If you are looking for a Irish Whiskey that gives you a true sense of place, a taste of the Island and above all is unique. Look no further than The West Cork Glengarriff Bog Oak Charred Cask Whiskey. One of two expressions from the initial launch of the Glengarriff Series. This Irish Whiskey started out it’s life in ex-Sherry casks and after at least 2 years of maturation, the whiskey was moved to some unique casks created by West Cork Distillers.
A short drive from West Cork Distillers is the achient woodlands of the Glengarriff Forest in West Cork. To create these unique casks they forraged for local bog oak, set it on fire and charred some ex-bourbon barrels with the flames.
To get such unique flovours they finished the sweet Sherry aged whiskey in the casks charred with bog oak (using West Cork Distillers’ bespoke charring device) for minimum of six months, then bottled it at 43% ABV.
Barrel Charred Whiskey Barrels
Most modern cooperage’s use gas-powered jets to char the inside of the barrels. At West Cork Distillers they use a very simple, yet effective method which they have developed for their own need. Using this open flame, and unique fuel source, allows the blenders to add additional elements of flavor and aroma. This video shows this process in action…
“The ancient hills of Glengarriff, West Cork are home to ancient woodland & accompanying bogland. The Glengarriff series of West Cork Irish Whiskey is an august tribute to the historic part of Ireland. Bog Oak from Glengarriff is burned using traditional bellowing techniques to charr the casks and create a truly unique Irish Whiskey.”
West Cork Distillers
This is a whiskey that challenges the senses, offers an abundance of flavour, but is friendly and harsh at the same time. Malty and sweet on first impression, with floral hints of the woodlands and a slight warming burn that makes you want for more.
The mouth feel is different to West Corks traditional releases, it’s slightly oily and has a delicious oakyness that gives this whiskey a lovely chewy meaty quality. The overall character is an abundance of fruit, this is balanced nicely with spice and heat. For me West Cork Glengarriff Bog Oak Charred Cask is a great whiskey.
I think it could use some more time in the bourbon barrels to pick up some more of that bog oak character. But that is just nit picking.
Another expression in the Glengarriff Series releases is the Peat Charred Cask Finish whiskey – well worth checking out and comparing the two of them…
Tasting Notes: West Cork Glengarriff Series Bog Oak Charred Cask
- Region: Ireland
- Distiller: West Cork Distillers
- Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
- Cask: ex-Sherry, American Oak charred with Bog Oak
- Age: NAS (3+ Years)
- ABV: 43% – Proof: 86%
Nose
Your mind expects smokey notes at first, but instead you get dark malts. Green apples give a sharp acidic contrast to an abundance of sweet raisins. Pears, dried apricot, cocoa, mixed spice and floral oily char that promises more on the palate.
Taste
Spiced fruits become a light symphony on you tongue, peach, pear, ripe apricot and young green grapes. Typical of West Cork distillers the malt is dominant. There is a unique sharpness here that contrasts alcohol esters with sweet tannin’s from the bourbon and sherry casks. The sweetness is cocoa, toffee and floral charred oak. The mouth feel is oily with a light char, with barley sugar and sultanas.
Finish
The slightly sharp, yet acidic mouth feel leaves an oily, smoky woodyness, at the egege of your palate. With a touch of dark brown sugar, your mouth cries out for more. The finish is medium, with toffee, malt, cocoa, rich fruits that fade into forest oak.
Where to drink:
In Skibbereen of course, where else would you want to be???
Every Whiskey Tells a Story, What Will Yours Be?
Sláinte from The Whiskey Trail
#EatDrinkExplore – by Paul Kavanagh
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