Midleton Dair Ghaelach Knockrath Forest

I’ve not had many Irish whiskeys. At most, I can count on one hand how many I’ve had. But, I can imagine even if I’ve had many more, this would be the creme de la creme. Okay, so a bit of history. Hundreds of years ago, back when England controlled pretty much the entire world, the English army notoriously chopped forests across Ireland. I can imagine if Greta Thunberg was around then, she’d have something to say about it. They did this to namely to help build the English navy. And to trouble the Irish, who were rebelling at the time. The nerve to want freedom! Anyway—- A few forests were left—-Knockrath being one of them. Something tells me they didn’t leave these due to the kindness of their heart...maybe had something to do with the wood being probably not suitable for navy ships. Fast forward hundreds of years, and this forest is now owned privately by the Brabazon family. Six trees were felled for this whiskey, with the wood being transfered to Jerez, Spain for conditioning, while the Irish whiskey matured in virgin oak back in Ireland. The barrels then shipped from Jerez to Ireland, where the whiskey matured in this for 2 more years. This makes the range of whiskey here anywhere from 16-26yr old. I had the fortunate opportunity to try 4 of these samples: tree 2, 3, 5, 6. Thanks to a family member that bought back a few samples from Dublin. Tree 2, 3, 6 had very subtle differences, honestly couldn’t tell them apart. But tree 5 was different, not sure what was up with that one. Tree 2,3,6: tons of vanilla, tropical fruit basket galore. The fruit was heavy in pineapples and green tart apples. Just simple amazing. Tree 5: this one was different. Had a rancio effect, almost like really good cognac. Much more earthy and herbal. The fruit was there, but the earthy -rancio was forefront and bold. Out of the 4 I’ve tried, hands down my favorite was tree 5. Just layers of complexity over the others. All were amazing, but 5 gave a special something over the others. I’m keeping an eye out for this...if you have one Irish, make it this one.

Tree 4, not sure why we don't have a score for each tree, but for consistency lets go with this. Nose - there's something about natural casks where I get this pineapple fruit sour that I freaking love and it's big and bold here. Backed by some grain notes and vanilla and despite that over powering fruit note, I get some nice oak. Absolutely, love the intensity and power of this one on the nose. Taste - Like licking the best tasting wooden table ever! It's a sweet malt that's just been infused with heavy heavy oak. Then the finish goes into these tropical island fruit notes, savory and swirling fruity madness. I get everything from caramel to vanilla to burnt vanilla and toffee and just oh man it's this insane wood quality. I feel so comfortable with this reminding me a teeling single malt and a barry crocket...but there's a richness and a power and a just crazy awesome oak profile here. There's a lot of spice on this too, very much reminding me that it's a pot still, but while sometimes I take the pot still spice as an off note, I'm loving it on this one even. Oh some chocolates and toffee are coming out. Butter cream candies. Finish is just over powering. I don't know irish well enough to score this one fairly, but for now 4.25, and I need more of this in my life.

Tree 6. Amazing stuff with a great combination of Irish tropical fruits, rye spice, caramel, chocolate, and dark sherry cask fruits. Nose: Chocolate, Toffee, Honey, Mango, Passion Fruit, Banana, Coconut, Raisins, Citrus, Vanilla, Pineapple, Oranges, Sultanas, Dates, Cherries, Raspberries Palate: Cinnamon, Cloves, Grapefruit, Toffee, Dark Chocolate, Honey, Raisins, Guava, Banana, Flowers, Hazlenuts, Coconut, Oranges Finish: Toffee, Grapefruit, Chocolate, Cloves, Maple, Apricot, Mango, Passion Fruit, Papaya, Raisins

There’s a lot going on but it works beautifully. Very rich, woody whiskey with some dried fruit and spices. I also taste some tropical fruit in there and leather. Finishes strong with some pepper.

Tree #2, I get coffee and vanilla and apple on the nose. The palate is chocolate, honey and spice with a finish of oak. Exceptional!

Amazing potstill with tropical notes, especially mango finish. Very nice to sip