KINAHAN’S SMALL BATCH IRISH WHSKEY
Batch 04 (November 2016)MASH BILL – unstated blend of barley and malted barley
PROOF – 92
AGE – NAS
DISTILLERY – Kinahan’s Irish Whiskey Limited (produced for them by…?)
PRICE – $38
WORTH BUYING? – Yes!
This somewhat obscure bottle sat on the store shelf where it landed, likely in early 2017, until I finally liberated it a week ago in anticipation of a St. Patrick’s Day celebration at my work. I picked it up in order to provide an alternative to the usual Jameson’s and Bushmills.
Despite its long history dating back to 1779, I’d neither heard of nor had Kinahan’s before. I don’t see it around much, and didn’t know what to expect. The label states it’s non-chill filtered and aged in American oak—so, ex-bourbon barrels. The fine print says it’s “produced for” Kinahan’s, so, we know they didn’t distill it themselves. But if they have good taste, who cares?
When I cracked it for the work party and gave it a try, I was perfectly delighted. Rich and creamy vanilla flavors held up by an approachable 92 proof point. For some of my colleagues, that was prohibitively stronger than the 80-proof Jameson’s they were more familiar with, and they sided with the familiar. But some enjoyed it and so did I.
So here we are, three days after uncorking and about a third of the way into the bottle. These brief notes were taken using a traditional Glencairn.
COLOR – very pale straw with cream and lemony highlights
NOSE – vanilla big time, with salt, lemon, caramel custard, cream, soft papaya but like a papaya candy, a dash of finely ground black pepper
TASTE – soft and creamy vanilla, whole cream, light caramel, faint wafts of the papaya candy
FINISH – a bit of a peppery flair from the ABV that highlights the black pepper note a bit, then vanilla, custard, and that subtle papaya note all lingering warmly
OVERALL – a perfectly enjoyable vanilla bomb that opens up with ease rather than exploding
Best thing about this? It doesn’t taste like a Midleton product. For all I know it may even be one. But it lacks Midleton’s particular profile of bourbon and sherry influences that manages to figure into all their various whiskeys—e.g. Jameson’s, Redbreast, or the Spots. Not that I don’t like Midleton. Their Redbreast Cask Strength is a fave. But they’re so dominant when it comes to Irish whiskey, it’s nice to taste something else.
The label doesn’t state that there is no artificial color added, which typically means there is some. But this is so pale I’d be surprised if they’d bothered. I don’t get the plastic note I usually do when artificial color is used, for what that’s worth. The flavors all swirl about one another very pleasantly.
And like all Irish whiskey, this makes a great party whiskey. It’s approachable, congenial, fun, layered without being complicated. There is a creaminess to it that lends an unassuming luxuriousness to the soft vanilla and custard notes. I’m enjoying it neat, and have no doubt it would do well in cocktails.
Well alrighty then. Nice to meet you, Kinahan’s! The chances of my finding this 2016 batch again are nil. And as I said I really do not see Kinahan’s on shelves or popping up in my social meds. But after this friendly intro, I’d be absolutely open to trying other of their offerings. We’ll see what I stumble across on my corner store walks…!
Sláinte!
The Right Spirit 