Finishes are interesting. Over the years of tasting, and just generally paying attention to what I'm drinking, I've come to the opinion that, for the most part, finishes should last for at least a year to really impart the cask character to the whiskey.
Obviously the longer it sits the more it shows, but far too often when it only sits for say 6 months the influence is so light it doesn't make a noticeable impact - especially on a mature whiskey.
One of the things that drew me to this whiskey was the 3 years of finishing it had. When I was on the Celtic Cask site, deciding what to buy, that lengthy finish made the decision for me because I was deeply curious about what it would lend to the whiskey. A curiosity we're about to squelch with a good ol' Irish Whiskey review.
Celtic Cask 28 Fiche a Hocht Review: Details and Tasting Notes
Celtic Cask Fiche a Hocht was double distilled at the Cooley distillery and first matured in fresh bourbon barrels for 14 years. It was then re-casked in a red Burgundy cask from Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret for over 3 years. Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret is one of the Burgundy region's finest estates. Limited to 333 bottles.
Celtic Cask 28 Fiche a Hocht Review: Details (price, mash bill, cask type, ABV, etc.)
Region: Ireland
Price: $171
Non-Chill Filtered | Natural ColorCeltic Cask 28 Fiche a Hocht Review: Tasting Notes
NOSE
Cocoa, char, sulfur, dried citrus, dark fruit, orange zest, toasted marshmallows and bits of copper.
PALATE
Dried dark fruit, sulfur, char, cocoa, leather, ash, tobacco, orange zest and some spice and metallic notes.
FINISH
Long -> Sulfur, char, oil, cocoa and dried dark fruit.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Good balance, round-full body and a heavy oily feel.
Celtic Cask 28 Fiche a Hocht Review: Overall and Score
From the notes it might look like the sulfur is overwhelming, but it's not. It's at that perfect point where it's nice and unobtrusive and doesn't wreck the balance of the whiskey yet remains noticeable. Which, combined with the sweetness, would have lead me to think sherry if the bottle didn't say Burgundy... till it opens.
Balancing out the sulfur the aroma pulls in a complex array of dark fruity, sweets and metallic notes pocketed with citrus. The palate pulls off a similar trick but with some earthier ash and tobacco adding dimension. The sulfur never leaves the finish but evens out with the darker fruit and sweets that accompany it. As it opens the wine notes start to appear prominently in the aroma and finish.
Celtic Cask 28 Fiche a Hocht is another fantastic release from the Celtic Whiskey Shop. I love everything about it and like the Celtic Cask Fiche a Seacht I'd buy a case of it if I could.
SCORE: 90/100 (A-)
