Glendalough 13 Year Old Mizunara Single Malt Whiskey
The winner of World Best Irish Whiskey, was the first Irish Whiskey released with a Japanese minuzara finish. Extremely rare, and expensive, virgin Japanese mizunara, comes from Hokkaido, the rugged most northern island of Japan. The mizunara puncheon amplifies much of what is already there while layering on more vanilla smoothness, sandalwood notes and even a little coconut, or gorse flower if you’re from our neck of the woods. This is a whiskey that’s hard to make. It is unique in terms of what is being done with Irish whiskey and it is very limited. This is one to savour.
This winner of World Best Irish Whiskey, was the first, and only, Irish Whiskey released with a Japanese minuzara finish.
Extremely rare, and expensive, virgin Japanese mizunara oak, comes from Hokkaido, the rugged most northern island of Japan. It is coopered to order in Japan’s only independent cooperage, by Japan’s oldest cooper. Mizunara amplifies much of what is already there while layering on more vanilla smoothness, sandlewood notes and even a little coconut, or gorse flower if you’re from if you’ve ever walked in the Wicklow Mountains, you’ll know that smell.
This whiskey has very different and exotic flavours compared with what you’d expect from an Irish single malt. And there’s not a lot of it around! This is one to snap up quickly before it’s all gone and savour.
Tasting notes for Glendalough 13 Year Old
Nose
This Irish Whiskey just pops on the nose, Honeycomb, vanilla, apricot, and citrus. It reminds me of when I was a child and mashed a Crunchie bar into a bowl of Ice cream on a warm summers day. (rare in Ireland I know)
Taste
This Whiskey is velvety smooth it has a luxurious mouth feel. The sweetness pours over your tongue, more vanilla Ice cream, fudge, peach and marmalade followed by sandalwood, cinnamon, and oriental spices.
Finish
More memories of childhood come to mind, rock candy by the sea in Wicklow. Jim Murray Put it this way… “The longest milk chocolate finish in the history of Irish Whiskey”
Where to drink: Glendalough 13 Year Old Mizunara Single Malt
I’m going to go with the theme of childhood memories here and pick a vibrant town just south of Dublin. Bray. Co. Wicklow, on the pier in the sun. Or if the weather doesn’t go your way, try the Harbour Bar in on the idyllic seafront in Bray. Share a memory below…
Every Whiskey Tells a Story, What Will Yours Be?
Sláinte from The Whiskey Trail
#EatDrinkExplore – by Paul Kavanagh
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