Bill Phil is a Peated Single Malt Whiskey From W.D. O’Connell Whiskey Merchants
Daithí O’Connell, is a sailor, pilot, barman and founder of W.D. O’Connell Whiskey Merchants. As I write this review, W.D. O’Connell is a one-man show. But what a show it has is… He is a proud Whiskey Merchant procuring premium new make spirit and aged whiskies from multiple distilleries and applying his own maturation and finishing stylings.
W.D. O’Connell source their own casks and mature and bottle the finished whiskies when they are ready. This methodology goes back to age old Irish Whiskey traditions that once placed Ireland as the leading whiskey production nation in the world. The wood/cask policy is managed on a strict ratio of French Virgin Oak & Vin doux Naturel versus US Bourbon and US Virgin Oak barrels. W.D. O’Connellbottle genuine small batch releases of 1-10 casks at a time on a regular basis meaning that no two whiskey releases will ever be the same.
The Bill Phil Sleán – The story behind the name and the name behind the story of a family…
Daithí O’Connell
William Philip O’Connell (pictured) was a blacksmith in the West Limerick village of Mountcollins. There were a good many O’Connell families in the village and its surrounds so nicknames were needed to avoid confusion—and so my family became known as the Bill Phils. Bill Phil was also a farmer and a merchant storekeeper (Pictured). He was well known for making a great sleán (a tool for footing turf) My grandfather, Jackie Bill Phil followed his father into the family business and continued to make the Bill Phil Sleán. It was all coming to an end as I was growing up but I was lucky enough to hear the stories and watch the work in the forge. So when we created this peated Irish whiskey, it was almost inevitable that it too would take the name of Bill Phil.
W.D. O’Connell Bill Phil Peated Series 1 Whiskey Review
This Single Cask triple distilled peated single malt is matured in 1st fill bourbon barrels and bottled at 47.5% ABV. It is non chill filtered and limited to 306 bottles. Distinctly peated, fresh charcoal bbq on the nose, revealing a sharp contrast on the pallet, creamy texture, rich malt and citrus fruit flavours coming through with a delicate smokey mellow finish.
This is the first ‘BILL PHIL’ release from W.D. O’Connell Whiskey Merchants – the beginning of a series of triple distilled, peated single malt Irish whiskeys.
Nose
Bergamot oil scented light peated smoke fills the senses. Distinctively fresh vibrant notes of cereal slowly emerge, carrying waves of poached pear, earl grey tea as the phenolic oils dissipate.
Palate
Clarified butter over crumbled biscuit with clean waves of lightly smoked malt, banana bread, sweet cassia & bergamot.
Finish
Fresh clementine oil, whispers of smoke, applewood chips & ripe orchard fruits.
Where to drink W.D. O’Connell Bill Phil Peated Single Cask
Bowe’s Pub situated just a stone’s throw away from the famous Trinity College. It is a little hidden, half way down Fleet Street, with a dark red front and large clock sticking out from the wall, indicating to all it’s time for a dram.