West Cork Collection 5x50ml

Volume: 0.25 litres | Alcohol content: 43% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

This collection compares five cask finishes following a shared maturation in bourbon casks. The triple-distilled single malts are made from Irish malted barley and water from Mullaghmesha. They first mature in first-fill bourbon casks before moving into different casks for finishing. The set contains five miniatures of 0.05 litres each, totalling 0.25 litres. All five whiskeys have an alcohol content of 43% and are bottled without chill filtration or added colour.

The port finishing casks come from Quinta Da Boeira, the sherry casks from Bodegas Baron and the rum casks from Consorcio Licorero Nacional. Calvados Garnier supplies the casks for the Calvados finish, while the virgin oak casks come from Kelvin Cooperage. This allows a direct comparison of how differently finishing shapes whiskeys from the same single malt range.

The port finish combines dried fruit with vanilla and toffee, alongside nutmeg and black pepper; it is the sweetest in the range. Dried plums, figs, sherry and vanilla lead the nose of the sherry finish. Its taste starts sweet before becoming drier and slightly spicy. The rum finish has aromas of honey, vanilla, caramel and chocolate, complemented by fresh and dried fruit. Coffee, toast and chocolate stand out on the palate, accompanied by a dry finish.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: Fresh apples and pears shape the nose of the Calvados Cask Finish. A hint of almond complements the fruit. The Virgin Oak Cask Finish has aromas of hay, oak shavings, sawdust and vanilla.
• Palate: The Calvados Cask Finish combines dried fruit notes with vanilla and almonds. The Virgin Oak Cask Finish is very light and subtly fruity on the palate. Black pepper takes the lead towards the end.
• Finish: The Calvados Cask Finish has a medium-length finish with sweet, fruity notes. Light fruit notes, freshly cut grass and oak linger in the medium-length finish of the Virgin Oak Cask Finish.

Distillery/Bottler:

West Cork Distillers was founded in 2003 by John O’Connell, Ger McCarthy and Denis McCarthy. The first distillations took place using two small stills in a room behind Denis’ house in Union Hall. As the business grew, it moved to Skibbereen in County Cork in 2014.

Much of the distillery equipment was built in-house to meet specific needs, including the still known as Rocket. West Cork uses Irish grain and triple distillation. Distillation, maturation and bottling all take place at its own site. The Cask Finish Collection builds on this approach through the deliberate selection of casks with different previous contents, as well as virgin oak.

Facts: