The Kinsale Spirit Company Presents The 1st Irish Whiskey in Their Battle of Kinsale Series…
Following the fight for freedom from the Crown at The Battle of Kinsale, 1601, seeking aid from allies in Spain, Red Hugh O’Donnell, Earl of Tyrconnell, was murdered by an Anglo-Irish double agent and buried near Rioja. Red Earl Irish Whiskey, a tribute to his story, is first aged in bourbon, then sherry, and finally matured in Rioja casks. Triple-casking delivers roundness of flavour, lengthy finish, and an exceptional aroma.
This premium Irish whiskey is first and foremost delicious, it reminds me of a dessert wine and has a medium-bodied mouthfeel that ends in a long, warm, and moreish finish. It’s distinctive in that it is one of the first Irish whiskeys to use Rioja casks in the maturing process, which gives the liquid a wonderful colour, reminiscent of a fine Rose wine, and a wonderful sweet nose. The taste of this whiskey reminds me of strawberries and cream on a warm summers day.
I had a short interview with Colin recently who told me their philosophy is that they want to focus on consistently great flavour that will let the whiskey speak for itself. With the Sherry & Rioja Casks they are sourcing a wide range from the region and not focused on a single bodega, it’s a consistent blend they are chasing here. This bottle is the first in a series that Colin has named the Red Earl “Battle of Kinsale” and I’m already looking forward to more.
While writing this I’m sitting here sipping a glass of Torres Rioja “Crianza Altos Ibericos” and the whiskey and wine compliment each other perfectly. Red Earl Irish Whiskey is first aged in bourbon, then sherry and finally matured in Rioja casks. Triple Casking delivers roundness of flavour, a lengthy finish & an exceptional nose. I’m a big fan of wine cask finishes and Green Spot is one of my all time favorites, it’s the most traditional of casks for Irish Whiskey.
Kinsale Spirits Co-Founders
The company was founded by Colin Ross, Ernest Cantillon and Tom o’Riordan who first launched Kinsale Gin. Each entrepreneur brings a set of skills that are sure to make this whiskey a similar success to their multi award winning Irish Gin.
Great produce gives you the opportunity to make great gin(whiskey); the distinct character of each Kinsale Spirit product is sure to impress. Gin is made of countless elements. Our multi award-winning Kinsale Gin contains 21 botanicals. It is complex, yet balanced.
Colin Ross – Founder
Colin has a strong background in marketing, has been managing the success of brands and businesses across multiple industries over a 25-year period, both with global players like Heineken and smaller exporters. He has served as Managing Director of iASC Seafood, a multi award-winning developer of innovative Irish seafood products, and is a founder of Prestige Catering Limited.
Ernest is the work horse, he has extensive experience in the hospitality and beverage sectors having owned and directed bars and restaurants for over 10 years. He is a member of the VFI, RAI and CBA, the former president of the Cork Business Association and a graduate of Commerce in University College Cork.
Tom has spent over 30 years in the drinks industry. Living in Kinsale inspired him to try and harness the abundance of botanicals, culture and history in the area to create the products that we offer today.
Red Earl is a whiskey to be enjoyed and savoured either on its own, or with ice, but i think it is a perfect cocktail whiskey. If you are looking to try it you can find a bottle here… www.kinsalespirit.com
Red Earl Blended Irish Whiskey Tasting Notes
Distiller: Great Norhtern
Distiller: Great Norhtern
Bonder: Kinsale Spirits Company
ABV: 40% – Proof: 80%
Age: Non Age Statement
NOSE
This whiskey has a “Big Nose” it’s packed full of summer fruits, strawberry, red grapes, subtle rose petals layered over buckets of citrus. There are hints of cherry cake covered in fresh marzipan. Underneath all of these sweet flavors there are familiar notes of almond and oak.
TASTE
This is a sweet Irish whiskey, but unlike most other Irish Whiskeys you might have tried. The taste, like the nose delivers big flavors, initially the spicy Riojas flavors grabbed my attention. There is an abundance of sweet fruits balanced with caramel, vanilla and toasted almonds. All this is complimented by delightful notes of cinnamon and spicy clove.
FINISH
The finish again is smooth like freshly made fudge cake. It reminds me of a bakery in the early morning when the bread has just come out of the oven. The sweetness on the finish is honey which disappears into spicy ginger and strawberry sherbet that reminds me of a local candy shop, or penny sweets from the newsagents.
Every Whiskey Tells a Story, What Will Yours Be?
Sláinte from The Whiskey Trail
#EatDrinkExplore – by Paul Kavanagh
Kinsale Spirits and Blend Your Own Whiskey
At the Whiskey Gift.com you are given the rare opportunity to create something special. Maybe you’ll discover a recipe that no one’s discovered before and make it uniquely your own!
You start off on the www.whiskeygift.com website with an interactive image of on empty bottle of Irish Whiskey. It is then your choice to fill this bottle with the components of your choice which I have printed below. The 70cl bottle is made up of 28 x 12.5 cl parts so this bottle will be unique as there are an unlimited amount of way you and design this blend. From a complex blend 28 different parts or keep it simple and choose 2, perhaps 50% Malt & 50% Grain. The choice is yours.
Each order is received at The Whiskey Lab, nestled next to Sober Lane Bar on O’Sullivan’s Quay, Cork, and mixed masterfully by hand. The label is personalised to the customer’s order and can be shipped to anywhere in Ireland, or internationally. Read More….
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