Blacks 12yo Single Malt
This sourced whiskey from Blacks of Kinsale is a 12 year old single malt. This first release is limited to 618 bottles and is bottled non-chill filtered at 46% ABV. RRP is about €89 if you can still find it.
Omar Fitzell Notes
Very fresh. Loads of tropical fruits. Banana, melon and pineapple.
Palate
A very familiar whiskey from a familiar stable if you pardon the pun. The nose carries through with fruitiness in the form of lush red apples, melon, red grapes and melon.
Finish
Medium to long finish with a slight bitterness towards the end.
Overall
I really enjoyed this whiskey but then again, I generally do enjoy whiskeys from the distillery from which Blacks sourced this from. It’s a pleasant easy to sip yet high quality malt.
Al Higgins notes
Nose
A tropical fruit bomb! Mango, pineapple, guava, pina coladas, prickly pears and lemon sherbet.
Palate
A bowl of tropical fruits, vanilla, oak, coconut, ginger and some dusty tannins.
Finish
Nicely spicy and oaky. Not hugely complex but a great mix of bourbon cask influenced flavours.
Overall
Quite linear and monotone but it’s a very nice note that gets played. An aperitif style malt that really packs in the fruit flavours.
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