West Cork Maritime - Virgin Oak Cask

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 46% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

West Cork Maritime Virgin Oak Cask matures in first-fill bourbon casks before a finish in unused oak casks from Kelvin Cooperage. This triple-distilled Irish single malt thus passes through two different cask stages: first casks previously used for bourbon, then new oak. It is bottled at 46% alcohol, without chill filtration or added colouring.

The Maritime range draws on the past of co-founders Ger and Denis McCarthy, who worked as fishermen off the West Cork coast before entering the whiskey industry. Its specially designed, mouth-blown spherical bottle echoes the shape of the glass floats once used on fishing nets. John O'Connell, the third co-founder, developed the idea for this design. The offset spout makes it easier to pour evenly.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, hay, oak shavings and sawdust mingle with vanilla. Ripe cereal grain, creamy vanilla notes and warm, buttery pastries add further aromas.
• Palate: On the palate, the whiskey is very light, smooth and balanced, with subtle fruitiness. Delicate notes of vanilla, heather and freshly cut grass accompany the flavours; black pepper comes to the fore towards the end.
• Finish: Vanilla and cereal notes linger through the medium-length finish.

Distillery/Bottler:

West Cork Distillers was founded in 2003 by childhood friends John O'Connell, Ger McCarthy and Denis McCarthy. The business began in a room behind Denis’ house in Union Hall, using two small stills that the founders had bought from a Swiss spirits producer. In 2014, the distillery moved to Skibbereen in County Cork. Its production site is now on Marsh Road. Its working methods include triple distillation, with maturation and bottling carried out on site. Maritime Virgin Oak Cask is an official bottling from this distillery.

Facts: