marks, as such. It finishes off-dry, but in a duly moderated sense - malt, yeast, fruity, florals, and alcohol, all playing nicely together.

Overall, Brugse Zot Dubbel (say that 10 times fast!) comes across as a version of the style that has been made this way forever, and they ain't gonna be changing it anytime soon. Well-constructed, if not particularly complex, but that's ok, it just renders it all that much more easy to quaff, brain duly turned off.

Distiller: Huisbrouwerij De Halve Maan | ABV: 7.5% | €4.50

Appearance - pours almost the darkest of dark blacks with a small half finger of tam head on top. Good head retention and the colour eradicates light. Small cap of tan foam lingers for a good duration on top.

Smell - dark chocolate and some surprisingly cherry aroma too to add some complexity. Some mild earthiness with just a hint of vanilla and coffee on the nose, but sweetish on the nose with dark chocolate and cherry being the stars.

Taste - loads of dark chocolate, a prevalent but restrained bitterness. Some mild sweetness with a brief cherry intermission before a fine coffee ground flavour shines through as well. Complex with multiple levels of flavour there's even a coffee, vanilla and caramel troika to close. Yum. Enough other flavours to make me think this is an American stout as opposed to a Russian imperial stout.

Mouthfeel - smooth with a heavy but slick body, creamy feel and adequate carbonation. Just right for the style.

Overall - while Brooklyn's Dark Chocolate stout is not quite the pinnacle of the style, it is a delicious, flavourful stout loaded with dark chocolate and cherries that is certainly worth any beer advocates time. Highly recommended for this top notch brew.

Distiller: Brooklyn Brewery | ABV: 10% | €5

Check out there website at brooklynbrewery.com

Poured from the bottle into a pint glass, this brew's head is three fingers thick and tawny, with webbed lacing, and a slightly murky brownish copper body.

I smell plenty of bread, or dare I say sourdough, malts alongside a slightly apple-y and copper scent near the end. Which I'll assume is accredited to the historical use of copper pipes at this brewery.

Tastes like pretty much the same components. Nothing bad, yet nothing outstanding either. Kinda just "meh".

The mouthfeel is medium light with mild carbonation. A clean and refreshing finish that I could see myself appreciating a lot more in the summer months.

Distiller: Anchor Brewing Company | ABV: 4.9% | €4

Check out there website at anchorbrewing.com

Pours a murky honey orange with a foamy bone head that settles to a partial film on top of the beer. A foamy lattice of lace coats the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, earth, pine needle, and citrus zest aromas. Taste is much the same with citrus zest, earth, and floral flavours on the finish. There is a mild amount of hop and earth bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel.

Distiller: Jim Bean | ABV: 4.6% | €5

Check out there website at mikkeller.dk

A Single Malt Whiskey is the product of one specific distillery and has not been mixed with whisky from any other distilleries. Tyrconnell is distilled by the award winning Cooley distillery who have been the driving force behind the Irish Single Malt evolution. Most Irish malt whiskey has been traditionally found its way into blended whiskeys thus it is rare to find Irish malt whiskey bottled in its pure form.

Distiller: Cooley Distillery | ABV: 46% | €5.50

It's the 2015 release of The Irishman's Cask Strength Irish whiskey, an ace expression released in limited numbers each year. It was drawn from specially selected ex-bourbon casks and bottled at 54% ABV. 2,595 bottles were produced.

Nose: Caramel and vanilla, with a little bit of honeycomb bringing to mind Crunchie bars.

Palate: Oak starts to ramp up here, with pepper and nutmeg adding a hearty hint of spice to the clean orchard fruit and milk chocolate notes.

Finish: Lasting nuttiness and a final touch of spices from the cask. Very long.

Overall: Big-bodied Irish whiskey - yum!

Distiller:

Distiller: Walsh Whiskey Distillery Co Whiskeys And Liqueurs | ABV: 54% |

A rare bottling from of Midleton's Very Rare series from 1985. Highly collectible.

Distiller: The Midleton Whiskey Distillery Co.  | ABV: 40% | €65

The famous Irish whiskey liqueur. This is made using Irish whiskey, honey, fruit, herbs and spices and is said to have been creating using an ancient recipe.

Distiller: Irish Mist Liqueur Co. | ABV: 40% | €5.50

This is an incredible Midleton whiskey that was released to celebrate 30 years - the pearl anniversary - of the Very Rare range of blends. A collaboration between retired master distiller Barry Crockett and new master distiller Brian Nation, each bottle carries a signature of both men. Two casks were selected, one a single pot still cask from 1984 and the other a single grain from 1981. These were then married for six months in a fourth-fill Bourbon barrel which eventually yielded just 117 bottles of sublime Irish whiskey!

Apparently the Midleton distillery had a massive clearout of old casks during the 1980s when they moved onto a stricter wood selection and cask management scheme. Therefore barrels from this era are incredibly rare and unlikely to crop up again.

Great care went into the high-end packaging and presentation. Each bottle is hand-blown at Jerpoint Glass in Kilkenny and a miniature is also supplied for tasting purposes. The oak box which hugs the bottle very neatly was crafted in County Wexford.

Distiller: The Midleton Whiskey Distillery | ABV: 53.1% | €650

A very exciting single cask of Irish whiskey bottled exclusively for The Whisky Exchange. This first fill bourbon cask of single pot still whiskey from Ireland's largest distillery, Midleton, was distilled in November 1991 and bottled at cask strength in October 2012 a month shy of its 21st birthday. A profusion of tropical fruit flavours on a luxurious bed of creamy vanilla.

Distiller: The Midleton Whiskey Distillery Co.  | ABV: 54.1% | 

Connemara is rare amongst Irish whiskey, its hook being the smokiness associated with the malts produced by our neighbours Scotland. It's a style of whiskey that had died away in Ireland after the 19th century, when small distillers would probably have dried their malt with whatever fuel was available at the time. It's said that when the Cooley Distillery started up in the late 1980s, it had no plans to make a smoky whiskey, but at some stage peaty malt was bought and run through the stills with fantastic results. It's a lovely malty whiskey with Cooley's signature honey and pear notes as well as a beautiful waft of smoke.  Since it was released in the late 1990s, it has won over many fans of peated Scotch whiskies such as Laphroaig and Ardbeg. Yet Connemara still has a definite Irish character.

Inspired by Ireland’s ancient distilling traditions, Connemara’s smooth sweet malt taste and complex peat flavours makes it a truly unique Irish whiskey. Connemara is the most decorated Irish whiskey with a huge collection of Gold Medals and has been honoured as the “Worlds Best Irish Single Malt”. Connemara allows you to unearth the Peated Pleasures of Ireland.

Distiller: Cooley Whiskey Distillery | ABV: 40% |

The very first 10 year old whisky to be wholly distilled, aged and bottled following Bruichladdich's resurrection in 2001. In many ways this marks the beginning of the new era, and this will be snapped up by connoisseurs and collectors. A true milestone bottling.

Distiller: Bruichladdich Whiskey Distillery | ABV: 46% | €6

Matured in American ex-bourbon hogsheads, filled with unique kind of fishy palate, it was a weird whisky in a bad way. I only gave it a score of 76 points and felt that even that was charity. Many years later, it was time to revisit this Carbost based Classic Malt owned by Diageo.

Distiller: Talisker Whiskey Distillery | ABV: 45% | €6.50

Released in Spring 2014, this is one of two Distiller's Reserve single malt whiskies from Suntory in Japan. This single malt from the Yamazaki distillery is jam-packed with superb red berry notes, gained from the whisky being matured in Bordeaux wine casks and Sherry casks. It also features malt matured in Mizunara casks, adding subtle fragrant oak notes.

Nose: Classic Yamazaki strawberries and dried fruits with floral notes coming from the Mizunara cask whisky. Fragrant sandalwood and maybe coconut. Certainly a whisky where you could get lost in its nose!

Palate: The dried berries remain lively on the palate (it even develops some raspberry notes along the way), but they're dialled back a bit to make room for light oak, white peach and a small amount of spice.

Finish: Vanilla lasts and lasts, with spicy but sweet cinnamon acting as a final flourish.

Overall: Top quality Japanese whisky, and excellent value too. Can't go wrong with this, really.

Distiller: Yamazaki Whiskey Distillery | ABV: 43% |

The 101 proof expression is Wild Turkey's most well known bourbon and their flagship brand. While they also produce an 80 proof version, it’s the 101 proof expression that immediately comes to mind when “Wild Turkey” is mentioned. This higher-than-normal proof for a company’s standard bottle has probably become this bourbon's most beloved attribute. It’s amazing that just one extra proof point can differentiate a product so much from the 100 proof bottled-in-bond bourbons in the marketplace.

 Of course none of that would mean anything if the flavour profile couldn’t standout on its own. This is one of the most robust flavour profiles available in its price range but one I fear many people (especially new bourbon drinkers) might overlook because of lackluster branding. The turkey branding, while correlating nicely to its company’s namesake, does little to relate to modern sensibilities. Yes, bourbon and old-fashioned traditions go hand-in-hand, but Wild Turkey’s branding seems stale and outdated. Even Old Grand-Dad which suffered a similar identity crustiness recently changed their branding. The point is, Wild Turkey 101 is a quality product that deserves more fanfare and overall attention than it currently receives and I believe the outdated branding is partly to blame.

Distiller: Wild Turkey Whiskey Distillery | ABV: 50.5% | Price €6

A deliciously soft and smooth single malt that happens to be made in the heart of Bourbon country! This is a lot lighter and easier to drink than most Scottish single malts but in many ways could be compared to an Irish counterpart.

Both standard American oak barrels and barrels that have previously held Allech's Kentucky Bourbon ale are used for the ageing progress and provide it with a rich flavour.

Distiller: Lexington Brewing and Distilling Company (Allech) | ABV: 40% | Price: €7

Kentucky Jack Straight Bourbon Whiskey originates from Kentucky in the U.S., the only region in the world where it is allowed to produce Bourbon Whiskey.

The mellow blend of fermented corn and grain, meticulous distilled gives the Kentucky Jack Bourbon Whiskey its extraordinary mildness and its unique character.

Straight, or on the rocks as longdrink and for the finest cocktails, a real treat!

Distilled in the US and bottled in Belgium, Kentucky Jack is a Bourbon Whiskey that is obtained by distilling fermented mash and corn whiskey.

Color: golden yellow; Odor: sweet with hints of vanilla and caramel; Taste: intense and delicately sweet.

Kentucky Jack aged for a minimum 3 Years.

Distiller: Jack Daniels | ABV: 40% | €6

Made to the same formula since 1795, this giant of the category is aged for four years in oak barrels to create a smooth, mellow taste with hints of spice.

The second barreling allows the liquid to develop an even deeper level of intense spiced oakiness and rich caramel, creating a unique bourbon encounter.

This latest innovation from Jim Beam has a golden amber colour and a distinctive spiced oakiness with intense caramel and toffee flavours. The aroma carries rich notes of caramel and vanilla with hints of toasted wood. It is best enjoyed neat, on the rocks or mixed in classic American cocktails.

Distiller: Jim Bean | ABV: 40% | €6

Gentleman Jack is charcoal-mellowed twice, before and after the ageing process, resulting in a cleaner, more refined end product. Packaged in a smart monogram-esque bottle.

Distiller: Jack Daniels | ABV: 40% | 

Jack Daniels Tour 

The Cooper’s Croze is a whiskey created by our Head Cooper, Ger Buckley, showcasing the diversity of barrels at our Midleton distillery and the profound influence that wood yields. With knowledge passed down through 5 generations of his family, Ger selects, repairs, and maintains our treasured casks. The Cooper’s Croze is a carefully crafted whiskey that effortlessly carries vanilla sweetness, rich fruit flavours, floral and spice notes and the undeniable influence of oak. You can take whiskey out of wood but you can never take the wood out of whiskey.

Distiller: Jameson Irish Whiskey | ABV: 43% | Price: €9

Distillers Video 

We’re not sure if our Head Blender, Billy Leighton, has a musical note in his head but harmony is his main pursuit. The Blender’s Dog is a whiskey that celebrates his craft the art of marrying whiskeys. A superbly balanced, complex whiskey, The Blender’s Dog is a perfect balance of spirit, wood, and time; delivering butterscotch sweetness with a prickle of spice and tannins. Making whiskey requires a fair deal of science, but blending is an art.

Distiller: Jameson Irish Whiskey | ABV: 43% | Price: €9

Tasting Video 

The Distiller’s Safe is a whiskey that celebrates the craft of our Head Distiller, Brian Nation, and his mastery of the Irish Pot Still. The spirit safe is an instrument allowing him to sample what’s going on inside the still, a confirmation of quality at every turn.

Delivering a smooth mouthfeel and gentle notes of apricot, cinnamon and melon, The Distiller’s Safe pays respect to the character of the distillate. Long before barrels make their mark, a pot still has the first say.

Distiller: Jameson Irish Whiskey | ABV: 43% | Price: €9

Distillers Video 

Blue Lagoon is a popular summer cocktail featuring blue Curaçao. One variation adds a dash of lime cordial to the mix. Also known as a "Fruit tingle" after the candy available in some countries.

Vodka, Blue Curacao, topped with Sprite, served on ice

 Price: €8

Tasting Video

The Tequila Sunrise is a cocktail made of tequila, orange juice, and grenadine syrup and served unmixed in a tall glass . The modern drink originates from Sausalito in the early 1970s, after an earlier one created in the 1930s in Phoenix, near Scottsdale. The cocktail is named for its appearance when served, with gradations of color resembling a sunrise

Tequila, Shaken with ice & Orange Juice, Finished with Grenadine, Slice of Orange

 Price: €8

Tasting Video

lovely Classic Summer Cocktail. Strawberry Puree, Blended with Vodka and Ice, Served in a Marguerita Glass. Enjoy!

Price: €8

Tasting Video

New to our Menu, Strawberry Puree added to our classic Gin & Tonic, served with Lime Garnish

 Price: €8

Sour mixes are the easy way out. This is the 19th Century way to make a whiskey sour, and it still stands tall over 200 years later.

Bulleit Bourbon, Lemon & Lime Juice, Simple Syrup, Dash of Angostura Bitters, served on ice

 Price: €8

Tasting Video

The old fashioned has been the old-fashioned way to make a cocktail for about 130 years, during which time it has been in and out of fashion – its current resurgence seems almost entirely attributable to its popularity with Mad Men's dreamy Don Draper, who is rarely without one in his dapper hand as he swings his way through the 60s.

The no-nonsense counterpart to all those tediously long drinks full of fizz, fancy flavours and more fruit juice than your average breakfast bar, the old fashioned is that rare thing: a cocktail that actually tastes of booze. It is a drink that goes down as well before dinner as after it; one that you've almost always got the ingredients for; and which packs just enough punch that one is, sensibly, enough. (Though, unlike a martini, two is rarely too many.)

At Revolution, we use Bulleit Bourbon, Simple Vanilla Syrup & Orange Bitters

 Price: €8

Tasting Video

One of most popular Cocktails, Maybe Because of its name!

a Subtle mix of Passion Fruit, Mango & Blood Orange shaked with Vodka & Ice

Price: €8

A Long Island Iced Tea is a type of alcoholic mixed drink typically made with tequila, vodka, light rum, triple sec, gin, and a splash of cola, which gives the drink the same amber hue as its namesake.

 Price: €8

Tasting Video

Mojito is a traditional Cuban highball. Traditionally, a mojito is a cocktail that consists of five ingredients: white rum, sugar, lime juice, sparkling water, and mint

 Price: €8

Tasting Video

The Black Russian is a cocktail of vodka and coffee liqueur. It contains five parts vodka to two parts coffee liqueur. Traditionally the drink is made by pouring the vodka over ice cubes or cracked ice in an old-fashioned glass, followed by the coffee liqueur, we top it with Coke & a Guinness Head

 Price: €8

Tasting Video

This is a popular Sex on the Beach and what is most likely the original. Popular substitutes include using pineapple for the orange, or Midori & Chambord instead of schnapps. Add vodka and peach schnapps to a highball glass over ice. Fill with equal measures of cranberry juice and orange juice, and stir.

 Price: €8

Tasting Video

An exciting and unusual gin from Islay whisky distillery Bruichladdich, The Botanist is made in a Lomond still christened Ugly Betty and contains no fewer than 31 botanicals, of which 22 are native to the Southern Hebridean island itself. The latter include the likes of mugwort, meadowsweet and the enigmatic Lady's Bedstraw flowers, and the resultant dry gin is described, perhaps unsurprisingly, as 'floral'.

Winner of TWE Spirit of the Year 2013-14

Distiller:Bruichladdich | ABV: 46% | Price: €8

Tasting Video

A super-premium small-batch Tanqueray gin named after the No.10 still in which it is made. A superbly controlled explosion of botanical flavours, with much more citrus character than its Export Strength cousin.

 ABV: 47.3% | Price: €7

Tasting Video

Tanqueray is a London Dry Gin with a dry and crisp taste. Whilst the recipe is a fiercely guarded secret, it is thought to contain as little as four botanicals. Bottled at 47.3% ABV, it's very dry and has strong juniper notes with a hint of spice.

 | ABV: 47.3% | Price: €6.50

Tasting Video

This is made by steeping sloe berries in Plymouth Gin and then blending it with Dartmouth water. A great, crisp and fruity sloe gin from Plymouth.

Distiller: Plymouth | ABV: 26% | Price: €6.50

Tasting Video

Plymouth Gin was one of The Gin is In’s earliest 5 Star Gin Reviews. As part of the 50 States of Gin tasting, we had a Navy Strength Gin tasting where we compared some of the big names in the industry to some of the new offerings from U.S. microdistilleries. Plymouth is the five hundred pound gorilla. One of the best gins out there with one of the most storied pasts, and this gin whose Navy Strength gin is perhaps most synonymous with the term Navy Strength Gin. At 57%, its heated and intense. But this shouldn’t come as a surprise.

How does Plymouth’s Navy Strength Gin stand up to the lofty standards set by its forebearers?

Tasting
Q. Aaron, does it taste significantly different than the regular Plymouth Gin?

A. The strength. No, rather, the lack of dilution. It emphasizes different notes. (drinks gin) Really, while the mainline gin you kind of feel this balance. (drinks gin) Here the citrus seems rather dominating. The juniper comes in on the finish.

Q. Does the 57% affects its drinkability?

A. As I’m drinking it right now. Neat. A little bit, honestly, I’d be hesitant to recommend it to someone neat. But you’re not going to be drinking it neat, right?

Q. Probably not, so back to the taste, what can you tell me about the nose?

A. I’m glad you asked. Citrusy, hot, with a bit of juniper. A little bit like orange and lemon candy. (pauses) (drinks gin)

Q. And  what if you dilute the gin with a bit of water?

A. It does begin to take on a bit of that classic Plymouth flavor. I don’t have the regular Plymouth to taste this side by side, but I will say that off the top of my head. And the [unintelligible] times I’ve had Plymouth I’d say they’re pretty similar.

Distiller: Plymouth | ABV: 57% | Price: €8

Tasting Video

Plymouth Gin as a brand has grown in spite of its owners’ woes both present and past. The oldest British gin distillery still operating in its original location, Plymouth Gin is a titan in the drinks world and worthy of the continued affection held by many gin fans all over the world.

Contrary to the London Dry style that has come to dominate today’s gin market, Plymouth Gin continues to be true to its roots and has retained its own distinct character. Produced in a still which has not been changed for over 150 years, it has a subtle yet full bodied flavour with no astringent botanicals and a slightly subdued juniper.

The Plymouth Gin distillery (known as the Black Friars Distillery) is now the only gin distillery remaining in the town ofPlymouth, England, located in what was once a Dominican Order monastery built in 1431. Before being a gin distillery, the building’s history was both rich and chequered. One of the oldest structures in Plymouth full stop, the building was briefly turned into a debtor’s prison after its time as a monastery. The established distilling business of Fox & Williamson began production ofPlymouth Gin in 1793, although records show distilling had been going on at the site since the 1690’s onwards. Plymouth Distillerynow has the accolade of being the oldest British distillery still active today in its original location.

In the early 1800’s the business was to become known as Coates & Co, but to save a long and protracted story about the sales and acquisitions of the brand through the next 200 years, let us just say that since 2008, it has been owned and distributed by theFrench company Pernod Ricard. Having been passed around more than a hot potato, nearly killed off and under appreciated, there are some highlights from the archives that are worthy of a mention however…

Technically speaking, Plymouth Gin is a both an actual gin and a style of gin which by law, can only be produced in the town ofPlymouth. It is the only gin in the UK to have a Protected Geographical Indication within the European Union – one of only a handful all across the world. This is the result of a legal judgement in the 1880′s when a London distiller began producing a “Plymouth” gin. In this period, it is possible that there were several distilleries producing gin in Plymouth and as such it may have been possible to identify a style native to the area. Therefore, the Contrôle Appelée was most likely awarded as the result of a decision to preserve the regional differences rather than a single distillery suing another for creating a similar product. It’s hard to know for sure as no records or transcripts have survived from the other now defunct distilleries that were based inPlymouth – for example, understanding what botanicals they purchased and their sales records may have been able to shed some light onto the wider Plymouth style.

While we’re on the subject of Plymouth’s history, it’s probably fair to say that a major reason why the distillery fought for their name and their regional style is because they were seeking to protect their sales from the Royal Navy. An important buyer at the time, the Royal Navy rations may have been issued with rum, but officers were all drinking gin. The commercial relationship with the Navy was huge business to British distillers. By 1850 the Royal Navy were buying over 1,000 barrels of super strength 57% ABV Plymouth Gin a year! Navy Gin remains to this day – despite there being numerous alternatives on the market and numerous defunct distilleries that enjoyed a similar relationship with her Majesty’s Navy (e.g. Bristol Gin, Liverpool etc…) – almost completely linked to Plymouth.

In the early 1980’s as Plymouth Gin‘s sales went through the floor, the decision was made to reduce the ABV to 37.5%. Thankfully, when Plymouth was bought in 1997, production quality was restored by the new management. The ABV was raised once again and a return to grain spirit (rather than the sugar beet introduced by the previous owners) was combined with the reintroduction of a “one shot” distillation method. It wasn’t plain sailing from there on in, but at least it was no longer a shadow of its former self.

Plymouth Original Strength is at 41.2% ABV. It has a distinctively different, less crisp flavour than the much more commonly available London Dry Gins on the market today. This flavour is the result of a higher than usual proportion of root ingredients, which bring a more earthy feel to the gin as well as a smoother juniper hit. Once the coriander dissipates, liquorice andangelica dominate the palate long after the gin has gone in what is an unusually long finish for a gin.

The still used to create Plymouth Gin has been in place for over 160 years. A character of its own, the neck is shorter than customary and the lye pipe is more harshly bent. Master DistillerSean Harrison is convinced that this is a contributing factor inPlymouth Gin’s taste and is understandably reluctant to let anyone alter it even if that would make it more efficient. There is a Navy Strength (57% ABV) version of the gin also available. Re-introduced in 1993 by then Master Distiller Desmond Payne, who now currently resides at the helm of Beefeater’s production, sought to celebrate the brand’s 200 year anniversary. It was intended to be a nod to the relationship between Plymouth and the Royal Navy and a small run to diversify the range and celebrate the milestone, but time has shown that the result has been far more important than that. More than 10 years on, the existence of Navy Gin as a sub-category is almost purely due toPlymouth – as the style wouldn’t have resurfaced had Desmond Payne not brought it back. It has been the flag bearer of this sub-style and the gin has allowed a whole era of the spirits history to remain alive and accessible to today’s enthusiasts. It’s had an enduring legacy and it’s hard to overestimate just how big a cornerstone Plymouth Navy Gin represents for the category.

To taste, Plymouth Navy Strength is more aggressively charged than its Original Strength sister. The juniper is a little more assertive and so too the spice notes. The lemon seems brighter and Plymouth Navy, upon every re-trial we have here at Gin Foundry, is in our top 5 gins of all time. It is – all eloquent words aside – just awesome.

If you take a look at the old bottles of Plymouth found in their archives – and now perhaps even on Google – it’s possible to see a depiction of one of the monastery’s friars on the inside of the back label. It was said that “when the monks feet got dry, it was time for a new bottle”. Unfortunately in 2006 the bottle’s style was changed to an Art Deco look and feel, and this piece of drinking folklore was laid to rest. The image of a monk was replaced with the Mayflower, a ship that retains special significance in the brands 200 year history, as allegedly some of the Pilgrim Fathers spent their final night in Britain at the Plymouth monastery, before setting sail for the New World. We like to think that they went laden with gin, but history tells us it was probably a different tale…

The Art Deco bottle design Plymouth sported for numerous years (around 20) was also a nod to Plymouth’s dominance as the gin of choice in many cocktails from that era. It was also favoured by notable individuals such as Winston Churchill and Alfred Hitchcock but suffered badly, enduring years of neglect at the hands of huge multinationals.

In 2013, there was a re-design and a more rounded shape given to the iconic gin bottle. The price has been drastically hiked up in the UK and the brand team seem desperately intent on tinkering about with it, seemingly fixing long term issues caused by previous owners. It’s finally getting there and despite not pushing it, Plymouth Gin has remained a trade favourite and is now growing globally once more.

With its heritage and the craftsmanship involved in the making of it (Sean Harrison is an incredible distiller), it’s almost impossible to ignore these fantastic gins. There is no doubt that things will continue to turn around for Plymouth and that they will regain more of of that justly deserved attention. We recommend helping them along this path by picking up a bottle and seeing why so many bartenders still say it’s their gin of choice.

Distiller: Patron | ABV: 35% | Price: €7

Tasting Video

The Rudd family came up with the original idea for No. 209 Gin. Their background is in wine and fine food - they own Rudd Oakville Estate Winery and previously owned Dean & DeLuca  - so meticulous attention to detail and focus on quality is second nature to them. When they embarked upon the exploratory research for this gin endeavor, they assembled a team with sophisticated palates and a passion for excellence, years of alcoholic beverage experience (not simply on the consumption side), and youthful exuberance and drive. From the outset, their goal was to make the finest possible gin with care and intelligence for people who think about what they drink – a gin that reflects the heritage of small batch hand-crafted distilling but is a unique and modern 21st century spirit.

Distiller: no.209 | ABV: 40% | Price: €8

Tasting Video

An unusual gin from the Black Forest in Germany, Monkey 47 contains a unique ingredient. No, not that! Cranberries! The 47 comes from the number of botanicals that go into this unique gin, and the fact it's bottled at a healthy 47%.

This plethora of ingredients has paid off, and in 2011 Monkey 47 won the World Spirits Award Gold in the Gin category and Gold for best in class for the Gin Worldwide at the International Wine and Spirits Competition London. Not bad!

Nose: Oh there is a lot going on here... woody, vegetable smells under pin fresh grassy citrus notes and botanical sweetness, like a pine forest after the rain.

Palate: Predictably complex, this is a robust and powerful gin with plenty of spice, fruit and herb flavours. It's very well structured, and difficult to unpick but a citrus fresh start segues into pine and wood notes for a drying finish.

Finish: Wooded and reassuringly heavy.

Overall: A unique gin, that is crying out to be made into a Martini. It'll need an equally robust vermouth though.

Distiller: Monkey 47, Germany | ABV: 47% | Price: €8.50

the Making of Monkey 47

Hand crafted, hand bottled, hand labelled, and hand numbered, this small batch gin is truly unique.

Master distiller Todd Leopold handicrafts every batch in a small 40-gallon copper still, blending uniquely American botanicals like hand-zested Florida Oranges and California Pummelos. These components lend citrus notes to the gin, and help distinguish American gins from their English counterparts.

All botanicals are distilled in fractions, meaning that each component of gin is distilled separately and then blended together to create the finished spirit. Unlike mass-produced gins where the flavours can appear to be muddled together, and stronger spices such as juniper can overpower the balance of the gin, distilling in fractions allows each individual note to be highlighted. The result is a softer, more refined, and more approachable spirit. The gin is also crafted in small batches, rather than in a continuous still. Thus while there is marked consistency from batch to batch, each has its own unique signature - much like fine wine.

Each hand crafted batch is unique, yielding only fifty cases of an exceptionally complex yet subtle spirit which both those new to American Gin and the connoisseur will appreciate.

Distiller: Leopold Bros | ABV: 40% | Price: €7.50

Todd Leopold Interview 

A superb, and utterly unique, pink-tinged gin from William Grant's distillery in Scotland. Handcrafted gin with traditional botanicals, juniper, coriander, and citrus peel but the special infusion of cucumber and rose petals creates a unique and unexpected flavour.

 | ABV: 41.4% | Price: €6.50

Tasting Video

The recipe for Gordon's is known to only twelve people in the world and has been kept a secret for 250 years. Triple-distilled, the gin contains juniper berries, coriander seeds, angelica root, liquorice, orris root, orange and lemon peel. It takes ten days distillation after receiving the wheat to create a finished product of a bottle of Gordon's Gin. Gordon's recipe differentiated from others at the time in that it didn't add sugar, which other distillers had used to disguise impurities.^[7] This made it a "dry" gin.

In the UK Gordon's is sold in a green glass bottle, but in export markets it is sold in a clear bottle. Some airport duty-free shops sell it in plastic bottles in the 75cl size.

Gordon's is sold in several different strengths depending on the market. In the US, the strength is 40% ABV. Until 1992, the ABV in the UK was 40%, but it was reduced to 37.5% to bring Gordon's gin into line with other white spirits such as white rum and vodka, and also reduce production costs^[13] (the other leading brands of gin in the UK, Beefeater gin and Bombay Sapphire, are both 40% ABV in the UK). In continental Europe and in some duty-free stores, a 47.3% ABV version is sold, while in New Zealand and Australia, as of 2011, it is sold at 37.2% ABV,  and in South Africa it is 43% ABV.

In addition to the main product line, Gordon's also produce a sloe gin; a Vodka (US & Venezuela only), two alcopop variants, Space and Spark; three Vodka Liqueur Variants, Cranberry, Parchita and Limon (Venezuela only) and a canned, pre-mixed gin and tonic as well as a canned Gordon's and Grapefruit (500ml - Russia only).

On 11 February 2013, Gordon's announced the release of Gordon's Crisp Cucumber, a flavoured gin, which blends the original gin with cucumber flavour. In early 2014, Gordon's Elderflower was added to their "flavoured" gin collection and is made in much the same way, with a natural elderflower flavouring being added to the original recipe.

 | ABV: 40% | Price: €5

Tasting Video

The Glendalough Distillery was set up by five friends from Wicklow and Dublin with a deep passion for reviving the heritage of craft distilling in Ireland. In the 18th & 19th centuries there were over 200 licensed distilleries in Ireland (and countless unlicensed ones) producing diverse styles of poitín, whiskey, gin and even absinthe. Until recently that dropped to a small handful. We couldn’t sit idly by and allow this in the birthplace of distilled drink. We had all worked in and around the drinks industry but wanted to forge our own path, to set up something meaningful. Something that meant we could make innovative spirits while staying true to the tradition and heritage of our ancestors. Where the Glendalough Distillery story started was exactly where it should have – with the first ever spirit, poitín. It has since moved on to its natural progression, whiskey. And on again to our latest set of seasonal, wild botanical gins with a depth of flavour and a drinking experience that simply doesn’t exist today in Irish distilling, or maybe anywhere.

Distiller: Glendalough | ABV: 40% | Price: €6

Tasting Video

This is fifty... Fifty Pounds gin is distilled in small quantities, and in single batches. The name comes from the time of George II and the 1736 Gin Act, when a 50 pound tax was levied on those wishing to produce and sell gin. Only two distilleries agreed to pay the tax!

 | ABV: 43.5% | Price: €6.50

Tasting Video

A new gin from the recently opened Dingle Distillery. They also make a vodka and are distilling whiskey for release in the future. This is very well made and has a classic London dry gin character. Distilled in pot stills with a range of botanicals including Rowan Berry, Fuscia, Bog Myrtle, Heather, Chervil and Hawthorn.

Distiller: Dingle Distillery | ABV: 42.5% | Price: €6

Dingle Gin Cocktail

Cork Dry Gin is an Irish gin. First produced in Cork in the Watercourse Distillery in 1793, Cork Dry Gin is now manufactured by the Cork Distilleries Company (CDC) (based in Midleton). Owned by Pernod Ricard subsidiaryIrish Distillers, Cork Dry Gin is the biggest selling gin in Ireland.

Distiller: Pernod Richard | ABV: 40% | Price: €5

a Song About Cork Dry Gin! 

From the clever minds and talented hands that brought us Dictador Rum comes an aged Colombian in. Using a botanical selection based on the limon mandarino, a hybrid between a mandarin orange and a lemon, they have created a wonderful, citrus-forward gin and given it the rather regal name, Treasure. After distillation, it is aged in rum barrels for 35 weeks to enhance and round out the flavours.

Distiller: Dictator Spirits  | ABV: 43% | Price: €8

Tasting Video

One of the best known and most delicately perfumed gins in the world, Bombay Sapphire makes an excellent Martini, and is great as a base for a Gin and Tonic.

Distiller: Bombay Spirit Company | ABV: 40% | Price: €6

Tasting Video

Beefeater 24 is a new luxury super premium addition to the Beefeater Gin portfolio launched in October 2008. Like its revered sister Beefeater Dry, Beefeater 24 is made in the heart of London at the Kennington distillery a ball throw away from the famous Oval cricketing ground.

Like Dry too it’s made by the time honoured steeping method. Here the copper pot stills at the Distillery are charged with neutral grain spirit, then the botanicals are carefully measured in and the mixture left to soak for 24 hours. From this process and the fact that London buzzes 24/7, Beefeater 24 takes its name.

Master Distiller Desmond Payne has applied his 40 years experience to the creation of 24. Having long been fascinated by the potential of tea in the botanicals mix he was delighted to discover that the father of James Burrough had been a tea merchant in London supplying fine teas to the Royal Household. Building on this historic link to Beefeater’s founding father, his voyage of discovery began. After almost two years of constant experimentation, the journey is complete.

Beefeater 24 is a London Dry Gin, which means that no colouring or flavour has been added after distillation. The recipe includes the core botanicals that define the distinctive, instantly recognisable Beefeater taste – juniper, coriander, angelica root and seed, Seville orange peel, lemon peel, orris and almond. To these are added a unique blend of Chinese green and rare Japanese Sencha teas, extra citrus in the form of grapefruit, and liquorice. The spirit is ‘cut’ at an earlier stage and a smaller percentage of the run is taken in order to retain the fresher, more volatile flavours of grapefruit and the leaf teas. On the nose notes of citrus, juniper and the aromatic scent of Sencha are immediately apparent. In the mouth there’s a burst of citrus followed by juniper developing into a long finish with spicy coriander balanced by the dryness of angelica and the woodiness of liquorice. Bottled at 45% abv, Beefeater 24 is a glamorous, sophisticated spirit that takes gin to a whole new level and has inspired some of the world’s top mixologists to come up with stunning new cocktails.

 | ABV: 45% | Price: €7

Tasting Video

The quintessential London Dry Gin, Beefeater’s birth can be traced back to 1863, when James Burrough bought a Chelsea distillery for the then grand some of £400 and started to produce his own distinctive style of gin. At first, the distillery continued with the production of liqueurs as previously started by its previous owners, further establishing its reputation and extending its customer base.

The 1876 company stock lists show an increasing portfolio of gins with brand names such as Ye Old Chelsea and James Burrough London Dry, as well as Old Tom styles and a few others. By spending time experimenting, inventing and using new processes he discovered that blending a particular recipe of botanicals produced a bold, full-flavoured gin, which he named Beefeater Gin.

After the almost instant success of the gin, it was soon made the James Burrough Company’s flagship product. The original Beefeater recipe book dated 1895, specifies that nine botanicals are essential (juniper, angelica root, angelica seeds, coriander seeds, liquorice, almonds, orris root, Seville oranges and lemon peel) to create the full-bodied and robust flavour so distinct in this gin. The flavour he produced still defines the London Dry style to this day and although the production moved home in 1958 (to Kennington, London), the method of steeping and distilling devised by James Burrough in the 1860′s along with the secret recipe he created remains virtually unchanged.

Unique to Beefeater’s production is the steeping of the peel of lemons and Seville oranges, whole juniper berries and other natural botanicals for a full 24 hours prior to distillation. This long process allows for a full extraction of flavour from the botanicals, capturing a wide range of volatile oils, all of which are essential to produce the characteristically bold and balanced flavour. The distillation itself takes around eight hours to complete, overseen by master distiller Desmond Payne – with the spirit then taken to Scotland where it is blended and bottled at 40% ABV.

Beefeater Gin to taste…

Beefeater London Dry Gin is possibly the ultimate benchmark when considering gins and from a distillation, historical and flavour perspective, is the very definition of a traditional London Dry Gin. On the nose Beefeater is both spicy and fruity, nicely balanced and clearly focused on the juniper. The palate is dry with a herbal bouquet and citrus notes complimenting the juniper.Beefeater deserves its position as one as one the gin categories leaders as, indisputably, it’s a classic you can always rely on.

The name ‘Beefeater’ refers to the Yeoman Warders who are the ceremonial guards of the Tower of London. The decision to name the gin Beefeater was truly revolutionary at the time and it is one of the first examples of (gin) brands using an aspirational image and emblem, rather than a family name or location to position the product as the ultimate London Dry Gin. On a separate note; Not that geographical location has anything to do with the London Dry name tag (as this refers to the method of distillation and other such technicalities), the Beefeater distillery is one of only 4 currently still operational in London itself.

Beefeater has always had a major export trade thanks to its early marketing as a quintessentially “English” product, and the Burrough company have reputedly been exporting as far back as the 1900’s. Their vision and efforts to re-establish trade routes after the second world war are particularly notable and in 1957, a reputed 65% of Beefeater production was exported. With export firmly in mind, on the maiden journey of the QE2 ship to New York, Beefeater was the only gin aboard and by 1980, it broke the two million case (sold) barrier. Currently under the Pernod Ricard portfolio (it remained in the Burrough’s family control until 1987) it is exported to over 100 countries across the globe, with annual sales of over 2.3 million nine-litre cases. Interestingly there are only less than 10 employees at their sole plant in London producing all these cases!

There are limited edition releases of Beefeater available too.Summer and Winter editions as well as a London Market edition showcase subtle differences of flavour and are a fun addition to the range. All share the core Beefeater DNA, but lean towards a particular botanical. While these were limited edition runs, a more permanent addition to their portfolio was launched in 2013 and Burrough’s Reserve, one of the few barrel aged gins made in the UK, has been slowly filtering into stores and bars ever since  – we’ll be writing a separate post about all of these other releases soon, so stay tuned for further details.

The recent launches of the Beefeater Special Editions and Burroughs Reserve as well as a move towards cross-marketing the gins in the Pernod Ricard portfolio has seen the original Beefeater London Dry receive more media attention since 2010. Combined with the hard work of their brand ambassadors in the on-trade and polished consumer campaigns such as the Gin & Tales digital hub, ongoing global bartender competitions and tactical partnerships – the team have managed to breath new life into this classic brand. It’s hard to see how Beefeater would ever lose their position as the biggest, most well known gin, but with affection for the the big brands faltering of late (in favour of the tide of new gins released), it’s been a relief to see their fight-back not only start but actually deliver results. It is all too easy to overlook Beefeater simply because it is so widely available, well priced and has always been around. However, those that do, do so at their peril as they will miss out on a classic gin that is a cut above many of the others out on the market.

Distiller: Patron | ABV: 35% | Price: €7

Tasting Video

Beginnings

 | ABV: 42% | Price: €6.50

Tasting Video

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Distiller: Patron | ABV: 35% | Price: €7

Tasting Video

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Distiller: Patron | ABV: 35% | Price: €7

Tasting Video

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Distiller: Patron | ABV: 35% | Price: €7

Tasting Video

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Neat: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus.

Distiller: Patron | ABV: 35% | Price: €7

Tasting Video

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Nose: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus.

Neat: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus.

Distiller: Patron | ABV: 35% | Price: €7

Tasting Video

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Nose: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus.

Neat: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus.

Distiller: Patron | ABV: 35% | Price: €7

Tasting Video

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Nose: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus.

Neat: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus.

Distiller: Patron | ABV: 35% | Price: €7

Tasting Video

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus.

Nose: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus.

Neat: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus.

Distiller: Patron | ABV: 35% | Price: €7

Tasting Video

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Nose: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus.

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Distiller: Patron | ABV: 35% | Price: €7

Tasting Video

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Nose: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus.

Neat: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus.

Distiller: Patron | ABV: 35% | Price: €7

Tasting Video

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Nose: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus.

Neat: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus.

Distiller: Patron | ABV: 35% | Price: €7

Tasting Video

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Nose: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus.

Neat: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus.

Distiller: Patron | ABV: 35% | Price: €7

Tasting Video

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Nose: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus.

Neat: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus.

Distiller: Patron | ABV: 35% | Price: €7

Tasting Video

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Nose: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus.

Neat: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus.

Distiller: Patron | ABV: 35% | Price: €7

Tasting Video

Mexico isn’t the first region I consider when pondering coffee, but it turns out they actually produce some interesting stuff. Perhaps it makes sense therefore that the folk over at Patron would have a go at making their own coffee liqueur. A blend of ‘coffee essence’ and Patron silver, it weighs in at a relatively hefty 35% abv and claims to be an altogether drier option than many traditional coffee liqueurs.

Nose: Sweetened alcohol-laced coffee. Rather nutty with a touch of summer fruits. The tequila is sufficiently subtle so as to be almost undetectable.

Neat: Sweetness hits pretty hard upfront such that you have to question the claim that this is a drier option than most coffee liqueurs. Fortunately the sweetness is relatively fleeting and a rounded bitter coffee flavour builds in intensity through the mid-palate to balance, but never quite eliminate it. A touch cloying on the finish when tasted neat, but a few ice cubes soon sorts that out. As with the nose, the tequila is definitely not the prominent feature here, but the agave flavours do make an appearance on the finish to show that they have been helping to create a more complex flavour profile than would have been the case with neutral spirit.

Distiller: Patron | ABV: 35% | Price: €7

Tasting Video

Tequila is unique from other spirits in many ways, but one that stands out is the size of the plant from which it is produced. The cereals, grains and even sugar cane that are used to produce vodka, whisky, rum and so on pale in comparison with the cracking size of the Agave plant from which tequila is produced. The Agave plant can weigh in at some 200lbs and take up to 7 years to reach maturity, making the growing just as much of a labour of love as the harvesting is just plain labour!

Patron tequila is produced using a mix of old skills and modern technology; the harvested pina being first steamed for 79 hrs, before being shredded then macerated using  a stone wheel taken from a local mountain called a Tahona. The juice from the macerated agave is them fermented in wooden tanks for 72 hrs to create ‘must’ which is then twice distilled in copper pot stills, with filtration and blending taking place after each distillation

Nose: Slightly oily and almost ‘meaty’ agave aromas combine with lime and grapefruit top notes. Much lighter and more citrusy than many tequilas.

Neat: A somewhat fleeting appearance of sweet agave leads to earthier notes that rapidly develop into peppery spice that lingers and dominates the finish which is strangely metallic. A touch of blue cheese and plum offer promise, but like the agave are just a touch brief. This will appeal likely to non-traditional tequila drinkers.

Distiller ;Patron | ABV: 40% | Price: €7

Tasting Video

Olmeca Fusion Chocolate is a blend of Olmeca Silver Tequila, Neutral spirit and dark chocolate which leaves you with an oddly moreish 20% ABV drink which is good chilled as a shot, or as a mixer in a cocktail. Odd but tasty

Distiller ;Olmeca | ABV: 20% | Price: €5.00

Native Instruments: Behind The Brand - Switch On The Night by Olmeca Tequila & Mixmag

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After showcasing tequila recently, I’ve been waiting to try out one that has caught my eye in more the bottle than anything. Once you realise the brand, and the logo, you can understand the link – its name? Olmeca.

Olmeca is produced at Destileria Colonial de Jalisco in the town of Arandas, Jalisco in Western Mexico which incidentally is 2104 metres above sea level. Operation at the plant is overseen by Maestro Tequilero Jesús Hernández and as the Master Distiller he is responsible for supervising the hand-selected blue agave picked after 7–8 years of growth. Once harvested, traditional brick ovens are then used to slow cook the piñas. Part of the production process at Olmeca involves using the 500-year-old traditional and artisanalTahona method, which consists of a 2 tonne millstone made of volcanic rock, known locally as Tezontle. Once the Agave piñas have been harvested and cooked, they are crushed by the Tahona, creating a pulp and drawing out the juice from the fibres. This juice is referred to as Tahona Liquid, of which a percentage is integrated into the fermentation and distillation process of all Olmeca Tequilas, with Olmeca Tezón exclusively containing 100% Tahona Liquid.

Distiller ;Olmeca | ABV: 40% | Price: €5

Olmeca Ad 

KAH Tequila Reposado is an ultra smooth, and ultra high-proof Tequila with a full body, and intense Agave favor. It is aged for ten months in French limousine casks, where it acquires subtle hints of vanilla and caramel.

The KAH Tequila Reposado bottle is painted as "El Diablo". The use of devil imagery was inspired by Day of the Dead celebrations in Peru. The festival takes place the week before November 5th on the banks of Lake Titicaca, The traditional dances (complete with dangling red crucifixes) are rumored to be led by the devil himself. Traditional dances are dedicated to Satan. This region of Peru is mostly a mining area and workers spend much time underground. According to ancient Incan beliefs, Satan lives underground making the miners vulnerable to his powers due to their daily proximity. The festival is designed to honor Satan, thus keeping the workers safe. The even pour Tequila on the ground for the devil to drink.

KAH Tequila was designed to pay reverence and honor to Mexico and its people. Its bottle and spirit are reflective of Day of the Dead, the 3,000 year-old Meso-American ritual honoring deceased loved ones. KAH's unique packaging, in turn, is inspired by traditional Calaveras used in Dia de los Muertos rituals to symbolize death and rebirth. The word KAH translates to "life" in the ancient Mayan language. Every bottle is an individual, hand-crafted work of art, not two bottles are the same. While the bottle captures that enduring spirit, so does the Tequila inside, as KAH's distillers transform hand-selected 100% Blue agave into lively Blanco, Reposado and Añejo varieties that are both certified organic and Kosher.

Distiller ;Kah | ABV: 55% | Price: €7

KAH Tequila Reposado - 360 degree view - 110 Proof, Day of the Dead skull bottle

Kah tequila has gotten a lot of attention for its seriously cool skull-shaped Day of the Dead bottles, but what about the juice?

While in LA, Grover picked up the Kah blanco and reposado and we sat down to look, literally, into the calaveras of this fairly new brand. If our suspicious minds thought this tequila was all about marketing, the blanco quickly erased the notion.

Kah tequila’s reposado is a powerful 110-proof mixture that is still surprisingly drinkable.

With a heavy herbal nose, and whiffs of white pepper and cooked agave, the blanco certainly doesn’t smell like a generic brand. Instead, it falls into the category of pungent herbal contenders. Now, I admit that grassy tequilas are not my personal preference, but some people really enjoy them so I proceeded with an open mind.

In the mouth it is surprisingly balanced, with a medium finish that hits you in the back of the throat. It has a lightweight mouth feel that’s pleasing, but in the glass it looks a bit watery.

Moving on to the heavy hitter – the 110-proof (!) reposado, which is aged 10 months in French oak. Now, the nose on this one is predictably strong, so we switched from a brandy snifter to a champagne flute to try to minimize the alcohol aromas and pick up on the more subtle flavors. When we did, we got nice butter, vanilla and cinnamon aromas, and the herbal elements were reduced.

Bracing ourselves for the burn, we took a sip. Surprisingly, this 110-proof juice is just as balanced as the blanco, and has good flavor, unlike many other high-proof tequilas. And the burn, while there is some, spikes and then fades rather quickly. This is a high-proof tequila that you could actually sip for a while, and enjoy. Not a wussy drink, for sure, but why would you want that?

Kah also makes an añejo, aged 2 years, and a limited-edition extra añejo, aged 4.5 years.

It is made at the Fabrica de Tequilas Finos distillery, in Tequila, where they also make El Diamante de Cielo, Agave 99, and Costco’s Kirkland brand tequila, among others.

The bottom line is that you may be attracted by the pretty bottles, but there is also a reason to crack those skulls open and give this tequila a try.

Distiller ; Kah  | ABV: 45% | Price: €7

KAH Skull Blanco Tequila review tasting day of the dead

KAH Tequila Extra Añejo features smooth pepper and smoky wood flavors with hints of sweet spice, vanilla, honey, maple and caramel. KAH Extra Añejo is aged for four and a half years in American oak barrels.

The limited edition KAH Tequila Extra Añejo bottle is adorned with over 700 Swarovski crystals and was inspired by the royal Mayan burial rituals of its royal court. Mayan kings and royalty were placed in burial chambers richly adorned with precious stones and jewelry.

KAH Tequila was designed to pay reverence and honor to Mexico and its people. Its bottle and spirit are reflective of Day of the Dead, the 3,000 year-old Meso-American ritual honoring deceased loved ones. KAH's unique packaging, in turn, is inspired by traditional Calaveras used in Dia de los Muertos rituals to symbolize death and rebirth. The word KAH translates to "life" in the ancient Mayan language. Every bottle is an individual, hand-crafted work of art, not two bottles are the same. While the bottle captures that enduring spirit, so does the Tequila inside, as KAH's distillers transform hand-selected 100% Blue agave into lively Blanco, Reposado, Añejo and Extra Añejo varieties that are both certified organic and Kosher.

Distiller ; Kah ABV: 45% | Price: €7

Tasting Video

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Brewer: Spirit | ABV: 4.8% | Price: €5.50

Read more on there Website: Website here

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Brewer: Spirit | ABV: 4.8% | Price: €5.50

Read more on there Website: Website here

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Brewer: Spirit | ABV: 4.8% | Price: €5.50

Read more on there Website: Website here

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Brewer: Spirit | ABV: 4.8% | Price: €5.50

Read more on there Website: Website here

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Brewer: Spirit | ABV: 4.8% | Price: €5.50

Read more on there Website: Website here

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Brewer: Spirit | ABV: 4.8% | Price: €5.50

Read more on there Website: Website here

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Brewer: Spirit | ABV: 4.8% | Price: €5.50

Read more on there Website: Website here

This is the new no-age-statement Single Malt Scotch Whisky from the famous Speyside distillery of Macallan. Macallan's new range has done away with age-statements and instead focuses on the colour of the whisky. The concept being that the older the whisky is the darker it will be... Regardless of how true this really is, it's certainly a great whisky packed with assertive vanilla and citrus flavours.
Tasting Note by The Chaps at Master of Malt
Nose: This burnished gold spirit presents a lemon citrus nose, the orange peel and an interlacing sweetness that softens but doesn't eliminate the zest. A quiet note of vanilla is followed by dark chocolate - more assertive, yet not overly so - with a lingering floral and light oak notes.

Palate: Citrus and boiled sweets rule the palate, along with hints of ginger and cinnamon, while soft oak tones reveal toasted apples.

Finish: The finish is medium sweet, malty and slightly dry.

Distiller: Macallan | ABV: 40% | Price: €8

Tasting Video

This release from the Teeling distillery marks the first new release of spirits from a Dublin distillery in over 125 years. This is essentially and unaged single pot still whiskey. It is made from a 50/50 mix of unmalted and malted barley which is fermented and then distilled three times in the Teeling's three copper pot stills. Great as an after dinner drink alongside a coffee but even better in your favourite whiskey cocktail where the relatively high strength will shine through.

Distiller ; Teelings, Dublin | ABV: 60% | Price: €6

Teeling Whiskey Distillery | CNBC International

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Brewer: Beer Brewing Company | ABV: 4.8% | Price: €4.95

Read more on there Website: website.com

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Brewer: Beer Brewing Company | ABV: 4.8% | Price: €4.95

Read more on there Website: website.com

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Brewer: Beer Brewing Company | ABV: 4.8% | Price: €4.95

Read more on there Website: website.com

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Brewer: Beer Brewing Company | ABV: 4.8% | Price: €4.95

Read more on there Website: website.com

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Brewer: Beer Brewing Company | ABV: 4.8% | Price: €4.95

Read more on there Website: website.com

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Brewer: Beer Brewing Company | ABV: 4.8% | Price: €4.95

Read more on there Website: website.com

Tullamore Dew is a smooth, mellow whiskey that is a blend of Pot Still and Grain Whiskeys which are presently distilled in Midleton Distillery in County Cork. On the nose, a mild blend of spicy, lemony and malty notes, with charred wood and vanilla undertones. Light bodied, sweetish spices, buttery and rounded with light citrus fruitiness.

Distiller ; Tullamore | ABV: 40% | Price: €6

Paddy is named after the famous 1920s salesman Paddy Flaherty, who was very generous with tasting samples but also sold a lot of whiskey! This was originally the main brand of the Cork Distillers Company before they became part of Irish Distillers Limited. The blend is a mix of pot still, grain and a little single malt whiskey. Most of these have been matured in refill sherry and bourbon casks although some of the grain content has gone into fist fill wood. Paddy is best described as unpretentious and friendly, it mixes very well and has some very loyal fans, particularly in the south of the country.

Distiller ; Midleton, IDL | ABV: 40% | Price: €5

Paddy Fighting Irish Video

Limited to a small production of just 6000 bottles every year. This is a fine single malt that was triple distilled and aged for 12 years in first fill bourbon casks. Each year the people at the Irishman carefully select their casks from a Northern Irish distillery to go into the Irishman 12 Year Old. We only get a small allocation of this each year, so innevitably we will run out between batches. Our own tasting notes: An explosion of fruits on the nose, with hints of candyfloss, mixed citrus peel, pineapple and tangerine. The palate is fresh and vibrant with flavours of boiled sweets, ripe citrus fruit, honey and red apples. Very smooth all the way to the finish. Incredibly complex, fruity and long lasting given it's 12 year old age statement. Bottled at 43% ABV.

Distiller ; Walsh, Carlow | ABV: 43% | Price: €6

Walsh Whiskey Distillery

Hyde 10 Year Old single malt is a limited edition single malt that has been finished in Oloroso Sherry casks. This is a double distilled single malt that was initially matured in ex-Bourbon barrels. It is non-chilfiltered and bottled at 46%. This is named after Douglas Hyde, the first president of Ireland.

Distiller ; Hyde | ABV: 46% | Price: €

Whiskey Review

An easy going and easy on the pocket whiskey from Midleton distillery. Dunphy's was first produced back in the 1950s for the US market, with mixing and Irish coffee very much in mind. It was available there up to around 1988 but now is mostly confined to Ireland.

Distiller ;IDL | ABV: 40% | Price: €5

Crested Ten is a hard to find expression of Jameson that doesn't absorb much of IDL's marketing budget. Around since 1963, it gets its name from the Jameson family crest and has a bit of a cult following. We think this is a far better example than the standard Jameson, it has just a bit more flavour and complexity, meaning it is a little easier to drink straight up without a mixer or ice! The blend composition is very similar to the regular Jameson but has a little more ageing (although confusingly not quite as old as ten years). Some extra use of sherry casks also adds some nice weight and spicy fruitiness.

Distiller ; IDL | ABV: 40% | Price: €6

Tasting Video

Connemara is rare amongst Irish whiskey, its hook being the smokiness associated with the malts produced by our neighbours Scotland. It's a style of whiskey that had died away in Ireland after the 19th century, when small distillers would probably have dried their malt with whatever fuel was available at the time. It's said that when the Cooley Distillery started up in the late 1980s, it had no plans to make a smoky whiskey, but at some stage peaty malt was bought and run through the stills with fantastic results. It's a lovely malty whiskey with Cooley's signature honey and pear notes as well as a beautiful waft of smoke.  Since it was released in the late 1990s, it has won over many fans of peated Scotch whiskies such as Laphroaig and Ardbeg. Yet Connemara still has a definite Irish character.

Distillery ; Cooley | ABV: 40% | Price: €6

AN AMERICAN IPA WITH A BITTER EDGE THAT WILL PUSH YOUR CITRUS TOLERANCE TO THE BRINK AND BACK; ELVIS JUICE IS LOADED WITH TART PITHY GRAPEFRUIT PEEL.

THIS IPA HAS A CARAMEL MALT BASE, SUPPORTING A FULL FRONTAL CITRUS OVERLOAD - GRAPEFRUIT PEEL PILED ON TOP OF INTENSE US AROMA HOPS. WAVES OF CRASHING PINE, ORANGE AND GRAPEFRUIT ROUND OUT THIS CITRUS INFUSED IPA.

Brewer: Brewdog | ABV: 6.5% | Price: €6.00

Read more on Elvis Juice

A unique beer that ambushes your senses, it pours dark with a creamy beige head but tastes light and hoppy! Complex hoppy fruity flavours and aromas mixed with roasty bitter chocolate and coffee tones. Low carbonation for a smooth stout like finish. Dressed in black, charged with hops and ready to rock.

Brewer: Beer Brewing Company | ABV: 5% | Price: €5.50

Read more on there Website: Blacks of Kinsale

Sold as Dunbrody Red. The color of the beer is a nice light ruby red, with some hints of brown. The beer pours a little layer of rough brownish white foam. The bulk of the foam collapses quickly. The beer has a little cloudiness. The smell is a little mild.There are some mild aromas of strawberry and some malty tones. There is a little roasty touch to it. The smell is rather simple. It could have had a little more depth. The taste is a little better. It has the same flavor of strawberry. There is also some roasted barley in it. This is a good balans to the sweet fruitiness. The beer misses a little kick. The flavors and aromas could have been a bit stronger. There is a delicious citrusy hop touch to it though. The palate is normal. All in all, not a bad beer.

Brewer: Beer Brewing Company | ABV: 4.7% | Price: €5.50

Read more on Here

One of bourbon’s most distinctive qualities comes from the limestone water that brought bourbon to popularity in the 1800s. The name, Town Branch™, commemorates the body of water that currently runs under Lexington, on which Lexington was founded. Town Branch, once the lifeblood of Lexington, is again bringing joy to Lexingtonians and bourbon lovers alike.

Brewer: Kentucky Ale  | ABV: 40% | Price: €7

Read more on there Website

Jefferson's Bourbon was launched in 1997 by Trey Zoeller, a native Kentuckian, and his father Chet, a bourbon historian. He founded a company called McClain & Kyne after Zoeller's past relatives, including an 8th generation grandmother arrested in 1799 for moonshining. McClain & Kyne was later purchased by Castle Brands around 2005. The brand states that Zoeller chose the name Jefferson's because the bourbon was inspired by Thomas Jefferson's curiosity, experimental spirit and good taste. Asked about the choice by author Reid Mitenbuler, Zoeller reportedly laughed and said, "I had no marketing budget. I simply wanted a recognizable face associated with history and tradition.

The brand began with Jefferson's Reserve, then expanded with the addition of Jefferson's Presidential Select and then Jefferson's Small Batch. The brand now produces several varieties of bourbon and rye, including some limited edition offerings.

Distiller: Castle Brands | ABV: 41% | Price: €9.50

Read more on there Website

Bottled from a single barrel from the Jack Daniel distillery. Each barrel is selected by the Master Distiller by its suitability as a stand alone product before being bottled.

Tasting Note by The Chaps at Master of Malt

Distiller: Jack Daniels | ABV: 45% | Price: €8.50

Master Distiller - Jeff Arnett discusses Jack Daniel's Single Barrel. This is one segment of a three part series shot at the JD Distillery

Has there ever been a moment when you've been sipping Bulleit Bourbon and wanted it to have even more rye? Well you're in luck, they now have their own Rye whiskey! Bulleit Rye is made with a mashbill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley and is produced in small batches. An absolutely stunning rye that won a Double Gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2013.

Tasting Note by The Chaps at Master of Malt

Distiller: Bulleit  | ABV: 45% | Price: €6.50

Bulleit Rye Review

A truly fabulous whiskey liqueur from Jack Daniel's. This stuff is made with a mix of rich spices and smooth, supple honey and the result is delicious over ice or in coffee.

Tasting Note by The Chaps at Master of Malt

Distiller: Jack Daniels  | ABV: 35% | Price: €5.50

Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey King Bee Advertisement

A very special 2011 edition of Johnnie Walker's classic blend, Black Label. Double Black was originally released to the travel retail market, and it combines the rich, malty flavour of Black Label with slightly peatier whisky and casks that were more heavily charred. The result is a toasty, smoky whisky with Johnnie Walker's usual rich, malty core - very good indeed

Nose: Slightly smoky and almost medicinal on the nose, it offers up hints of vanilla, a little tar, a touch of barbecue sauce, citrus and malt.

Palate: Good body and very creamy with a sublimely malty core. It offers up a surprising level of peat smoke which works really well. Creamy sweetness, hints of soft wood smoke, salty butter, custard and cereal grains.

Finish: Good length with notes of malt, boiled sweets, black pepper and cool smoke.

Distiller : Johnnie Walker | ABV: 40% | Price: €7

Tasting Notes Video

A 12 year old blended whisky, one of the world's most famous blends. Johnnie Walker Black is a blend of around 40 whiskies, very well put together.

The nose is quite full. There are notes of winter spice and treacle, hints of white pepper and a little citrus. The palate is quite rich and full. There are notes of wood smoke and dry spice, hints of barley and cereal with creamy toffee and a distinct herbal note. The finish is quite fruity and long with a note of sultanas and mixed peels.

Distiller: Johnnie Walker | ABV: 40% | Price: €7

Tasting Video

Red Label was created by the Johnnie Walker company in 1909, this is a classic blended whiskies, a great mixer and back bar favourite.

The nose is quite pungent and full. There are notes of heather roots, cut herbs, a touch of fresh fruits and honey. The palate is quite full and rich. There are notes of malted barley and potpourri, a touch of winter spice and fruitcake. The finish is quite long and pungent, there is a good smoke note with a touch of oak.

Distiller ; Johnnie Walker| ABV: 40% | Price: €5.50

Tasting Video

A very famous blended whisky, a rather good blend too. Jim Murray awarded Teacher's Highland Cream 90 points in his Whisky Bible.

The nose is fruity and well malted with gentle sweetness. Some smoke and a touch of honey. The mouth feel is quite big with a supple maltiness and the vaguest whisper of muted peat. The finish is well fruited with toffee, malt and a faint hint of smoke.

Distiller  ; Teachers | ABV: 40% | Price: €5.50

Tasting Video

A 15 year old from the Mortlach distillery, aged in first fill and refill sherry casks before bottling for Gordon and MacPhail.

The nose is rich with cereal sweetness and warm barley. Apple blossom rises without effort and notes of malmsey and stewed fruits and Christmas punch emerge with spice and muffin. The palate is quite full and quite sweet. The cereal notes return with a syrupy texture. Shades of sherried sultanas and notes of freshly cut fruit salad, hints of toasty oak with obligatory vanilla spice and peppery warmth. The finish is long with the fruit and spice rising readily from the oak.

Distiller ; Gordon & MacPhail | ABV: 43% | Price: €8.50

Tasting Video

A core bottling from the Isle of Jura's only distillery. This 10 year old has exhibits the distillery's classic oily, briny characteristics.

Nose: Fresh with notes of damp hay and soft, malty cereal notes. A touch of peat with gentle oak and arak with blossom tones.

Palate: Thick and full with more cereal, this time a barley fudge sweetness creeps in with creamy smoothness and a touch of aniseed.

Finish: Long with peppy winter spice.

Distiller ; Jura | ABV: 40% | Price: €6.50

Tasting Video - your either Right Handed or Left Handed! 

Original is the core bottling in the Glenmorangie range, released to replace the old 10 year old. This really is a classic malt, so creamy and fruity.

Nose: Very fruity and thick. Rich notes of lemon, nectarine and apple. Spices.

Palate: Fresh and balanced, vanilla. Boiled sweets, very creamy, tiramisu, toffee.

Finish: Quite long, gentle, malty and very fruity.

Distiller ; Glenmorangie | ABV: 40% | Price: €6

Tasting Video

Chivas Regal is a world-famous Scotch blend which was first made in the early 20th century by Chivas Brothers. The company can trace its roots back to 1801, with the opening of a grocers at Number 13 King Street, Aberdeen. Selling luxury food, coffee and spices, it wasn't until half a century later that the company started to make whisky, and then not until post-US Prohibition that Chivas Regal 12 Year Old was first officially released. F. Paul Pacult described Chivas Regal 12 as "the blend for grown-ups", awarding it an impressive 9 out of 10. It's a very apt statement - this is a very refined blended whisky, with herbs, honey and fruit leaping forth on the palate. Regularly lauded by the critics, this is a superb blend in its price category, representing great value for money.

Nose: A creamy, aromatic melange of vanilla custard, hints of aniseed, lemon curd and butter toffee. Wood shavings and dried banana chips develop with just a hint of cassis.

Palate: More of those banana chips showing through on the palate, this time there's a creamy hit of barley malt too, pepped up with a little allspice. Notes of ground walnut and caramel.

Finish: Light spice and black pepper on the tail. Lingering notes of cereal sweetness.

Overall: A spicy, beautifully balanced blend. Lots going on here.

Distiller - Chivas | ABV: 40% | Price: €7

Classy Ad from our Whiskey Distiller

This entry level Bunnahabhain bottling comes in a redesigned bottle. This 12 year old is lightly peated for an Islay single malt and consequently is a light, fresh dram. Now at the higher strength of 46.3% - for more complexity and flavour.

Nose: Fresh, sweet. Seaweed, malt.

Palate: Soft, supple. Sherry, nutty. A little sweetness, malty, juicy sultana. Slightly coastal.

Finish: Sherried, mochaccino, herbal, balanced salty tang.

Distiller ; Bunnahabhain | ABV:46.3% | Price: €8

Wow Video straight from the Distillery 

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Brewer: Beer Brewing Company | ABV: 4.8% | Price: €4.95

Read more on there Website: website.com

Maker's Mark is aged for around six years, being bottled and marketed when the company's tasters agree that it is ready. Maker's Mark is one of the few distillers to rotate the barrels from the upper to the lower levels of the aging warehouses during the aging process to even out the differences in temperature during the process. The upper floors are exposed to the greatest temperature variations during the year, so rotating the barrels ensures that the bourbon in all the barrels have the same quality and taste.

Maker's Mark is sold in squarish bottles which are sealed with red wax. T. William Samuels' wife, Marjorie "Margie" Samuels, gave the whiskey its name, drew its label, and thought up the wax dipping that gives the bottle its distinctive look. It was introduced to the market in 1959. Three varieties are marketed; the original, a mint julep flavor with green wax on the neck released seasonally in limited amounts, and 46, a variety flavored by introducing seared French oak staves into the traditional charred white oak barrel toward the end of its aging. The original has been bottled at 90 U.S. proof (45% alcohol by volume).

Maker's Mark is unusual in that no rye is used as part of the mash. Instead red winter wheat is used, along with corn (the predominant grain) and malted barley. During the planning phase of Maker's Mark, Samuels allegedly developed seven candidate mash bills for the new bourbon. As he did not have time to distill and age each one for tasting, he instead made a loaf of bread from each recipe and the one with no rye was judged the best tasting. Samuels also received considerable assistance and recipes from Stitzel-Weller owner Pappy Van Winkle, whose distillery produced the wheated Old Fitzgerald and W. L. Weller bourbons.

Maker's Mark is marketed as a small batch Bourbon. Most producers of so-called small batch Bourbons do not clarify exactly what they mean by the term. The producer of Maker's Mark says that the traditional definition is "A bourbon that is produced/distilled in small quantities of approximately 1,000 gallons or less (20 barrels) from a mash bill of around 200 bushels of grain

Distiller: Makers Mark | ABV: 45% | Price: €6.50

Canadian whisky combines the richness and fruitiness of bourbon for a cleaner, crisper palate. Canadian Club, with its unique distilling process is lighter than scotch and smoother than bourbon. Made and bottled in Walkerville Canada, Canadian Club is the only Canadian whisky that is Barrel Blended prior to aging in white oak barrels to allow the flavours to marry. Aged six years (twice the period required by Canadian law) Canadian Club is a true, quality Canadian whisky that has not changed with time.

Canadian Club has been the world’s favourite Canadian whisky for more than 140 years and has set the standard for great whisky. It’s a smooth satisfying taste that will never go out of style

Distiller : Canadian Club | ABV: 40% | Price: €6

An impressive first release of single malt Irish whiskey from the recently formed Glendalough Distillery. This has been bottled from malt originally double distilled at a different Irish distillery and is very good considering it is only seven years old. We will have to wait a few more years to taste whiskey from their own stills, but this is good value for money and has some tasty spice notes, along with some fresh citrus and barley flavours. This is not chill filtered and bottled at a decent 46%.

Distillery ; Glendalough | ABV: 46% | Price: €7

Glendalough Distillery tells the ancient story of Irish Whiskey as you've never seen it before

This excellent  whiskey from the Glendalough Distillery is matured in first-fill bourbon casks and appropriately cut to 46% using local Wicklow water. The original plan was to release this as a 12-year-old, as is traditional, but it was matured an extra year in honour of rugby great Brian O'Driscoll, a shareholder in the company. O'Driscoll wore the No.13 jersey for Ireland during his playing days. We will have to wait a few more years to taste whiskey from Glendalough's own Holstein stills, but this is very good for the money and has some deep spicy and peppery notes. Each bottle depicts St Kevin, who founded a monastery beside the beautiful lakes at Glendalough.

Distillery - Glendalough | ABV: 46% | Price: €9

Glendalough Distillery

The Celtic Cask Series is a real favourite with our customers. The range was born from our strong relationship with the Irish distillers and the European bodegas and wine houses. We've been able to hand-pick some of more interesting distillates from the length of the country, both single malt and single pot still, and mature or finish them in great casks from Spain, Portugal and Italy.  Sherry, port, madeira and other wine casks have added richness and complexity to the spirit, from the spicy exotic fruits of Celtic Whiskey Cask Se to the rich Christmas cake aromas of the Celtic Whiskey Cask Tri Deag. The range is growing all the time, but with each edition being a once-off, they out very quickly. Be on your toes...

Distiller; Midleton for Celtic Whiskey  | ABV: 40%| Price: €12

Bottling No.9 in the Celtic Cask series which is becoming highly collectable range of whiskey's due to their limited availability

Distiller ; Midleton for Celtic Whiskey | ABV: 40% | Price: €15

The Celtic Cask Series is a real favourite with our customers. The range was born from our strong relationship with the Irish distillers and the European bodegas and wine houses. We've been able to hand-pick some of more interesting distillates from the length of the country, both single malt and single pot still, and mature or finish them in great casks from Spain, Portugal and Italy.  Sherry, port, madeira and other wine casks have added richness and complexity to the spirit, from the spicy exotic fruits of Celtic Whiskey Cask Se to the rich Christmas cake aromas of the Celtic Whiskey Cask Tri Deag. The range is growing all the time, but with each edition being a once-off, they out very quickly. Be on your toes...

 ABV: 40% | Price: €25

The Celtic Cask Series is a real favourite with our customers. The range was born from our strong relationship with the Irish distillers and the European bodegas and wine houses. We've been able to hand-pick some of more interesting distillates from the length of the country, both single malt and single pot still, and mature or finish them in great casks from Spain, Portugal and Italy.  Sherry, port, madeira and other wine casks have added richness and complexity to the spirit, from the spicy exotic fruits of Celtic Whiskey Cask Se to the rich Christmas cake aromas of the Celtic Whiskey Cask Tri Deag. The range is growing all the time, but with each edition being a once-off, they out very quickly. Be on your toes..

 ABV: 40% | Price: €19

Whiskey distillation in Dublin has been revived! This beutifully presented release celebrates the opening of Teeling's distillery in the Irish capital, the first to open in 125 years. Distilled in 1999 it's been exclusively aged in rum casks for the entire maturation and bottled without chill filtration at 46% abv. 10,000 bottles have been produced to mark this significant milestone.

Nose: Fragrant, fruity oak, coconut, sultanas and evaporated milk.

Palate: Sweet dark spices, cola cubes, grapefruit, quite intense flavours yet the overall impression is light and playful.

Finish: Long with white coffee, mixed peels, oak, a hint of smoke.

Distiller ; Teelings | ABV: 46% | Price: €9.90

Read more on there Website

Produced by the Teeling Whiskey Company, this is a delicious small-batch blend with a very high malt content. Interestingly enough, it's also been matured in rum casks for added spice.

Nose: Cut grass and orange blossom. Allspice, hints of vanilla, apple pie and blackberries.

Palate: Spiced, rich palate with rose petal jelly and lemon curd. Creamy vanilla, hints of dried herbs and cinnamon.

Finish: Floral, herbal finish. Caramel on the tail.

Overall: A deliciously creamy, spicy and rich Irish blend.

Distiller ;Teelings | ABV: 40% | Price: €6

Tasting Video

Irish single grain whiskey from Teeling! There are only an elite few Irish single grain whiskies out there at the moment, but Teeling went ahead and made theirs unique by maturing it in Californian Cabernet Sauvignon casks. Deliciously sweet with a good deal of spice and fruit hide within the Teeling Single Grain.

Nose: Honeyed apple flesh and red grape, sweet and slightly floral with fragrant vanilla and spice, evaporated milk and brown sugar.

Palate: There's treacle on the palate, but it's light and buttery with dried cranberry developing.

Finish: Into golden syrup tart and sweet egg custard now with spicy cereal.

Overall: This is a thoroughly enjoyable grain whiskey, sweet and fairly light but full of flavour.

Distiller ; Teelings, Dublin | ABV: 40% | Price: €6

Read more on there Website:

The eagerly anticipated Teeling Single Malt Irish Whiskey, made with 100% malt whiskeys. A selection of five wine-cask-finished-whiskeys were used for this release (some of which were distilled back in 1991), including Sherry, Port, Madeira, White Burgundy and Cabernet Sauvignon. Exciting, delicious stuff from the Teeling chaps in Dublin.

Nose: Intense white grape juiciness on the nose, joined by fresh malt and Rolos, developing into white chocolate the longer it's in the glass.

Palate: An elegant expression, this. Well placed fruit, backed up with cinnamon and white pepper. A touch of dried flower petals along the way. Strawberries?

Finish: Definitely strawberries, with fresh double cream too! Ace.

Distiller ; Teelings | ABV: 46% | Price: €6

Silver Reserve was the first in Teeling's Vintage Reserve range of small-batch single malt Irish whiskeys. Initially matured in Bourbon barrels, the Silver Reserve was finished in Sauternes wine casks, the first time this has ever been done with a Irish whiskey.

I saw this won World's Best Irish Single Malt and had to try it. IT BLEW MY SOCKS OFF. Unbelievable flavours and complexity. Can't wait to try their new 26 year old single malt

Ditiller ; Teelings, Dublin | ABV: 46% | Price: €18

Read more on there Website: 

In 1994, the Midleton Distillery Master Distiller, Barry Crockett, made a rare discovery when making his rounds of casks at the Old Midleton Distillery where his father, Max Crockett, had been Master Distiller before him. It was a cask not identified on his stock charts. The cask had been laid down 30 years earlier, in 1964, and had escaped enumeration on the commissioning of the new distillery.

This Single Pot Still whiskey was bottled in 1994 and is named after the river that has supplied the Midleton distillery with water since 1825. It is an extremely rare bottling from Midleton and the prized possession of only very few connoisseurs.

It was discovered in warehouse #11 and based on limited edition numbers seen there were at least 1,238 bottles which suggests at least 4 or 5 casks were required to reach these numbers.

This was a pure pot still bourbon cask 40% bottling and one if the last bottlings of whiskey distilled during the period of the Cork Distilleries Company before the merger in 1966. Quite subtle for it's age and reminds some of an aged Powers.

Nose: Complex, robust, slightly dry.
Taste: Sweet with honey and molasses to begin and then a malt biscuit with Demerara coating. A full-bodied whiskey.
Finish: The pot still shows itself especially at the end with hints of vanilla, spice and a touch of dryness.

Distiller Midleton | ABV: 40% | Price: €77

Released in 2011, Midleton's Barry Crockett edition was named after the distillery's master distiller, and it is aged in both bourbon and new American oak barrels! Very interesting indeed and a limited release of around 2,500 bottles per year

Distiller ; Midleton, Ireland | ABV: 46% | Price: €29

Great Tasting Video 

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Brewer: Beer Brewing Company | ABV: 4.8% | Price: €4.95

Read more on there Website: website.com

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Brewer: Beer Brewing Company | ABV: 4.8% | Price: €4.95

Read more on there Website: test

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Brewer: Beer Brewing Company | ABV: 4.8% | Price: €4.95

Read more on there Website: website.com

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Brewer: Beer Brewing Company | ABV: 4.8% | Price: €4.95

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The Midleton Very Range has been going since 1984, but the latest edition in the series is one of the best yet, in our opinion. This time round it seems to offer up a lot more pot still character and also more spicy, oaky notes. It even reminds us a little of some of the recent Midleton Virgin Oak single cask releases. Like last year's bottling, this now carries the signature of new-ish Master Distiller Brian Nation.

Powerful and assertive on the palate. A bit of a departure from previous bottlings. This is quite muscular and richly flavoured with perhaps a higher pot still content than before. Quite reminiscent of some of the recent virgin oak single cask editions. This begins with sweet, orange citrus and pineapple then quickly becomes quite peppery and spicy with flavours of cloves, ginger, cinnamon, vanilla.

Midleton Distillery, Cork | ABV: 410% | Price: €22

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Brewer: Beer Brewing Company | ABV: 4.8% | Price: €4.95

Read more on there Website: website.com

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Brewer: Beer Brewing Company | ABV: 4.8% | Price: €4.95

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This whiskey, first laid down in 1969 had just two surviving barrels. This is due largely to the evaporation spirit over the course of time. A yield of only 400 bottles followed 30 years of maturation in cask. This whiskey has very traditional, strongly flavoured attributes indigenous of the old Midleton distillery.  On tasting the spirit, one is immediately aware that this whiskey is different – 30 years in wood has ensured that. There is a full bodied assault on the palate by clean, crisp, spicy, leathery, even fruity pot still notes – robust yes, but not overly so. One of the hall mark characteristics of great age in a whiskey is clearly evident – a pleasing dryish, gentle woodiness. No one flavour dominates; after 30 years in cask they have ironed out their differences and work together to achieve the other characteristic of a great old whiskey – complexity of taste, which, in this whiskey, is truly unique – there is no short cut to acquiring the particular complexity and the delicate mellow nuances of a 30 year old spirit. Only 400 hundred bottles remain of what was always recognised as a great whiskey at 15 years old. Now, after 30 years, this Midleton is an unsurpassed example of the wonderful taste of very old pure pot still Irish whiskey – truly one of the great and rarest whiskeys of the world.'

Midleton Distillery  | ABV: 40% | Price: €700

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Brewer: Beer Brewing Company | ABV: 4.8% | Price: €4.95

Read more on there Website: website.com

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Brewer: Beer Brewing Company | ABV: 4.8% | Price: €4.95

Read more on there Website: website.com

This is the second addition to the 'Spot' range of Irish whiskies, which contains the famous Green Spot Pot Still Whiskey. The Yellow Spot is a single pot still Irish whiskey which has been matured in three types of cask: American Bourbon cask, Spanish Sherry butts and Spanish Malaga casks for a sweeter flavour.

Nose: There are masses of fleshy stone fruit on the nose, especially peach and apricot with hints of sherried dried fruit and Bourbon cask vanilla.

Palate: The palate is equally fruity with a substantial body and a velvety texture.

Finish: The finish is long and sweet with notes of marzipan and dried apricots.

Overall: This is very different to the Green Spot we all know and love with a delicious sweetness to it and a firmer body.

Distiller ; Midleton, Irleland | ABV: 46% | Price: €9

Yellow Spot - The Rebirth of a Revered Irish Brand

A wonderful single pot still whiskey, Green Spot is fabulous stuff, and much loved by the critics.

Nose: Hints of peppermint, malt, sweet barley, sugary porridge, creamy vanilla, papaya and citrus.

Palate: Spicy and soft, gentle bourbon oak, green woods, menthol, potpourri.

Finish: Creamy, long finish, vanilla.

Distiller ; Midleton, Cork, Ireland | ABV: 40% | Price: €7.50

Green Spot - The Living Relic of the Days of the Whiskey Bonders

The classic Irish blend, Bushmills Original is made up of grain whiskey matured for five years before blending with malt whiskeys. Triple distilled and very supple.

Nose: Slightly petroly, slightly floral, vegetal.

Palate: Tangy, elderflower, a little coastal. Mineralic.

Finish: Long, sweet barley, tangy, cardamom.

Distiller ; Bushmills | ABV: 40% | Price: €5

An exquisite Irish whiskey, matured in a mixture of Oloroso Sherry and Bourbon casks, before a two year marrying period spent in Madeira casks. Produced in limited numbers, each bottle is numbered.

Nose: Rich toffee, honey, spiced fruit notes and dark mocha.

Palate: Chewy, dates, pecans, grapes and mango.

Finish: Sweet, syrupy pipe tobacco and mint.

Distiller - Bushmills | ABV: 40% | Price: €15

A very special edition of the Bushmills 1608 blend, this commemorates the distillery’s 400 year anniversary. Jim Murray awarded the blend 94 points.

Nose: Rich, warm. Plenty of floral, sherried notes. Slightly earthy, berry fruits, vanilla and a hint of smoke.

Palate: Full, round palate with marzipan, peels, sherry, thickness.

Finish: Long and fruity, becomes slightly dry.

Overall: A superb Irish blend, lovely balance.

Distiller - Bushmills | ABV: 46% | Price: €15

A 16 year old Irish single malt from Bushmills aged in three different cask types: bourbon, port and sherry. The result is a beautiful whiskey which was awarded Gold at the 2010 San Francisco World Spirits Competition…

Nose: A classic Irish nose of honey, yoghurt and tinned stone fruit, this also has a lovely cassia bark character which develops in the glass.

Palate: Spiced and rich with juicy summer fruits, Christmas spices, pine oil, manuka honey and peaches in syrup.

Finish: Thick and syrupy with notes of red berries and Golden Syrup.

Distiller - Bushmills | ABV: 40% | Price: €12

A superb 10 year old Irish single malt and winner of Best Irish Single Malt Whiskey at the 2007 World Whiskies Awards. Bushmills are always scored highly in Jim Murray's Whisky Bible, with the 10 year old being awarded 92.5 points in 2013!

Nose: Banana skins.

Palate: Medium, very fruity, chocolate pudding.

Finish: Floral, tannic.

Overall: Add a drop of water and it tastes just like nectarine chunks in low fat yoghurt!

Distiller - Bushmills | ABV: 40% | Price: €8

This "Special Old Irish Whiskey" is certainly now a special, old and indeed collectible bottle of blended whiskey. It's made with single malt from Bushmills distillery in County Antrim and thought to have been bottled in the 1980s.

Distiller - Bushmills | ABV: 40% | Price: €5.50

Powers Aviation Release, a Limited Edition Pot Still Whiskey, Exclusive to the Irish Whiskey Collection (Aer Rianta's Award Winning Travel Retail Store). Bonded on the 20th of November 2000, this Exclusive Pot Still bottling was released in celebration of Dublin Airports 75th Anniversary this year and is limited to only 176 bottles, The Powers Aviation Release embodies the brand’s long association with the airline industry. Since the 1940’s, the Powers family worked in partnership with Aer Rianta to allow transatlantic passengers to purchase bottles at duty free prices. They had previously done this for liner passengers and extended the facility to enable all air travellers to bring a bottle of Powers to their home country. In Aviation Release, Powers have produced a heavy Pot Still style distillate, in the 1940’s whiskey making style. It is a single cask whiskey, matured entirely in bourbon barrels to create a robust and powerful spiciness with a touch of sweet honeycomb and earthy leather.

 Dublin Airport opened on Friday January 19, 1940 and at 9am, the very first commercial flight, an Aer Lingus Lockheed 14 aircraft, departed for Liverpool. The airport was originally known as Collinstown Airport, as the site was located in the townland of Collinstown, north of Dublin city centre. Work on the airport began in 1937 as more land was acquired and site clearance commenced for the grass runways. Construction of the new terminal building started in the summer of 1938. The architect of the terminal was Desmond FitzGerald, an elder brother of former Taoiseach, Dr Garret FitzGerald. The curved building, which was designed to cater for just 100,000 passengers a year and its tiered structure echoed the lines of a great ocean liner and won many architectural awards for its design.

 This exclusive single cask is limited to 176 bottles. Bottled at 46% ABV | Non chill filtered

NOSE: Aromatic oils and spices combine effortlessly with hints of dried apricot,ripe melon, a touch of sweet honeycomb and underlying earthy leather.

 TASTE: A silky smooth layer of sweetness remains as the spices of the Powers distillate come to the fore. Delicate hints of tea leaves balance with morerobust influences of bergamot and crushed peppercorns.

 FINISH: The spicy sweetness gives way to American white oak character which carries through to the end.

Distiller ; Powers | ABV: 46% | Price: €44

One of the best value single pot still whiskeys on the market. This is made from a robust style of single pot still spirit and predominantly matured in refill ex-bourbon barrels. A small proportion of 1st bourbon and sherry casks are also used to balance out the whiskey. This does not carry an age statement but is usually drawn from whiskeys aged around 7,8 and 9 years old.

Nose -Fresh and vibrant with aromas of green and red fruits plus some hints of green herbs, boiled sweets and toast.

Palate - Sweet and vibrantly fruity. Lots of spicy, toasty oak and some tannic bitterness. Bittersweet chocolate, green herbs and coffee. Not the smoothest whiskey in the world but this has a very pleasant bite and spiciness.

Distiller - Powers  | ABV: 45% | Price: €9

A single pot still release of Powers whisky. It's matured in a combination of bourbon and oloroso sherry casks, and named after the distillery where it was first made, now sadly closed.

Nose: Barley, copper, fresh oak, leather, and juicy fruit.

Palate: Very smooth with vanilla, dry spice, chocolate and coffee. There is dark fruit here too, raisins and blackcurrants.

Finish: More vanilla and drying copper notes.

Overall: A very well balanced whiskey with not a note out of place. Lovely.

Distiller - Powers | ABV: 46% | Price: €9

Powers 12 Year old, like the standard Powers, is a blend with a good dollop of pot still content (making up the majority of the blend). Most ageing is done in ex-bourbon casks with a small amount also aged in sherry wood. In practice there are actually some very old whiskeys in this blend, some as old 20/21 years old.

Nose - Soft, fruity and honeyed. Very harmonious and elegant.

Palate -Sweet and soft with honey, vanilla and tropical fruit flavours. Quite restrained and gentle but very smooth. This has a slight prickle and bite on the finish.

Distiller - Midleton | ABV: 40% | Price: €7

A revival of the old style of Powers once made at the old distillery off Thomas St in Dublin. This is a no-age statement release which has been aged in ex-Bourbon barrels with a small amount of Oloroso Sherry casks.

nose -Barley sugar sweets, honey, sweet spices, orange peel and toasty oak.

Palate - Bananas, toasty oak, juicy tropical fruits, barley sugar sweets, spices and raisins.

Finish Not very long but smooth and fruity.

Distillery - Misleton Ireland | ABV: 40% | Price: €6

This blend was introduced in 1791 by John Power & Sons, originally a pure pot still whiskey, now a popular blend of pot still and grain whiskeys.

The nose is gentle and light with notes of caramel and cereal sweetness, a little honey and a touch of malt. The palate is soft and sublimely silken. There are notes of honey, cedar, malt and cereal grains. The finish is of medium-length with honey and juicy cereals.

Distiller - Midleton, Cork | ABV: 40% | Price: €5

Redbreast is a rich, spicy single pot still Irish whiskey matured exclusively in first-fill Sherry and bourbon casks, and this fantastic 21 year old is no exception. A masterpiece of cask selection and blending, we absolutely love this older expression with its notes of tropical fruit, menthol and a touch of leather alongside all that mouth-filling goodness you find right across the range. Hats off to Billy Leighton and all those at Midleton!

Nose: Tropical pineapple (!) and crushed peanuts specifically, a bit like the combo you get on the outside of those soft cheese rings. Rich, rounded, spicy – prunes, quinces, a little deeply caramelised apple.

Palate: Mouth-filling and reassuring. A little menthol alongside the expected spiciness and some leather. On the tail there’s a touch of nectarine.

Finish: A little tangy fruit gives way to sweet and savoury barley notes.

Overall: Tremendous! Intricate and still full of life even though there’s a good proportion of whiskey older than 21 years old in there. Thoroughly enjoyable and one of the very best Irish whiskeys we've ever had the pleasure of tasting.

Distiller ; Midleton, Cork  | ABV: 46% | Price: €25

Mano a Lámh, meaning ‘hand in hand’ in Spanish and Irish respectively, represents the relationship and passion between the Midleton Distillery and the collective of artisans in Spain, which has crafted the Midleton Distillery’s sherry butts for more than 20 years.

Specially commissioned for the Midleton Distillery, oak is felled in the forests of Galicia, north-west Spain, and then crafted and seasoned by some of the country’s most prestigious family businesses. The Antonio Páez Lobato Bodega in the South, who have a long family connection with Midleton Distillery, crafts the oak into sherry casks, which are then seasoned with Oloroso sherry for two years at the prestigious Páez Morilla Bodega in the nearby sherry capital of the world, Jerez.

The freshly seasoned sherry butts are then shipped promptly, during the cooler winter months, to the Midleton Distillery where they are then filled with new make pot still whiskeys.

What many new whiskey drinkers may not be aware of is that when whiskey first emerges from the big copper pot stills in the distillery, it is transparent in colour, high in alcohol content and has very robust flavours and aromas derived from the ingredients and the distillation process. Think of it as a young, unbroken thoroughbred racehorse. And if the Master Distiller equates to the Race Horse Breeder, then the Master Blender and Master of Maturation are the Race Horse Trainer and Racing Yard Manager respectively who break in and train up the young whiskey to Thoroughbred standard.

• Nose: Very deep dried fruits, raisins and sultanas with the more earthy tones of fig, dates and prunes. The sweetness is from the fruit and balances perfectly with pot still spices such as dill and black pepper, and the contribution of the toasted Spanish oak.
• Taste: Silky smooth and deceptively sweet, full of rich, ripe, dark fruit with the leisurely emergence of the signature spices.
• Finish: The rich fruit slowly gives way to the perfection of the Spanish oak.

Distiller ;Midleton, Cork  | ABV: 46% | Price: €15

See more on there Website

Have you ever been enjoying a glass of the multi-award winning Redbreast 12 Year Old single pot still Irish whiskey and thought to yourself "This is great (because it is), but I'd quite like to taste it at cask strength..."? Well now you can! Get stuck in to the cask strength goodness of 12 year old Redbreast from the Midleton distillery.

Distiller - Midleton,Cork  | ABV: 458.6% | Price: €13

A beautiful pure pot still whiskey (or "single pot still" as it's now officially known). Redbreast 15 is a rich, thick, sweet, pungent whiskey with loads of flavour and complexity - really good stuff!

Nose: Fruity and tangy. Notes of zesty citrus, cut hay, guava, beeswax, manuka honey and tropical fruits.

Palate: Creamy and smooth, notes of cooked fruits, fried banana, orange groves, nutmeg, butterscotch and caramel lattes.

Finish: Custard, peppermint and grapefruit.

Distiller - Midleton, Cork | ABV: 46% | Price: €14

A delightful Pure Pot Still Irish whiskey, Redbreast 12 is highly praised by Jim Murray and a host of other notable whisky critics. Named 'Overall Irish Whiskey of the Year' at the 2013 Irish Whiskey Awards, we can't get enough of it.

The nose is nutty and rich. There are notes of dried peels and spice, an oily note and cut fruits. The palate is spice and of good body. There are notes of nuts and citrus and the peel and juice thereof. There are hints of marzipan and dried peels and a hint of sherry. The finish is long and creamy with custard and spice.

Distiller - Midleton Cork | ABV: 40% | Price: €9

The Jameson Vintage Reserve is a very special blend that draws its components from some of the oldest whiskeys available in the warehouses at Midleton. At its core is a generous amount of old pot still with some very old grain, but what sets it apart is probably the portion matured in a sweet, raisiny port pipe. This is a highly complex, fruity, spicy and sweet tasting blend and must rank as one of the best Irish whiskeys currently available. A rare treat.

Nose - A really full bodied aroma. Initially sweet with ripe fruit notes of melon, bananas and dark fleshy plums. The unmistakable pot still spicy character combines to give hints of treacle, cinnamon and liquorice.

Palate - Thick and oily, immediately surprising with the weight and depth it delivers. Lots of pot still character. Complex and oaky with some deliciously gingery fruit, spicy pepper, toasty oak and thick honey. All the way there is a sweet and fruity character reminiscent of boiled sweets and rock candy. Great length and complexity.

Disitiller - Midleton  | ABV: 46%| Price: €39

Crested Ten was first released by Jameson in 1963, when the whiskey bonding trade was dying out. With a high proportion of pot still and Sherry-matured whiskeys, this is a top Irish blend, a real gem.

Distillery - Midleton  | ABV: 40% | Price: €6

This is one of the newest additions to the Jameson range and is also known as Jameson Black Barrel. We were impressed when we first tried this and it seems a bit different to the rest of the Jameson range having some nice flavours of chocolate and spice added to the usual mix. The term 'Black Barrel' was used because some of the spirit is matured in heavily charred 1st fill bourbon casks. This charring gives more cask influence with some butterscotch, dark chocolate and vanilla flavours coming through. The remainder of the casks used are 1st and 2nd fill bourbon barrels which add some balancing sweetness to the blend.Soon to be rebranded and relabelled this whiskey will become one of the main brands in the new Jameson line-up of no-age-statement whiskeys.

Nose - Intensely fruity with characters of apricot, kumquat, and fruit cake. A hint of bitter, dark chocolate and truffles.

Palate - Spice and dried fruits, mixed peel, apricots, marshmallow and burnt caramel. The palate ends with a spicy, bitter chocolate finish

Distiller -Midleton, Cork | ABV: 40% | Price: €7

Jameson Black Barrel Craft Series: Episode 1

he Jameson Caskmates release is a unique whiskey that has been made with the help of Cork's Franciscan Well brewery. Barrels that had been previously used for Jameson whiskey were taken to the Franciscan Well Brewery to use in the ageing of their full-bodied craft stout. Once used for beer maturation they were sent back to the distillery where Jameson whiskey that had already been aged was filled into them for a finishing period.

Nose- The initial aroma of freshly mown Hay is complimented by a crisp Orchard Fruit character, Green Apples and Pears along with a twist of Lime Zest. Mild Pot Still Spices appear, deepening from Green Tea to Hazel Nut and Milk Chocolate. The lingering Hop influence combines effortlessly with Toasted Oak and Barley Grains to form a solid base.

Palate -As expected, there is the initial sweet mouth coating typical of the Irish Pot Still Whiskey inclusion. Then the effect of the Beer Cask finish becomes apparent with the subtle touch of Hops and Cocoa Beans. Some Marzipan and Charred Oak add to the complexity. Long and sweet on the finish with Milk Chocolate and Butterscotch

Distillery - Midleton  | ABV: 40% | Price: €7.50

Jameson Caskmates Story

This has to be one of our favourite Jameson whiskeys. We love it because it reminds us of some of the great heavy pot still whiskeys once produced at the Old Bow Street Distillery in Dublin, albeit a lot easier to drink. Varying styles of pot still whiskeys dominate this luxury blend, which has only a small amount of grain whiskey added to bring some extra smoothness. The casks are predominantly first fill sherry and refill bourbon which are carefully selected before being married for around six months in first fill bourbon casks. It's made in batches, so it differs a little from year to year. If you ask us this is a little more complex and spicy than Midleton Very Rare, so perhaps is a better buy if you like Irish whiskeys that have a good bit of sherry cask richness.

Nose - Great pot still character with a wonderful spicy, oily, floral aroma. Dried fruits and cocoa.

Palate - Thick and oily with a pronounced pot still character. Hard to believe this is a blend. Flavours of Christmas cake, juicy tropical fruits, honey, and chocolate/mocha.

Distiller - Midleton | ABV: 40% | Price: €19

Jameson 12 year old has a wonderful pot still character combined with the smoothness you would expect from Jameson. The pot still content on the standard Jameson ranges from 5-7 years old. With the 12 year old, the extra ageing adds considerable depth and complexity. A heavier style of pot still whiskey is used and a good proportion is aged in sherry casks (again a higher amount than the standard bottling). The result is a whiskey that bridges the gap between standard blends and the heavier single pot still whiskeys from Jameson. This much loved version of Jameson will soon be discontinued and will be replaced by a new range of Jameson products without age statements.

Nose -Warm, spicy, assertively complex. Hints of dried fruits, Christmas cake and cocoa.

Palate -Sherry richness with dried fruits, nutty flavour, mild woody undertones and some cocoa. The finish is warm and long lasting.

Distiller - Midleton, Cork | ABV: 40% | Price: €9.50

Read more on there Website:

Jameson is by far the best selling Irish whiskey in the world and currently sells at a rate of around 4 million cases per year. It has been tweaked over the years to make it mix well with other drinks which explains its popularity in bars and nightclubs. The blend is dominated by some light and crisp grain whiskey but also has a good dollop of heavier pot still whiskey adding some depth. Most of the ageing is done in first fill bourbon casks with only a small proportion in sherry wood. This is a good starting point for anyone wanting to try a typical Irish blend

Distiller - Midleton, Cork  | ABV: 40% | Price: €5

Writers Tears is a light, sweet Irish whiskey made using a mix of single pot still and single malt whiskies, resulting in oodles of honey'd, fruity notes. Wonderfully easy to drink, it would make for a great introduction to Irish whiskey for folks new to the spirit. No writers were harmed in the making of this whiskey.

Nose: Soft and sweet with thick honey spread on granary toast. Hints of citrus peels.

Palate: Honey develops on the palate. Mellow notes of vanilla and golden malt. Green apple skin, caramel and a hint of oak.

Finish: Warming, sweet and long.

Overall: Very yummy Irish whiskey indeed.

Distiller - Walshs Distillery, Carlow  | ABV: 40% | Price: €5.50

A five-year-old blended whisky released by the recently formed Belfast Distillery Company. Made using whiskies distilled at Cooley (until the BDC's Crumlin Road Gaol is up and running), this is a surprisingly complex whisky for its age.

Distiller - Cooley | ABV: 40% | Price: €6

A Blended Whiskey, Created in House @ Revolution Craft Bar, Waterford, using the best of Midleton Whiskies, Matured in miniature American Oak Barrels

Blender - Revolution Craft Bar | ABV: 40% | Price: €6

revolutionwaterford.com

This special once-off release was introduced to celebrate 100 years of the famous brand, with the packaging, recipe and even spelling harking back to the time when Paddy Flaherty was selling Cork Distillers' whisky around the country. Back then, and up to the 1980s, it was a single pot still whisky rather then a blend and the distillery spelled its produce without the 'e'.  It has been matured predominantly in first fill bourbon and sherry casks. Having tasting this, we all agree that it is a cut above the regular Paddy and is one of the most intensely fruity Irish whiskey available. This is a small volume release and unless they decide to keep it going it will dissapear very soon. The palate is lively with a classic pot still prickle. Flavours of dried oranges, cloves, dried raisins with some oily pot still character. Very good!

Distillery - Midleton, Cork  | ABV: 43% | Price: €12

FROM WATERFORD One of our favourite Irish whiskey liqueurs. This is sweet and warming with flavours of butterscotch, caramel and citrus peel.This was a worthy winner of a Gold Medal at the 2014 Irish Whiskey Awards.

 | ABV: 30% | Price: €5

Eoin O'Neill unveils Muldoon @ Oskars Bar, Waterford

Muldoon Web Site

Lockes 8 year old single malt was first released in 2000 and is double distilled in traditional pot stills. 10% of the malt is peated. Using whiskies aged between 8-10 years, it is medium bodied with plenty of fruit and spicy oak. This won Gold Medal and Best in Class in the 2009 International Wine and Spirits Awards.

The nose is full and rich with notes of fruit and barley malt, plenty of oak and a little floral character. The palate is full-bodied with a minerality, notes of barley and cereal sweetness with mixed peels. The finish is full and based mainly on malt notes.

Distiller ; Cooley | ABV: 40% | Price: €6

In 1966, Mark Edwin Andrews purchased Knappogue Castle, a 15th century castle in Ireland, which was then in ruins. He and his wife, a prominent architect, then embarked on an ambitious program of restoration, in an effort to return the structure to its original state of glory and grandeur. It was around this time that Andrews began buying casks of fine pot still whiskey from top distilleries in the country. The casks were further aged and bottled under what is now the Knappogue Castle label. His last bottling, a 1951 vintage aged 36 years, is revered by connoisseurs as the oldest and rarest commercially available Irish whiskey on the market. Many years later, his son, Mark Andrews III, would bring Knappogue 1951 and his father’s legacy to the United States and other international markets.

Knappogue Castle, our signature expression, is an exceptional single malt made exclusively from malted barley. Triple distilled one batch at a time in traditional, onion-shaped copper pot stills, the whiskey is then aged in bourbon oak casks for twelve years. The delicate distillation process, along with the moist and temperate climate, yields the distinctive flavor of this remarkable Irish single malt.

Rich and biscuity with notes of peppery spice.

Mellow and well-balanced with a bright, elegant fruitiness and mild spice flavors.

| ABV: 40% | Price: €6

Read more on there Website: website.com

Kilbeggan® is a unique Irish Whiskey. Like most Irish people, Kilbeggan® is easy going and approachable, but with its own distinctive style. The finest grain and malt whiskeys are blended together for a smooth, sweet taste and lovely malt finish, a characteristic of our pot still that is over 180 year old and still at the heart of Kilbeggan® Irish whiskey.

| ABV: 40% | Price: €5.50

Read more on there Website: website.com

The Ryan family have long associations with Irish Whiskey going back to a time when they bottled their own Ryan’s Malt which they produced in association with The Dublin Whiskey Distillery until the famous distillery closed its doors in 1946. To celebrate the Ryan’s Beggars Bush 100th Year Anniversary in 2013, the family identified an opportunity to revive their Jack Ryan’s Malt.

Jack Ryan’s Malt offers a strong and authentic Irish Whiskey proposition and brand story which will provide a new dimension to support the significant growth and consumer attraction to these exciting whiskey categories while being true to Irish Whiskey values and authenticity develop added value and innovation by introducing/marrying elements of the great American Bourbon Whiskies in terms of liquid finishing and packaging development.
The bottle label depicts an image from 1913 of the exterior of the landmark public house and original lamp post that still stands today at 115 Haddington Road. It also includes an image of Jack Ryan and his handwritten signature. The label gives reference to Jack Ryan’s character, public house, and Single Malt.

Jack Ryan ‘Beggars Bush’ Single Malt Irish Whiskey 46% has been aged for 12 years, with no chill filtration, allowing the true flavours of the whiskey to be retained.

The whiskey has been matured in ex-bourbon barrels hand-picked by the family themselves, to deliver a unique taste. The golden amber glow and nose of sweet, oaky vanilla, sets you up for a delicious mouthful of silky, honey sweetness with a long, warm-hearted, lingering, spicy finish.

A limited edition Cask Strength Single Malt with an abv of 56.5% is also available in limited supply. 250 bottles of the limited edition individually signed and numbered by Eunan Ryan.

Only 1450 bottles of Jack Ryan ‘Beggars Bush’ Single Malt have been produced, and 250 bottles of the limited edition Cask Strength Single Malt hand signed and numbered by Eunan Ryan.

Jack Ryans was awarded the coveted title of ‘Best Irish single malt whiskey’ in the 12 years and younger category after beating off stiff competition at the prestigious Irish Whiskey awards ceremony which were held on the 23rd October 2014.
After launching at the end of 2013, this has come as a great achievement for a small independent whiskey brand and a fitting tribute to the long tradition of the Ryan family in the licensed trade.

The Voting panel was made up of members from both and Irish and international perspective including the Celtic Whiskey Club and the Irish Whiskey Society. The results where determined by a series of blind tasting carried out with each entry. Jack Ryans scored a staggering 10 votes ahead of its closest scoring competitor.

 ABV: 40% | Price: €7

Read more on there Website: website.com

Inishowen Irish whisky, Ireland’s only peated blend, is made from 30% peated malt. A warm plume of peat smoke is evident in the nose covering soft and sweet cereal notes.

The taste is very soft with the peat giving way to soft fruits typical of Cooley. The finish waxes and wanes between soft fruit and sweet vanilla and a dying peat fire. Delightful and deserving wider acclaim.

 ABV: 40% | Price: €5.50

Plenty of companies have tapped Cooley Distillery for whiskey they can label as their own. Inish Turk Beg could have done just that and left it there but, with admirable integrity, they put their own twist on the whiskey in various creative ways.

They ensured a good base to begin with: roughly 10-year old Cooley malt (very fine stuff indeed, in my opinion). They took thirteen expired ex-bourbon barrels, filled them with "poitín" for a year (Cooley new make spirit, I presume), emptied them and then left them to weather on the island (for how long, I don't know). The Cooley malt was then finished in these seasoned barrels (again, I don't know how long for).

Another touch was to use rainwater, fresh off the Atlantic, to water down the cask-strength spirit to bottling strength of 44%. The final presentation was also unusual: a spherical, tilted, hand-blown bottle. 2,888 of these one-litre bottles were produced.

I've been calling this "Inish Turk Beg" whiskey ever since it was released in late 2010 but I've just realised it's actually called Maiden Voyage. The intention was to release a follow-up called Eternal Voyage but we haven't seen that yet.

With the attractive presentation and the various unique touches it should fly off the shelves

 ABV: 40% | Price: €20

Nadim Sadek introduces music from Inish Turk Beg

Hyde 10 Year Old single malt is a limited edition single malt that has been finished in Oloroso Sherry casks. This is a double distilled single malt that was initially matured in ex-Bourbon barrels. It is non-chilfiltered and bottled at 46%. This is named after Douglas Hyde, the first president of Ireland.

Distiller ; Hyde | ABV: 46% | Price: €8

Read more on there Website

An 8 year old single grain whiskey from Ireland! This won Gold (Best in Class) three years running at the International Wine and Spirits Competition between 2008 and 2010. Greenore is distilled at the Cooley distillery.

Nose: Lemon sponge, honeyed cereal, vanilla and a little caramel. Toasted oak, banana and tropical fruit. Fairly light, but full of flavour - very nice indeed!

Palate: Sweet, smooth vanilla before spicy oak comes in. Touches of menthol and coconut ice.

Finish: Long with maple and pecan, milk chocolate and a hint of salinity.

Overall: A sensational grain whiskey this, top stuff!

Distiller ; Cooley | ABV: 40% | Price: €5.50

HONOURING SIX GENERATIONS

In 1852 Patrick Egan Sr established P&H Egan Ltd in Tullamore, County Offaly, the beating heart of 19th century Ireland. This spirited enterprise quickly became one of Ireland’s foremost merchant houses, spanning a range of commercial endeavours that included malting, brewing and bottling. Today the Egan legacy and time honoured traditions are carried forward by a family with Irish Whiskey in their blood. Six generations in the making, this charismatic Ten Year Old Single Malt was carefully selected by members of the Egan family and proudly represents over 160 years of family heritage.

 | ABV: 40% | Price: €8

Read more on there Website

John then explained that what you need for nice, smooth spirit, is plenty of reflux. You need a still with a built-in bulge in the neck - a boil bowl - so that the vapour doesn't all rise right up and condense beyond the drop. You need it to condense and fall back into the still a few times before it eventually condenses and drips into the receiver. And so it was that we modified our still design.

Our very special stills are a key part of the Dingle Story. We take the best Irish malted barley and make pure pot still malt whiskey. Then we put it in casks and let the mild, moist, unique Dingle air do the rest. No whiskey in Scotland or Ireland experiences a maturation process like that. Dingle is definitely Dingle.

Of course, making whiskey is all about patience. The first Dingle Whiskey will be released in 2016 which happens to be the centenary of Irish independence. Given our independent nature, we feel that this is a happy coincidence.

Distiller ; Dingel | ABV: 40% | Price: €5.50

Read more on there Website

Clontarf Single Malt is triple distilled at Bushmills distillery and aged in bourbon casks. Soft, fruity style! 'Beautifully fresh barley, almost barley sugar, with light sinews of oak; long intense barley but with the vanilla standing tallest at the death as welcome spices finally gather; beautiful in its simplicity, this has eschewed complexity for delicious minimalism.' 90.5 Points Jim Murray's Whiskey Bible.

 | ABV: 40% | Price: €5.50

The traditional "honeymoon" drink and one of the oldest forms of wine known to man. Mead was drunk by the Four Kings of Ireland in the middle ages after having been introduced by monks. Great chilled as an aperitif or as an after-dinner or late night hot toddy.

| ABV: 14.7% | Price: €5

Pours a hazy, copper orange colour. Aromas of baked apricot and wild honey lead to zingy tropical fruit on the palate with malt and herbal hops at the finish. A fresh, fruity and gentle introduction to IPA.
And Union are a trio of a father, a son & his long time business partner & friend working with four small Bavarian breweries that are family-owned and run. The oldest brewery is almost 500 years old and the youngest is 90 years old. Brewed using only barley, yeast, hops and water. And Union believe in the quality of small batches with their traditional brewing processes taking up to 16 weeks. All beers are unfiltered and unpasteurised

Brewer: Beer Brewing Company | ABV: 5.5% | Price: €5.50

Read more on All Day IPA 

Last week the Arthurstown brewery joined the ever-lengthening list of craft breweries in this country. Based in the Dunbrody House Estate, this is the brainchild of celebrity chef Kevin Dundon, owner of Dunbrody, local farmer and B&B owner Tosh Crosbie, local businessman Eamon Murphy and marketeer Niamh Ní Dhónaill. The story goes that Arthurstown had no pub, so ‘The Local’ bar was built in the grounds of Dunbrody. Kevin and his mates were enjoying a pint there one evening when someone came up with the idea of brewing their own beer.

The brewery has the capacity to produce eight thousand litres a week. The brewer is Kieran Bird, a local, or at least ‘five or six miles down the road’ he says. They produce the Kings Bay beers for SuperValu as well as Dunbrody Irish Pale Ale and Irish Red Ale. The latter are aimed at restaurants and specialist off-licences, the former as introductory beers for newbie craft beer converts. All of the base malts are grown locally, and Kieran is very happy with the soft water supplied by an ancient well on the grounds of Dunbrody. I’ll be brewing the stout in the New Year, and we are starting to think about other seasonal beers,’ says Kieran, ‘maybe a lager with strawberries to go with the other famous local produce, maybe a pumpkin ale or a lighter Kölsch for the spring. We will see.’ The Dunbrody Pale Ale is light, crisp and refreshing with a subtle citrus finish.

Brewer: Beer Brewing Company | ABV: 4.7% | Price: €5.50

Read more on Arthurstown Brewing 

Nulla consequat massa quis enim. Donec pede justo, fringilla vel, aliquet nec, vulputate eget, arcu. In enim justo, rhoncus ut, imperdiet a, venenatis vitae, justo. Nullam dictum felis eu pede mollis pretium. Integer tincidunt. Cras dapibus. Vivamus elementum semper nisi. Aenean vulputate eleifend tellus. Aenean leo ligula, porttitor eu, consequat vitae, eleifend ac, enim. Aliquam lorem ante, dapibus in, viverra quis, feugiat a.

Brewer: Beer Brewing Company | ABV: 4.8% | Price: €4.95

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This 5.6% trans-atlantic fusion IPA is light golden in colour with tropical fruits and light caramel on the nose. The palate soon becomes assertive and resinous with the New Zealand hops balanced by the biscuit malt. The finish is aggressive and dry with the hops emerging over the warming alcohol. This fresh, full flavour natural beer is our tribute to the classic IPAs of yester-year. The post modern twist is the addition of amazing fruity hops giving an explosion of tropical fruit flavours and a sharp bitter finish.

Brewer: Brewdog | ABV: 5.6% | Price: €6

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Signal de Botrange is the highest mountain in Belgium, souring a massive 694m into the sky. It is almost as high as our neighbouring giant the Knockmealdown, but not quite. Belgium and Ireland are known for punching above their weight when it comes to beer, so it is fitting that they should come together for this Irish Export Stout brewed with a Belgian ale yeast. Inky black with a beautiful tan head, Signal has deep toffee and dark chocolate flavours. What lifts it from the marvelous to the sublime are the peppery notes from the yeast. Think spicy chocolate stout – and raise your glass to the mountains. Short description: Belgian stout – cacao and coffee flavours – try with Yule logs. Or selection boxes. Style: Belgian Stout Hops: Admiral. Malt: Two-row Irish Malted Barley, Malted Oats, Special B, Crystal, Chocolate Malt, Carafa. ABV: 6.0% IBUs: 34 IBUs Tasting notes Colour/appearance: inky black with a fine tan head. Aroma: spicy yeast, cocoa powder and bitter dark malts. Flavour: smooth and complex, with dark, delicious chocolate and coffee notes and a hint of caramel and peppery spice as it warms up in the glass. Aftertaste: a nice dry aftertaste, with a flourish of cacao to finish. Food pairings: This is what you want as an after dinner drink. Put it with a Yule Log and you’ll be in Christmas heaven. If you’re a Christmas pudding fan, complement it with the spicy flavours in this beer. Other favourite pairings are dark chocolate truffles – but this will also cut the sweetness from that selection box that you snaffled from the kids. Good to keep in mind

Brewer: Beer Brewing Company | ABV: 6% | Price: €5.90

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Falling Apple Cider is made entirely from pressed apples and is available now on draught throughout Ireland. As only original cider apples are used in the making of this cider, it holds a fine balance of sweet, dry and bitter flavours making this a truly unique drink.

Brewer: Carlow Brewing Company | ABV: 5% | Price: €6

Watch the apples! 

So what is different about 12 Acres Brewing Company?

Well… by brewing with our own malted barley and spring water from deep beneath the same land, we are producing unique craft Irish beers which are traceable from our ground to your glass. 12 Acres Pale Ale is a delicious refreshing dry hopped golden pale ale with a moderately sweet malt body, balanced with a burst of citrus hoppyness. We hope you enjoy drinking it as much as we enjoy brewing it!

Brewer: 12 Acres | ABV: 4.6% | Price: €5.50

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This beer is brewed using 100% Irish malt and showcases the best home grown barley, malted in Cork.

Style: Single Irish malt IPA
Malt: 100% Irish pale malt
Hops: Ahtanum, Centennial, Citra, Amarillo
Strength: 6% ABV
Bitterness: 65 IBUs

Tasting notes
Colour/appearance: pours a pale gold colour, with lovely white head. Medium carbonation.
Aroma: lots of hops! It’s a hop bomb with citrus and floral characters, particularly grapefruit at the fore, with hints of lime, melon and lychees.
Flavour: hoppy fruit with a biscuity malt body.
Aftertaste: rounded bitterness that cleanses the palate with a lingering sweetness from the single malt, preparing the palate for the next sip.

Food pairings: This single malt ale goes with grilled fish, barbecued chicken and prawns. Put that barbecued chicken on a pizza and it’s heaven in a slice. Also good with smoked duck.

Brewer: 8 Degrees | ABV: 6% | Price: €6

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the beer is a fusion of the classic American cascade hop and the new Australian melba hop, the clean Irish malt allows their citrus and fruit aromas to shine

Brewer: Independent Brewing Company | ABV: 5.6% | Price: €5.90

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HISTORY

Brewed to honour Diarmund McCarthy Mor, the king of South Munster and founder the site of our brewery, Chieftain IPA puts a taste of his power in your hands.

The Origin of "India Pale Ale"

India Pale Ale was the answer to the problem of how to get good ale from Britain to India in the 18th century. Unlike other beers drank at the time, IPAs were able to survive long voyages into warm climates without souring. IPA had this long-lasting effect by brewers adding more preservative-enhancing hops and brewing the beer to high alcohol contents.

IPA Today:

Indian Pale Ale was born out of utility, but has evolved into a style of beer that takes inspiration from the original in modern IPA’s hoppy flavour and generous alcohol content.

Chieftain IPA

Many modern IPAs have a startling bitterness that discourages the casual drinker- you either love it or you hate it! Chieftain IPA has been designed for casual enjoyment. It has a mild and fresh hoppiness and a moderate alcohol content at 5.5% ABV, but still maintains the powerful presence of an Indian Pale Ale.

Brewer: Franciscan Well | ABV: 5.5% | Price: €5.50

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Brewer: Franciscan Well | ABV: 4.3% | Price: €5.50

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Sunshine in a glass! Equinox is a refreshing wheat lager designed with lazy sunny days in mind. Hazy bright yellow, it’s a smooth and refreshing beer with a light dry finish. Orange and lemon peel are added to the brew kettle for a burst of citrus, along with some ground coriander to give a hint of spice on the end – tantalizingly quaffable!

Brewer: Metalman Brewing, Waterford | ABV: 4.5% | Price: €5.50

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American style pale ale, dark gold in colour with a delicate white head. Citrus and floral aromas lead into hop flavours characterised by grapefruit and mandarin produced by American hops. A dry bitter finish makes this an eminently enjoyable and refreshing beer.

Recommended food pairing : The citrus flavours and bitter finish on this beer means it goes well with robust, full-flavoured dishes such as thai or indian curry, steak with pepper sauce.

Brewer: Metalman Brewing | ABV: 4.3% | Price: €5.50

Head Brewer Grainne Walsh Talks Beer

Full-bodied with the rich and rewarding flavours of Vienna and Crystal malts, with the natural aroma of classical hop varieties over a rich malt base. This edition to the "Clever Man" collection is named in honour of John P. Holland, the Irish inventor of the modern submarine!

Brewer: Drew Fox Brewing, Wexford | ABV: 4.5% | Price: €5.50

The combination of Master Celebrity Chef Kevin Dundon from Dunbrody House and local Brew Master Kieran Bird take great pride in developing and nurturing authentic craft beers.Their Brew Master is fastidious in the pursuit of his craft and passionate about delivering beer made to the highest standards.Kieran and Kevin spend lots of time and effort honing their unique recipes, painstakingly matching natural ingredients to suit various foods and occasions. Their pride in their craft as beer makers is second to none and their pursuit of quality made crafted beer is never ending.

Dunbrody Irish Red Ale is made with three distinct malts – Ale, Munich and Crystal – from their own Arthurstown barley. Fuggles and Cascade hops, and spring water from the old Boiling Well on the estate.
It has a rich malty flavour, with sweet caramel notes, a subtle nutty finish and a hint of sweet pine on the nose. Great with food or on it’s own ! Enjoy !

Brewer: Beer Brewing Company | ABV: 4.7% | Price: €5.50

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Brewer: Brooklyn Brewing Company | ABV: 10% | Price: €6.50

Watch the Tasting 

On Thursday 27 April 1916, the Enniscorthy brigade of the Irish Volunteers proclaimed the Republic to the good people of Wexford from the steps of the Athenaeum theatre, and for one week a tricolour flew high over the roofs of Enniscorthy. “Ireland through us, summons her children to her flag and strikes for her freedom” To commemorate this important moment in our history, the Arthurstown Brewing Company, co-founded by top chef Kevin Dundon, is launching the 1916 Proclamation Porter.

Speaking about the new beer, Kevin Dundon said, “This beer is our way of celebrating those brave Irish men and women who fought for our Independence, especially those in the Athenaeum theatre in Enniscorthy.”

The Proclamation Porter is described by the Arthurstown as “an old-school Irish stout, such as those brave men and women of Wexford would have known, brewed from our own native grains, grown in the very soil they pledged to liberate, with Chocolate and Dark Crystal malts for a velvety finish, with notes of chocolate and coffee.” This is Arthurstown Brewing Company’s fifth beer since first appearing on the market in September 2015 and Brew Master Kieran Bird, along with Kevin Dundon, are constantly developing new and exciting recipes.

Arthurstown’s Proclamation Porter is now available in SuperValu and Centra nationwide as well as a growing number of independent off licenses and pubs. The commemorative beer is available in 500ml bottles and on draught.

Brewer: Arthurstown Brewing Company | ABV: 5% | Price: €5.50

What Rate Beer say! 

This pilsner pours a typical light yellow pilsner color with a medium white head. The smell is also typical of a pilsner, distinctly yeasty and slightly acrid. The taste is not typical of a pilsner, however, unless of course your typical pilsner is a Czech pilsner. The flavors are nothing ground breaking with yeast and pilsner malts dominating, but what is different is the incredible smoothness of this beer and the fact that it has none of acrid, slightly skunky flavor that I associate with the majority of pilsners. The body is light, but somehow still has a really nice malt character. When I went to Prague I didn’t believe the hype about their beer or I at least thought it wouldn’t apply to me (someone who finds pilsners to typically be a boring and in general underwhelming beer style). There really is something about the Czech pilsner that is different though, not to mention all the other great non-pilsner beers that are there. This is maybe not the best or most exciting Czech pilsner, but I think that it’s amazing that this is one of their mass produced variety and I find it better than 90 or 95% of pilsners that I have had. This is one of the few times that I will say that I think this pilsner is underrated. It must lose something on export to the US (maybe because of the green bottle) to be rated so low

Brewer: Staropramen, Czech | ABV: 5% | Price: €5.50

Web Site 

The Peroni company was established under the founding family name in the town of Vigevano, Italy, in 1846. The company was moved to Rome by Giovanni Peroni in 1864, six years prior to Rome becoming the Italian capital in 1870. Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the company became one of the most prominent brewing companies in the newly unified Italian nation.

By the 1990s, both the Peroni brand name and product line were distributed and known worldwide. The London-based brewing giant SABMiller bought the company in 2003, making it one of the few international brands in its portfolio. To re-launch the brand in 2005, the company refined itself to match industry trends of the 1980s.

Brewer:Peroni Brewing Company | ABV: 5.1% | Price: €5.50

Peroni the ad! 

500 years of hard work went into making this beer that features the aroma of orange peel, coriander and herbs that the merry monks imported from sunny Curacao. Speaking of which: pouring Hoegaarden is just like letting the sun fall into your glass: light yellow and naturally murky. And the soft foam adds a cloudy finish. And then there’s the soft taste, light and slightly sweet and sour and with subtle citrus notes… ah, just go ahead and taste it instead of reading about it!

In fact, the jury of the European Beer Star Awards 2014 did just that. Our white won bronze in the category Belgian-style White Beer… delicious!

Brewer: Beer Brewing Company | ABV: 4.9% | Price: €5.50

Hoegarden Commercial

Blue Moon® Belgian White* was our first year-round release back in 1995.

It started with our brewmaster, Keith Villa, wanting to craft a beer inspired by the flavorful Belgian Wits he enjoyed while studying brewing in Belgium. He brewed his interpretation using Valencia orange peel versus the traditional tart Curaçao orange peel, for a subtle sweetness, and added a touch of coriander to provide balance. Then he added oats and wheat to create a smooth, creamy finish that’s inviting to the palate. As a final touch, he garnished the beer with an orange slice to heighten the citrus aroma and taste. Its natural unfiltered appearance adds to the depth of flavors in Belgian White*.

Brewer: Blue Moon Company | ABV: 5.4% | Price: €5.50

Blue Moon Video

A wheat beer like home

A brewing art for wheat beer geeks: "Mein Original" – this traditional and popular wheat beer has been brewed according to the original recipe of Georg I. Schneider since 1872. Deep amber, perfectly balanced and powerful. A taste of Bavaria. A taste like home – whether at home or socializing at the “Stammtisch”.

Brewer: Schneiderweisse | ABV: 5.4% | Price: €5.50

Video Tasting

Clear gold with about one finger of white head that lasts about five minutes. Some splotches of lace left behind as the liquid level drops.
Smell is rich malts yeast and noble hops.
Taste is a bit hop forward and quite fine for me. Noble hops and smooth biscuity malts.
Mouthfeel is light to medium with good carbonation. Finishes lightly dry and bitter.
This is what a lager beer should taste like.

Brewer:Spaten Brewing Company | ABV: 5.2% | Price: €5.50

Video Beer Review

Poured 0.5l bottle into a Hefeweizen glass. ABV 5.3%

Appearance: Pale goleden to light amber color. Mild hazy. Tall and foamy white head, with good retention and good lacing. Very high carbonation visible.

Smell: Yeast, moderate banana aroma.

Taste: Wheat, malt, gentle bitterness from hops, banana notes in traces coming through from the background, but without any of the traditional clove or bubblegum flavors.

Mouthfeel: Crisp, light-to-medium bodied, well balanced, good carbonation in the mouth.

Overall: Refreshing, pleasant and thirst quenching, but not much of a taste. Decent enough, but pretty average for the style.

Brewer: Erdinger | ABV: 5.3% | Price: €5.50

Amusing Erdinger Video

Bottle: Unfiltered
Franziskaner Weissbier Naturtrub Premium Hefe-Weissbier
From Munich Since 1363
Ingredients: Water, Wheat Malt, Barley Malt, Yeast, Hop Extract
The original fresh wheat beer taste. Franziskaner Hefe-Weißbier Naturtrüb is a natural and elegant Weissbier from Bavaria with a lush white foam. The copper golden wheat beer unfolds with an aromatic fragrance and harmonious banana and citrus fruits.

Brewer:  Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu | ABV: 5% | Price: €5.50

How to Pour Your beer! not messing! 

Look--Pours a pleasant amber color with a decent head which is quickly gone. Traces of lacing throughout the drink, however. Somewhat disappointing in how clear it is. Ultra-filtered.

Smell--Esters/medicinal. Nothing offensive but nothing remarkable. Not terribly complex. Disappointing for an "Abbey" ale.

Taste--Initially very very very...sweet. Cloying doesn't cover it. And not in a manner evocative of any particular sweet-flavored thing--just sweet-flavored beer. There is not enough carbonation or of anything else to balance the sweetness. I've had beers that have this much sweetness on part of the palate, but they've usually had something else they bring to the party. It isn't undrinkable--it's actually pretty smooth. As the beer warms, things even out slightly--so I would recommend drinking this one closer to room temp.

Feel--Smooth and creamy. The carbonation is initially there, but it doesn't have enough staying power in that regard.

Brewer: Leffe| ABV: 6.6% | Price: €5.90

Leffe Commercial

Jameson Gold started out as a limited edition expression that was originally created for the Asian market. It proved to be very popular and it was added as a permanent member of the Jameson range. The blend has been tweaked a little since it first appeared and now seems to be more rounded and harmonious than initial releases. The Jameson Gold features three well-aged pot still whiskeys, one of which was aged in new American oak barrels. New oak can be quite aggressive and tends to add a lots of flavour but also some tannin and woodiness, so it has to be used sparingly here. The composition of Jameson Gold is quite complex with lots of different pot still and grain components all coming together in an elegant and smooth package.Unfortunately this much loved bottling will soon be discontinued and will be replaced by a new range of no-age-statement Jameson whiskeys.

Nose - Fragrant wood, rich pot still with a touch of sherry sweetness

Palate - All the creaminess and honey sweetness come together to create a taste sensation of spicy character, a smooth complex whiskey experience. A very long finish with a pleasantly peppery finale.

Distiller - Midleton | ABV: 40% | Price: €14

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Brewer: Beer Brewing Company | ABV: 4.8% | Price: €4.95

Read more on there Website: website.com

Nulla consequat massa quis enim. Donec pede justo, fringilla vel, aliquet nec, vulputate eget, arcu. In enim justo, rhoncus ut, imperdiet a, venenatis vitae, justo. Nullam dictum felis eu pede mollis pretium. Integer tincidunt. Cras dapibus. Vivamus elementum semper nisi. Aenean vulputate eleifend tellus. Aenean leo ligula, porttitor eu, consequat vitae, eleifend ac, enim. Aliquam lorem ante, dapibus in, viverra quis, feugiat a.

Brewer: Beer Brewing Company | ABV: 4.8% | Price: €4.95

Read more on there Website: website.com

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Brewer: Beer Brewing Company | ABV: 4.8% | Price: €4.95

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Nulla consequat massa quis enim. Donec pede justo, fringilla vel, aliquet nec, vulputate eget, arcu. In enim justo, rhoncus ut, imperdiet a, venenatis vitae, justo. Nullam dictum felis eu pede mollis pretium. Integer tincidunt. Cras dapibus. Vivamus elementum semper nisi. Aenean vulputate eleifend tellus. Aenean leo ligula, porttitor eu, consequat vitae, eleifend ac, enim. Aliquam lorem ante, dapibus in, viverra quis, feugiat a.

Brewer: Beer Brewing Company | ABV: 4.8% | Price: €4.95

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The new edition of the classic Kentucky straight bourbon, Buffalo Trace. A great whiskey, with oodles of vanilla, barrel char and spicy complexity.

Tasting Note by The Chaps at Master of Malt

One of the world's most popular blends, and the best-selling Scotch whisky in Scotland, Famous Grouse is a very nicely balanced, malty blend which was first made in 1896. In fact, it was created by Matthew Gloag's company after he was asked to supply wines for a royal banquet with Queen Victoria in attendance. His son, William, perfected a blend named The Grouse, renaming it The Famous Grouse in 1905. Around eighty years later, the company was awarded a Royal Warrant. The blend represents great value for money, and it also works beautiful in whisky-based cocktails. Delicious.

Nose: A crisp, light nose offering up notes of toffee apples, hints of dried flowers and biscuity barley.

Palate: Balanced, biscuit-laden palate with a core of thick, creamy malt. Just a hint of spice and the vaguest whisper of smoke really bring a great deal of complexity.

Finish: A slightly sweet, malty finish.

Overall: A very malty, biscuity blend. It's easy to see why this is so popular in Scotland!

Distiller ; Famous Grouse | ABV: 40% | Price: €6.50

loads of Mad Commercials 

The Glendronach distillery lies at the Dronach Burn in the Deveron area. The whisky distillery was founded in 1826, by a syndicate headed by James Allardes. Thanks to the fifth Duke of Gordon, distillation throughout the highlands was legalized in the early 19th century. It is said the duke encouraged the group to build Glendronach. The distillery changed hands in 1852, to Walter Scott of Teaninich. Following his death, a group from Leith acquired the distillery.

Distiller ; GlenDronach  | ABV: 40% | Price: €6.80

Nulla consequat massa quis enim. Donec pede justo, fringilla vel, aliquet nec, vulputate eget, arcu. In enim justo, rhoncus ut, imperdiet a, venenatis vitae, justo. Nullam dictum felis eu pede mollis pretium. Integer tincidunt. Cras dapibus. Vivamus elementum semper nisi. Aenean vulputate eleifend tellus. Aenean leo ligula, porttitor eu, consequat vitae, eleifend ac, enim. Aliquam lorem ante, dapibus in, viverra quis, feugiat a.

Brewer: Beer Brewing Company | ABV: 4.8% | Price: €4.95

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Poitín, {pronounced “potcheen”}, is Irelands oldest distilled spirit. In fact, earliest records from around 584ad make it the first drink ever to be distilled. Glendalough is a hand-crafted homage to the original style and ancient art of poitín making. It was outlawed on Christmas day in 1661 by King Charles II, in attempt to stamp out an industry that wouldn’t give him any tax, an attempt most distillers paid no attention to. Rebellious Irish distillers disappeared into the wilderness and continued to hone their craft regardless. Quality was such that it still outsold Irish Whiskey well into the 1800’s. Any Irishman worth his salt had a bottle somewhere, to cure ills (used on anything from rubbing muscle aches to curing sick calves), celebrate occasions and generally grease the wheels.

The Church, the British crown, the Irish state and various temperance movements all attempted to stamp out poitín distilling to no avail. The law pursued distillers right up until 1997 when it was legalised. Glendalough heralds a renaissance in the ancient art of distilling poitín and aims to bring it back towards its rightful place as an expertly crafted spirit with a long shadow and unique history. Distilled in small batches from malted barley and sugar beet, it is then oak-aged for added smoothness and depth of flavour. It is a drink that’s as complex in its taste as its history, a drink that truly captures the original Irish spirit. This is a craft, small batch distilled Poitin from the newly created Glendalough Poitin company. Unusually for a poitin this has been aged for a short period in virgin Irish oak casks. Smooth and complex to taste. This is one of the fuller flavoured Poitins that we stock. There are hints of black, cracked pepper, some dried fruits and touches of vanilla and toasty oak

Distiller - Glendalough  | ABV: 40% | Price: €5.50
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This classic Speyside from Glenfiddich was the Winner of a Gold Medal at the 2007 International Wine and Spirit Competition, aged for 12 years in American and European Oak casks.

Nose: Grain. Slightly floral, mineralic. Spirity, orchard fruit, malty, honey. Citrus develops.

Palate: Light, floral, spices. Very smooth.

Finish: Sweet, touch of oak and general fruit, oily.

Overall: Stereotypical Speyside. Consistent - a good benchmark.

Distiller ; Glenfiddich | ABV: 40% | Price: €7.50

Tasting Video

A combination of aged Scotch whiskies, heather honey and a recipe of secret ingredients, Drambuie is one of the best-known whisky liqueurs worldwide.

Distiller ; Grants | ABV: 40% | Price: €5.50

Brilliant Ad for Drambuie 

Made from both malted barley and sugar beet. Glendalough Sherry finish is matured first in virgin Irish oak casks then transferred into Sherry casks for a final finishing.

The taste is thick and hangs on the middle of the tongue with touch of dried apricots. There’s still touch of cracked pepper, vanilla and toasty oak. A very full flavoured poitín that goesdown nicely.The finish has good length, sweet with a touch of saltiness that stays with you. It’s a warming finish with vanilla and berry fruit that lasts. Sherry finish ads touches of honey and raisin.

Distillery - Glendalough | ABV: 40% | Price: €5.50

The entry level bottling from the illustrious Glenlivet distillery at Speyside's heart, aged for 12 years. The archetypal Speyside dram, honey and orchard fruit driven.

Nose: Sweet creamy vanilla, honey, pineapple, vanilla, pressed apples and a little cinnamon.

Palate: Apple cores, fresh and fruity trifle and creamy citrus.

Finish: Long and delicious, almonds and apple.

Overall: One of the best selling malts in the world, well-worth re-visiting.

Distiller ; Glenlivit | ABV 40% | €6

ASIA IS A REGION ON FIRE, HOME TO THE WORLD'S BEST INNOVATORS AND ENTREPRENEURS. THIS IS TIGER'S PLAYGROUND. BORN IN SINGAPORE AND MADE FOR THE HEAT OF THE STREETS. OUR GOAL: TO INSPIRE COURAGE BECAUSE EVERY MAN HAS A TIGER INSIDE.

Brewer: Tiger Brewing Company | ABV: 4.8% | Price: €5.50

Read more on there Website: tigerbeer.com