SINGLE MALT IRISH WHISKIES FROM DUBLIN LIBERTIES DISTILLERY

Here is an impressive collection of Irish Single Malt Whiskies that came across our desk recently that deserve a big mention in this forever expanding category. The new release in the USA is part of a luxury collection, all small batch with high quality ingredients. The single malt master in charge of the collection is the rather well known Darryl Mcnally. Highlight is the 16-year-old Keeper’s Coin, the 13-year Murder

Lane, the 10-year-old Copper Alley and the 5-year-old blended Oak Devil. The Liberties neighborhood of Dublin has quite a salty reputation of mystery and mayhem, hence the names of the four expressions.

The Oak Devil which retails for an average of $44.99 is a blend of malt and grain whisky with a gold color and an aroma of baked apples, fresh hay and warm brown sugar. This is sweet whisky blended in American oak casks ending up in a flavor of toffee apple, caramel, nutmeg and cinnamon.

I liked the 10-year Copper Alley at $59.99 that is named after the oldest street in Dublin. It was here that minted coins first emerged, and the smooth whisky has the same color of the cons. The aroma of powdered sugar and honey is combined with apple blossom and red fruits. This whisky has been finished in 30-year-old Oloroso sherry casks which gives the liquid a very distinctive deep amber hue.

The 13-year Murder Lane which retails for $89.99 is named after a murdering alley that connects Bow Street and James Street where numerous murders took place four centuries ago. Flavors of almonds, marzipan and vanilla highlight this whisky, and finished in rare Hungarian oak casks. These have been seasoned with Tokaj, which adds flavors of apricot flesh, white peach and a sliver of coconut. In those days under Christchurch Cathedral, crypts were used as illegal drinking dens, and excavations have revealed silver coins and leather bottles containing alcohol.

The 16-year-old Single Malt can be bought at a retail price of $159.99 and If you look a woody feel to your whisky then this is for you. A salted butter mouthfeel is partly due to the final resting place of this dark, auburn delight which is a 250-liter hogshead cask. This gives it a smooth finish that is rounded out by a honey taste.

These whiskies are currently available in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Colorado, Washington, Michigan and Minnesota with more to be added. It Is part of the Quintessential Brands Group who are known for such spirits as Greenall’s Gin from England and The Dead Rabbit Irish Whiskey.