Glendalough Double Barrel Whiskey 700ml

The Glendalough Distillery was established by a group of friends from Wicklow and Dublin who shared a deep passion for reviving the rich heritage of craft distilling in Ireland. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Ireland was home to over 200 licensed distilleries, producing diverse styles of poitín, whiskey, gin, and even absinthe. However, in recent times, that number has dwindled to a small handful. After many discussions, the friends decided to take a chance on something more meaningful and built a craft distillery near their favourite spot in the Wicklow Mountains, Glendalough. The area, known as "the garden of Ireland," is renowned for its natural beauty and Glendalough, or the Glen of two Lakes, is one of the most visited valleys in Ireland. It is also home to a 6th-century monastic settlement founded by St. Kevin, a legendary monk who is the man on the Glendalough bottle. Monasteries like Glendalough were the birthplace of distilled drinks. A key influence on the flavour of Glendalough whiskey is the wood in which it has spent time. Countless nuances affect how the wood injects flavour, from the straightness of the tree or fineness of the grain to the size of the barrel or depth of the char. To make their gins, Glendalough forages wild plants from the mountains around the distillery. All the plants are sustainably foraged by one person, and what they pick goes fresh into the still within hours of foraging. The story of St. Kevin is where Glendalough draws its inspiration. He abandoned safety and comfort to follow his passion and create something more meaningful in the mountains. St. Kevin was born into Irish royalty, but he felt like a man apart. He disappeared into the mountains and became one with the wild, living off the land by the upper lake of Glendalough for seven years while pondering his place in the world. One of the many stories that spread around Ireland and inspired people to seek out this holy man and his deep, hidden valley is that of a blackbird landing in his hand. He stood day and night until the eggs hatched and the chicks fledged, showcasing his unwavering resolve and connection with nature. Eventually, he built his "City of 7 Churches" by the lower lake, which still stands 14 centuries later as a testament to his legacy.

The Glendalough Distillery places great emphasis on the wood used to mature their whiskey, with countless nuances affecting the flavour, from the straightness of the tree or fineness of the grain to the size of the barrel or depth of the char. Their whiskeys mature in American white oak Bourbon barrels, which lay the flavour foundation that has become the backbone of the Irish whiskey taste. They also finish all of their whiskeys in a second, very different cask. They use Spanish Oloroso sherry butts to finish their Double Barrel, Dublin porter barrels for their 7-year-old single malt, and legendary Mizunara oak for their 13-year-old single malt. They are also proud to play a part in bringing Irish oak back into use for aging Irish whiskey, helping to manage these ancient forests, and doing their bit for the regeneration of these beautiful, broad-leaf, deciduous woods.

Upon its release, Glendalough Double Barrel Whiskey 700ml won double gold at The World Spirits Competition in San Francisco, making it a standout among Irish whiskeys. Despite being a lovely, light and drinkable whiskey, it boasts a complex flavour profile that belies its young age. Aged twice in barrels from opposite sides of the world, the flavours of this whiskey are a game of two halves. The sweet honey and smooth vanilla notes are brought by American oak Bourbon barrels, which lay down the foundation of the flavours. The Spanish oak Oloroso barrels add layers of dried fruit and nutty flavours. To ensure the best Oloroso casks, the distillery goes off the beaten track to the small Andalusian town of Montilla, the home of the famous PX grape. Here, they can personally select the bodega, the liquid, the time seasoning and eventually the casks, giving them more influence on the flavours in their Double Barrel whiskey. The Glendalough Double Barrel Whiskey 700ml boasts a rich nose with notes of dark fruit, cherry, raisin, fig and Christmas pudding. Floral notes with lemongrass, citrus and a touch of nutmeg add complexity. On the palate, this whiskey is sweet and smooth, with flavours of butterscotch, honey, peppercorn, dried fruit, maraschino cherries and brown sugar. The finish is characterized by ginger spices, a touch of almond and earthiness, rounding out the flavour profile.

The Finer Details
Style - Whiskey
Country - Ireland
Bottle Size - 700ml
ABV - 42%