Writers’ Tears has lengthy stood as the most effective and most accessible Irish whiskeys available on the market. Nonetheless, after 20 expressions, it’s by no means put out a 100% single pot nonetheless launch; the usual expression is 60% single pot nonetheless and 40% single malt. This 12 months that every one modifications with launch #21, as Writers’ Tears places out its first ever 100% single pot nonetheless launched, a restricted version of 5800 bottles — initially accessible solely in Eire, UK, France, Germany, and Holland — that’s aged in bourbon barrels and completed in Pedro Ximenez sherry and Florio Marsala casks.
Over time, Writers’ Tears Single Pot Nonetheless will turn out to be a core expression, presumably with completely different (or no) ending connected.
We obtained a bottle to check out. Ideas comply with.
The sherry and Marsala affect are refined right here, the nostril of the whiskey providing wealthy notes of roasted nuts, baking spice, stewed fruits, and oak resin — all in a swirl. It’s a large punch to the senses for a method that usually exhibits extra restraint, and you may chalk that as much as the affect of the wine casks. A bit boozy, that single pot nonetheless core of recent grain and mild brown sugar sweetness does handle to push by way of the aggressive fragrant assault, however it may solely go up to now. So far as the nostril goes right here, it’s an nearly pungent exploration of the spice cupboard at vacation time.
The palate takes only some diversions from this setup. Notes of rum raisin ice cream are filtered by way of intense notes of glazed walnuts, fruitcake, and furnishings polish, with a inexperienced, grassy, cereal-heavy punch once more peeking out from beneath. Each racy and chewy, the expertise feels pulled in maybe too many instructions — perhaps PX and Marsala collectively are an excessive amount of for this? — ending on a notice that feels slightly industrial, with overtones of petrol and a few rustic earthiness.
If you happen to’re searching for a large departure on the standard Irish whiskey expertise, this can be a bottling to hunt out. Extra informal drinkers searching for a standard single pot nonetheless could discover it slightly off-putting.
92 proof.
B+ / $65 / walshwhiskey.com
Writers’ Tears Single Pot Nonetheless Irish Whiskey 2023 – PX and Marsala
$65
