Review #136 Writer's Tears Cask Strength: Irish Whiskey
Updated: Feb 4
Score: 9.1 / 10
Distillery: Walsh Whiskey Distillery
Type: Irish Whiskey
Husband and Wife team Bernard and Rosemary Walsh are really on to something here. The Irish scene is changing with many new players over the last 5 years and it's safe to say these two may be leading the way. We have shouted these expressions out many time on our best in class episodes.
Writer's Tears are typically a a blend of single pot still and triple distilled malt whiskey that are aged in ex bourbon casks. Interesting to get away from completely triple distilled, but I think they are on to something. In general, I love it.
Whiskey Review:
Nose: With a deep inhale a flood of honey takes over the nose and transitions seamlessly into rich vanilla. Beneath those two notes I find apricot, oats and barley. Agitating the glass kicks up white wine (Sauternes) and grapes. I also find essential oils and a hint of eucalyptus.
Palate: Mouth feel is coating and seemingly miscible. A big dollop of honey and vanilla expands over the palate paralleling notes from the nose. About halfway through, there's a luge of dry oak that immediately transforms into an effervescent mineral water note which ramps up a fiery black pepper spice. Between peppered notes I get some baked red apple with a hint of caramel and dates.
Finish: Oaky, dry, nutty and lingering. A nice black pepper crackles continuously on the center of the palate with a delightful warming whiskey spice. Deeply tannic and persistent in length, when salient finish flavors fade it leaves oak, almond and walnut all around the palate. Drinking more of this expression yields more of a crackling and numbing Sichuan pepper finish.
Score: 9.1
Scale:
S+ Sensational - The Pinnacle (9.5+)
A - AXEceptional (astounding) (9-9.5)
B - bravo (step aBove average) (8-8.9)
C - competent (7-7.9)
D - disappointing (6-6.9)
F - flush it down the toilet (fail) (5.9 below)
Availability? Uncommon. This is catching on and getting harder to find. However, in the US it has a stigma of being Irish and not bourbon. That is a huge plus when it comes to locating this one and I'll take it!
