Trader Joe's Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Added on Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012 at 04:30 PM
  Bottler: Trader Joe's
  Age: 4 yrs Type: Irish
  Vintage: N/A Subtype: Single Malt
  ABV: 40.00 % Region: Ireland
  Price: $20 Availability: Wide
A private label bottling for Trader Joe's distilled by the Cooley Distillery.
Member Ratings and Notes
Sku
 
Nose is fruity and malty with some sherry (though the label says this is bourbon cask) and a bit of peat.  The palate starts off with dried fruit, sherry and malt, quickly yielding to peat which gradually dominates with some salty notes.  The finish gives you fruit on the nose but peat on the tongue.

Tastes like a vatting of Tyrconnell and Connemara styles with a nice balance of fruit, sherry (I don't care what the label says), malt and smoke.  Wonderfully drinkable and great for the price.  If this was higher abv it could be really astounding.

B/B+
Tim
 

N: Light and malty with a hint of new leather (evoking peat but in a very non-Islay way). Slightly lemony. A bit grainy with a very slight floral top note. A little dried fruit.

 

P: Nice medium body. Malt heavy, lightly lemony, slightly biscuity. This is a bit earthy and oily as well (again, in a non-Islay way).

 

F: A bit of alcohol heat - cinnamon and pepper with a touch of chili oil. Malt heavy, a little biscuity, some faint notes of shiso and mint.

 

This is a really interesting whiskey. It's got some of that earthy, oily, industrial funkiness of my favorite Islays, but it's done in this restrained, approachable style. It's set against a good, hearty maltiness and it just works. And for the price, it's a no-brainer. 

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