6/2008 THE TYRCONNELL SINGLE MALT IRISH WHISKEY
What's in a name? Well, in this instance, plenty. Most obviously, THE TYRCONNELL refers to an area in the northwest of Ireland, an area now partially comprised of County Donegal. THE TYRCONNELL also refers to the former familial kingdom located in this same area that was ruled by the famed O'Donnell clan, who took battle to the much despised English in the late 1500s. (For a quickie introduction, surf here.) THE TYRCONNELL also is the name of a horse run by the Watt family, a 100 to 1 long-shot that won the National Produce Stakes in 1876. The Watt family, as you may have guessed, were the same Watts who ran the distillery that made a brand of whiskey called, yes, THE TYRCONNELL.

And, perhaps most importantly to our dipsofilial readers, is that THE TYRCONNELL also refers to a single malt Irish whiskey that is made by the COOLEY DISTILLERY, the same company that produces CONNEMARA, KILBEGGAN, GREENORE, and other interesting Irish whiskeys. THE TYRCONNELL is a marvelous whiskey. Bottled at 80 proof, it's rich and silky, offering notes of orange, chocolate, and sweet barley. It seems much more robust than when we first tasted it. back in 2002. It's not dry any more; it really lingers after the swallow. Serve it on the rocks if you must, but take it neat to get the full range of flavors. (Rating ****1/2)

To see if our retailer can sell you a bottle of THE TYRCONNELL, click here. Otherwise, surf to http://www.TyrconnellWhiskey.com/.

Labels: Ireland, Irish Whiskey - Single Malt, Tyrconnell

 

2/2008 SMITHWICK'S IRISH ALE
From the maker's of that super-duper brew, GUINNESS, comes... a bit of a disappointment. Smithwick's might be good on tap --we don't know-- but in the bottle it's no great shakes. It's rather flat, yet a touch fizzy. It starts sweet then gets blandly bitter. In truth, it reminds us of some of our less-than impressive home brew experiments many moons back. We'll drink bottled SMITHWICK'S if it's free, but we won't drop coin for it. (Rating **3/4)

Labels: Ireland, Irish Ale, Smithwick's

 

3/2007 CLONTARF RESERVE IRISH WHISKEY
St. Pat's Day is coming so it's appropo that we review an Irish whiskey. Clontarf Irish Whiskey is imported to the U.S. by Castle Brands of Manhasset, New York. This is one of the three types of Clontarf. (There also is a Clontarf Black and a Clontarf Single Malt.) This is a pleasant whiskey- not so fruity as Jameson, nor as robust as Bushmills nor as easy as Powers. No, it falls somewhere happily in between. (Rating ***1/2) For more information, contact the folks at http://www.clontarfwhiskey.com/. To see if our retailer can sell you a bottle, surf to SHOP and type "CLONTARF" in the search engine and click the magnifying glass.

Labels: Clontarf, Ireland, Irish Whiskey

 

11/2006 CLONTARF IRISH WHISKEY CLASSIC BLEND
This is a very enjoyable Irish whiskey. It offers a nice mix of the sweet and the dry. It tastes of toffee and oak and closes with slight candy sweetness. It's quite enjoyable. (Rating****)

To see if our retailer can sell you CLONTARF IRISH WHISKEY, click SHOP and type "CLONTARF" in the search engine and click the magnifying glass. Otherwise, surf to http://www.castlebrandsinc.com/clontarf.php/.

Labels: Clontarf, Ireland, Irish Whiskey

 

10/2006 KNAPPOGUE CASTLE SINGLE MALT IRISH WHISKEY 1994
We've liked previous vintages of this Irish whiskey and we quite like this one. It might, arguably, be the best thus far. Don't let the light (straw?) color fool you; this Knappogue 1994 is quite flavorful. It dishes out barley, barrel, and choclate notes. The flavor lingers long after swallowing. Very nice. (Rating****1/2)

To see if our retailer can send you KNAPPOGUE CASTLE IRISH WHISKEY, click SHOP and type "KNAPPOGUE" in the search engine and click the magnifying glass. Otherwise, surf to http://www.castlebrandsinc.com/brands/kc.php.

Labels: Ireland, Irish Whiskey - Single Malt, Knappogue