The Pogues Single Malt Whiskey 0.7 l

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 40% | Colouring: No

Special Features:

The partnership between The Pogues and West Cork Distillers produced this single malt alongside a blend. Frank McHardy developed the whiskey, which is made entirely from malted barley and matured in bourbon casks. West Cork Distillers produces it in small batches; the single malt version was released in mid-2019.

Its distinctive combination of nuts, sweetness and gentle woody spice recalls chocolate-covered peanuts and sesame brittle. The whiskey contains no added colouring and is offered at 40% in a bottle containing 0.7 litres.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, slightly savoury notes mingle with toasted seeds, caramel brittle and chocolate-covered peanuts. A very delicate note recalls violet sweets.
• Palate: The palate opens with gentle woody spice and cinnamon, followed by chocolate-covered peanuts and sesame brittle. Hints of nougat and marshmallow add to the mix. Pronounced malt notes recall a sweet malt drink. Vanilla and a hint of toasted oak sit in the background.
• Finish: The medium-length finish is soft and gentle. Malt, oak and nuts stand out in the aftertaste, combining with a bittersweet note.

Distillery/Bottler:

West Cork Distillers was founded in 2003 by childhood friends John O’Connell, Ger McCarthy and Denis McCarthy. Their first distillations took place in a room behind Denis’ house in Union Hall. They used two small stills purchased from a Swiss schnapps producer. In 2014, the company moved to a new distillery in Skibbereen, in Ireland’s County Cork.

Today, the Marsh Road site brings together distillation, cask storage and bottling. West Cork Distillers uses both pot stills and column distillation, storing its casks in its own warehouses on the distillery grounds. Alongside its own brands, the company also produces spirits for other brands. For The Pogues, this work forms part of the collaboration between the folk-punk band and whiskey maker Frank McHardy.

Facts: