West Cork Black Cask

While the West Cork Distillery was already founded in 2003 and already has quite a few releases in its name, I had not yet heard from them. This was a sample that came in the mail. This Black Cask is a blend of 66% Irish grain and thus 33% Irish malt. It matured in first fill bourbon casks and was then finished in a so-called ‘black cask’ that was toasted to double char level 5.

Well, the nose certainly is very clean, honeysweet and very fruity. This is almost a rum! Loads of vanilla, overripe banana, hints of hazelnut paste. Some juicy pears and a lot of mandarin hide behind this. Pretty good, in fact!

The arrival, however, is somewhat weak. Again lots of vanilla and the same fruit as on the nose, supported by some nutmeg and cinnamon. The oak rears its head and offers a subtle trace of woodsmoke. It becomes more creamy from the second sip forward. This is better than expected.

The finish is medium long on spices and toffee, while the oak has the final say with its nutmeg and pepper.

I confess, my expectations were low, but this one surpassed them easily. The ‘black cask’ did its work with the delivery of quasi-tropical fruit and loads of sweetness. Around 30 EUR. A nice go-to-whiskey that pleases everybody.