Re-fill casks are the easiest ones to come by. First fill ex-Bourbon less so and ex-Sherry even less so. When indie bottles boasting either FFxB or xS and aged for 10+ years show up on the market they often disappear quickly. This is why I pulled the trigger and snagged this bottle which we'll be digging into in the Irish Whiskey review below right... now.
Barr an Uisce 1803 10-Year-Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey Review: Details and Tasting Notes
Lustrous, warm, mid-gold color. Aromas of vanilla, white chocolate and caramel (creme brulée) on the palate. Spicy entry and then a broad, silky, creamy mouthfeel. Mid-palate opens to reveal tropical fruits, cinnamon, ginger and a distinct maltiness. Long in the finish with hints of toasted oak. The Wicklow landscape is strong and memorable. When we tasted our ten year old malt '1803' with its 46% ABV, we knew we'd captured that landscape perfectly.
Barr an Uisce 1803 10-Year-Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey Review: Details (price, mash bill, cask type, ABV, etc.)
Region: Ireland
Price: $55
Barr an Uisce 1803 10-Year-Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey Review: Tasting Notes
NOSE
Honey, pears, apples, graham, caramel, vanilla taffy and some bits of oak, melon rind and an herbal note.
PALATE
Honey, graham, buttery caramel, orchard fruit, oak, earth, herbal and some spice and citrus.
FINISH
Long -> Caramel, malt, earth and dried fruit.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Good sense of balance, med-full body and a slick warm feel.
Barr an Uisce 1803 10-Year-Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey Review: Overall and Score
On-the-whole this is a soft buttery whiskey that's bright and has a real sense of character. Aroma is elegant and while a tad muted it has a nice bit of complexity going on. The palate moves into focus far less muted and with a heaviness to it with a nice array of malt derived notes to it and a finish I don't want to end. This is good.
I can't tell you how excited and happy I am to see interesting Irish single malts like this showing up on the market. Stuff like this is what the Irish Whiskey should be moving toward, embodying and striving for.
I know the vertical is in a building phase right now and we're going to see so much exciting stuff in the next decade come from Ireland. But tasting stuff like this Barr an Uisce 1803 10-Year-Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey makes me impatient.
SCORE: 86/100 (B)
