Glendalough, Single Malt - Mizunara Finish (aged 13 years)
Irish Whisky, Wicklow
Originally Posted by
Review
The first scent is cold and sharp, with a tang reminiscent of that first November night when the ground freezes. It makes you think of winter's approach. But if you lean in a hair further and pull a long breath in through your nose, you'll notice something else. There is a mark of... apples? And wild rose maybe? Things fresh and crisp at any rate, setting a pleasant contrast to that first crisp aroma.
The taste, however, is anything but what it's scent was. The first sip is full of vanilla and some flavor of light incense. It is gentle and smooth and warm at the same time. Continuing on with the glass, there comes a broader set of notes, soft woods and good leathers. They are the tastes of outside, of open country, and that's where they bring you, in the darkness of your mind. Going deeper in the tumbler, the scents and tastes begin blending together, creating harmonies and playful dissonances, until finally the glass is empty, and you have to decide whether to call it an evening, or start the whole thing again. I think I know what I would choose...
This was a gift, from whom I cannot quite remember anymore, but it was a lovely gift for sure! I had actually drank almost the whole bottle, and then was saving a single glass worth's for ages, so that I could drop a review here. I am sad to say the bottle is now good and truly empty, but I am mightily glad that the review gave me the excuse to have that last glass. This whisky is light and warm, but also full and rich. I think it is something to do with the mix of things going on in it.
Glendalough is a fairly standard Irish whisky, as far as I can remember. A bit of peat, a bit of smoke, but not much of either of those, and then the usual other flavors one expects. Sort of a middle-man between Scotch whiskies of the islands and those of the Spey. But then the clever men and women at Glendalough did something unexpected; they took their usual workaday whisky, and they finished it in Japanese Mizunara oak puncheon barrels. Thirteen years aging in American oak bourbon barrels, and then a smooth finish in puncheon casks. A genius combination when you think of it, as it the former gives the whisky edge and body, and the latter smooths off that edge, and adds character. It gets the rough woodsy feel of wild American bourbon and then dresses it in the elegance of Japanese spirits. All in all, a good experience, and one I can recommend.
As to the bottom line with this one, I had to look up the price (as it was a gift), and though I definitely enjoyed the Glendalough Mizunara, it is definitely not one for the budget drinker. On a cursory search, the absolute cheapest I could find it was at around 70 Euro, which is pretty up there given the number of quality whiskies you can find in the 40-50 Euro range. However, if you find yourself with a Christmas bonus, or with a sudden windfall, I would recommend putting the money into this one. What it does it does gently and subtly, but darn does it do it well!