For February’s tasting we have something very special planned. This tasting will be one of two held in Inch this year as we make our annual pilgrimage back to Foley's bar. We always have a terrific evening here and tonight will be no different.
In January just passed, Graham & Fay Coull, Mary Ferriter and I were fortunate to attend an excellent tasting in Killarney whereupon we were privileged to taste some amazing bourbons and listen to a very interesting presentation by Ian Doogue, Business Development Manager with Hi-Spirits/Sazerac Ireland. Ian will now join us to present some of the very best bourbons that money can buy. We were extremely impressed with his portfolio and knowledge and decided that he had to do a presentation for us here in Dingle. He was part of the first team to join Sazerac’s venture into Ireland and what started as a small team of five is now a thriving team of 14.
Set out below is some of the whisky which will be imbibed on the evening including 2 ‘World Whiskys of the Year’
Buffalo Trace Distillery
No Distillery has earned more domestic and international accolades than Buffalo Trace. Writers, enthusiasts and spirits competitions around the globe have awarded more than 500 accolades to our brands. The title of “world’s most award-winning distillery” has been earned through the uncompromising dedication of our craftsmen for well over 200 years. Their passion for distilling, passed down for two centuries, is revered by experts worldwide.
In 2013, Buffalo Trace Distillery added its most cherished distinction yet – National Historic Landmark. After taking more than 200 years to achieve, the Distillery joined this elite group of the most influential places in North America. This award, more important than any others, is for the Distillery, its people, its builders, its visionaries, its preservers and its protectors.
Buffalo Trace
Described as ‘one of the world’s great whiskeys’ by Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible, Buffalo Trace is handcrafted using the finest Kentucky and Indiana corn, selected rye and superior malted barley. Aged in new American oak barrels, Buffalo Trace is generally accepted to be the most rounded of bourbons. It’s perfectly balanced flavour of sweet, smoke and spice leave a smooth, long finish; simply everything you could desire in a bourbon.
Eagle Rare 10 Year Old
Eagle Rare Bourbon Whiskey is masterfully crafted and carefully aged for no less than ten years. Every barrel is discriminately selected to offer consistent flavour but with a seemingly individual personality. Eagle Rare is a bourbon that lives up to its name with its lofty, distinctive taste experience.
Sazerac Rye
The One and Only New Orleans Original. Sazerac Rye Whiskey symbolizes the tradition and history of New Orleans. Rye Whiskey that dates back to the 1800’s, around the time when saloons, veiled as Coffee Houses, began lining the streets of New Orleans. It was at the Sazerac Coffee House on Royal Street where local patrons were served toddies made with Rye Whiskey and Peychaud’s Bitters. The libation became known as the “Sazerac” and America’s first branded cocktail was born. This is the whiskey that started it all.
W.L. Weller Special Reserve
The Original Wheated Bourbon Whiskey features an exceptionally smooth taste, substituting wheat for rye grain. Bottled at 90 proof, this bourbon stands out with its burnt orange colour. Its softer flavour notes make this bourbon great for sipping or making cocktails.
1792 Small Batch
1792 Small Batch Bourbon is sophisticated and complex. A distinctly different bourbon created with precise craftsmanship. Made from our signature "high rye" recipe and the marriage of select barrels carefully chosen by our Master Distiller. 1792 Bourbon has an expressive and elegant flavour profile.
Buffalo Trace Antique Collection Info
Each year Buffalo Trace releases the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC), which represents a cross-section of American whiskeys spanning a wide range of ages, proofs, and styles. In the bourbon industry, BTAC is widely revered as some of the absolute best and most highly sought after American whiskeys released each year, setting the bar high for competitors as well as subsequent releases of each expression within the Collection itself. While the expressions remain relatively consistent from year to year, each year’s vintage brings with it unique nuances relative to previous releases. Because demand for these whiskeys has greatly outpaced supply, bourbon enthusiasts frenzy to get their hands on these whiskeys each year.
William Larue Weller
Uncut and unfiltered, this hand-chosen and bottled bourbon is barrel proof. William Larue Weller was the man who gave the famous Pappy Van Winkle his first sales job and a mash bill which substitutes wheat for the traditional rye grain, a production method pioneered by W.L. Weller. This 12 year 6 months old bottling was awarded one of the most coveted titles as the Worlds Best Whiskey from Jim Murray’s Whiskey bible in 2019.
1792 Full Proof
The 2020 Jim Murray’s World’s Best Whiskey. Bourbon insiders have long acknowledged that full proof bourbon has a distinguished and rich flavour. This bourbon underwent a distinct filtering process, forgoing the typical chill filtration and passing only through a plate and frame filter. This allowed the bourbon to maintain a robust proof for bottling, as well as a full, rich and bold flavour. Bottled at its original 125 barrel entry proof, just as it was years ago when the barrels were first filled, 1792 Full Proof Bourbon is exceptionally distinct.
To my knowledge, Ian has not presented to any other society here in Ireland previously so let’s get booking and give him a great Cead Mile Failte to Dingle.
The society as usual will provide a bus to and from this tasting from Dingle.
Pick up: John Bennys pub at 19.30 hours.
Whiskys Tasted
1. Buffalo Trace abv 40%
2. Eagle Rare abv 45%
3. Sazerac Rye 45%
4. W. L. Weller abv 45%
5. 1792 Small Batch abv 46.85%
6. 1792 Full Proof abv 62.5%
7. William Larue Weller abv 64.1%
