Grace O’Malley Dark Char Cask Blend
Grace O’Malley Dark Char Cask Blend is a premium blend combining multiple batches of whiskey of varying age statements up to ten years. There is a high content of double distilled (40%) and triple distilled (6%) malt. Finished in deep char Bourbon casks. Bottled at 42% ABV and retailing at about €65.
Omar Fitzell Notes
Slightly funky, herbal note is the first thing that strikes me. This moves aside to be replaced with caramel sweetness and some dark chocolate.
Palate
Mouth feel is a little thin. Oceans of sweetness roll back the tongue. Caramel, Demerara sugar and now milk chocolate are complimented with coffee and vanilla.
Finish
Short finish that is mostly a white pepper spice without much else going on.
Overall
Mouth feel and length of finish were a bit of a let down here for me. Grace O Malley has some good releases to date, but I think this is my least favourite.
Al Higgins notes
Nose
Incredibly fruity, like walking into a sweet shop. Old school ‘Fruit Salad’ chews, pear drops, prickly pears, pineapple flavouring and other ester aromas.
Palate
Creamy and medium bodied with a silky mouthfeel. More of those confected notes but a little more restrained in the mouth with some delicate touches of vanilla, kiwi and melon added to the mix.
Finish
Just a little short and this is where the grain whiskey component becomes a little more obvious.
Overall
I’d like to see more and more dark char/high char casked whiskeys like this. Sometimes the effect of the ageing in these casks is a bit forced and harsh but here the fruitiness really works.
Omar Fitzell
Omar has been lurking in the background of the Irish Whiskey Industry since 2010 when he started his journey through tasting, enjoying and collecting whiskey. In January 2018 he launched the online blog “That’s Dram Good” which, in those few short months, has become one of the most popular whiskey blogs in Ireland.
You can find him on:
• Twitter – @thatsdramgood
• Facebook – ThatsDramGood
Al Higgins
Over 20 years of experience in drinks retail and a member of the team at the Celtic Whiskey Shop since 2003. Alastair is chief tester and taster at the shop and is also coordinator for the Irish Whiskey Awards. When he is not working he is either training for ultra-marathons, parenting or drumming with his band Le Galaxie.
You can find him on:
• Twitter – @mostlydrinking