Keeper's Heart Irish + American Whiskey

N: Fruity and young Irish grain, rye herbs - particularly dill, some baking spice or - dare I say it - pot still spice, so all the component parts are present; green rye grain dominates over time, earthy, herbal, hard swirls release ripe orchard fruit. P: Green rye, dried herbs, dill, anise, cooked banana, fruit and cream (but bathed in dill and other herbs), touch of heat. F: Dried herbs, dill, dried flowers, pine, oak. Similar to the Irish + Bourbon release, the idea here intrigued me. But, unlike the bourbon blend, a blend of Irish grain, single pot still, and rye brought about much more curiosity than a sincere thought there could be potential here. In the end, I'm somewhat encouraged by the potential, but leave feeling the component parts - and especially the rye - just aren't very good. It all feels like muddled mixed drink fare to me - too strong in some places, too weak in others, no sense of balance that could have conceivably been brought about with the right blend. In other words, this is harsh, young, not particularly good rye with a little Irish thrown in for good measure (and/or good marketing). Wouldn't do this again and can't recommend it - you'd be better off trying to make your own blend if the concept appeals to you. ____________ Please come join an unofficial Distiller community on Discord (now one whole year old!): https://discord.gg/4nfePCdyKM. We chat spirits (and other things) in real time while being a great resource to each other for recommendations, finding deals, and generally enjoying the journey together. (If the link is expired - it shouldn't be - please post a comment and I will gladly and usually quickly provide a new one.)

An elegant, blended Whiskey by the O'Shaughnessy Distilling Company founded by Patrick & Michael O’Shaughnessy in Minnesota. It is crafted with a blend of Irish Grain Whiskey, Irish Pot Still whiskey & American Rye Whiskey aged for a minimum of 4 years & bottled at 43% ABV. It has a bold aromatic birth with notes of baking spices, flowers & grain; while a rich & full life adds notes of sweet tobacco, allspice, candied ginger, vanilla, lemon zest, sweet biscuits & stewed fruits; that leads to a balanced death of medium length with notes of candied sweets, smoke & charred oak. December 2022

N: banana (older, mushy one), acetone P: rye spice, young oak, spearmint F: rye spice, young oak (tanins, astringent) Less viscosity and a shorter finish than the bourbon blend version (which I preferred on this tasting). Love rye spice but not a fan of the harsh, young oak flavors. If there’s a hint of vanilla in there it’s mostly drowned out on this pour. Will see if the 110 proof is better.

Nose: Very sweet. I get notes of vanilla, brown sugar, floral, and spice. Palate: Soft and sweet initially, cookie or biscuit type flavor with a baking spice finish. No brown sugar but still some vanilla or caramel mixed in there. Pretty tame up front, but the finish is complex and lingers nicely. A nice light and drinkable whiskey. Very tasty in cocktails.

Extremely subtle yet complex on the nose. Struggled to pin any one thing down. Hints of vanilla, smoke, and maybe pear. No relief was found in tasting this one. Perhaps the smoothest whiskey I've ever drank. That being said, I have to say it's kind of a disappointment. Nothing specific to write about, nothing to bring me back for more.

Nose: predominantly sweet, with vanilla notes layered over a hint of citrus Palate: much more subtle than i expected, based on the nose. Herbal, spicy, and piney Finish: leather and medicinal notes with faded spiciness from the palate