Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/793596
92 / the tasting panel / march 2017 CATEGORY REPORT Founded by John O'Connell and childhood friends, cousins Denis McCarthy and Ger McCarthy, West Cork Distillers got its start in 2003 to honor Irish culture and produce high-quality Irish whiskey. Its impres- sive roster of distillers—Patrick Harnedy, with a Ph.D. in experimental physics; the late Dr. Barry Walsh, with over 40 years in the Irish whiskey industry; and Frank McHardy, who has developed several prestigious whiskey brands—led to a lineup of outstanding expressions from the Skibbereen-located craft distillery. As the only Irish distillery that malts its own barley, uses only fresh, local spring water and exclusively utilize pot stills for all of its distilla- tions, it produces its entire line in small batches. From its main portfolio, the West Cork 10 Year Single Malt (SRP $39.99) sits in first-fill charred bourbon barrels and then rests for 110 days in Sherry butts. With a malt to grain ratio of 25 percent to 75 percent, the West Cork Bourbon Cask (SRP $26.99) is aged in bourbon casks; the malt then rests in Sherry butts for an additional 110 days. Matured in first-fill bourbon casks for 12 years, each limited release in the line of West Cork 12 Year Single Malt (SRP $65.99) is finished for six to 12 months in either Sherry (from Andalusia, Spain), rum (sourced from the West Indies) or Port (of Douro Superior genre) casks, which McHardy has hand-selected. With only 2,500 bottles released of each new product to the U.S., these will surely fly off your shelves. West Cork launched another set of limited-release products—Black Reserve and Barrel Proof—last year. Finished in double-charred bourbon casks, West Cork Black Reserve (SRP $40) hits the palate with notes of wood, spice and a touch of vanilla. Not for the faint of heart, West Cork Barrel Proof (SRP $55) weighs in at 124 proof, but that doesn't mean that the bold heat steals the show; layers of almonds, dried fruits and malt add complexity to the whiskey. Each product gives a true taste of West Cork and of Ireland! Tasting Notes West Cork 10 Year Single Malt The nose advises of baked apples but also crisp Gala apples, with a hint of cinna- mon. Musky sandalwood opens up further along with honeyed pancake batter. On the palate, the liquid slithers in a sensuous flow, the honey becoming brighter and the stream of stone fruit "juice" becoming more unctuous through to the white pepper finish. 96 —Meridith May West Cork Bourbon Cask Aromas of brown sugar and figs, as well as hazelnut butter and nougat are lovely openers. The gossamer texture is preternatural; it glides and melts, glides and melts. A pinch of Himalayan salt seems to just pat the middle of the tongue while apricot and cedar intermingle. 98 —M. M. Farm-to-Bole: WEST CORK WHISKEY