Irishman Founder’s Reserve Caribbean Cask Review

I've had several of the Irishman releases over the years, and some of them have been from the Founder's Reserve line. But this is the first time I've had the Irishman Founder's Reserve Caribbean Cask and I'm excited to get into it. Over the last 2 years, I've been getting more and more into rum as the category has expanded to show the larger array it has to offer.

Though, to be fair, the rum category has always had a large array of interesting profiles. It's the sourcing and distribution (aka the availability) that has expanded. Bring with it more options which have allowed more of an exploration. So with that spirit of exploration in mind, let's get into this Irish Whiskey review.

Irishman Founder's Reserve Caribbean Cask Review: Details and Tasting Notes

The Irishman Founder's Reserve - Caribbean Cask Finish is the second expression in The Irishman Founder's Reserve Cask Series. It is a limited edition finished in rum casks from the tiny tropical Caribbean island of Saint Lucia. A super-premium whiskey, it is a rare vatting of Single Pot Still and Single Malt whiskeys finished for 6 months in Chairman's Reserve Rum casks. The release is limited to just 12 casks with 380 bottles per cask. Each bottle is individually numbered and signed by Bernard Walsh.

Irishman Founder's Reserve Caribbean Cask Review: Details (price, mash bill, cask type, ABV, etc.)

Region: Ireland

Distiller: Undisclosed (guessing Midleton and Bushmills)
Bottler: Walsh Whiskey
Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Bourbon & ex-Rum (St. Lucia - Chairman's Reserve)
Age: NAS (3+ years)
ABV: 46%

Price: $40

Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color

Irishman Founder's Reserve Caribbean Cask Review: Tasting Notes

NOSE
Roasted apples, malt, pears, apricots, spice and raisins with a touch of honey.

PALATE
Roasted apples, malt, pears, apricots, spice and raisins with a touch of honey and cocoa.

FINISH
Medium -> Malt, dried fruit, dark rum sweetness and graham.

BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Ok balance, medium body and a soft silken feel.

Irishman Founder's Reserve Caribbean Cask Review: Overall and Score

Not going to bury the lead, I wish the Irishman Founder's Reserve Caribbean Cask had more rum influence. The Aroma is nice, it's sweet and fruity with a fun essence that reminds me of fall; easily the best part of the whiskey. The palate is a bit darker with more of a roasty character but again is mostly in line with the fruity and lightly spiced essence of the aroma. The finish is where the rum actually starts to show.

I've had other whiskeys that have a deeper darker rum profile and they've been fantastic. Whiskies like the legendary green Springbank, where the rum battles the malt for dominance and it gives the whiskey depth and dimension. Here it kinda feels like an afterthought, or like they weren't willing to push it anywhere near the tipping point. It's an ok whiskey, but a timid rum execution.

SCORE: 83/100 (B)