Michael Collins Blended Irish Whiskey is no longer available due to Beam’s Acquisition of the Cooley distillery a few years ago. When they did they cut off almost everyone from being able to bottle Cooley whiskey as their own, thus striking a big blow to NDPs like Sidney Frank Importing Co. who bottled and imported the Michael Collins line.
This abrupt cutting off of the supply drove an immediate demand in brands like Michael Collins back in 2013 when Beam / Suntory cut off the outgoing supply of Cooley whiskey to NDPs. Almost over night bottles of this whiskey, and others, disappeared from shelves as fans stockpiled the whiskey to get them through the impending shortage while importers, distributors and Beam / Suntory battled it out in court. The end result is easy to see because Michael Collins is still MIA from store shelves everywhere.
Michael Collins Blended Irish Whiskey Info
Region: Cooley Peninsula, Ireland
Distiller: Cooley
Bottler: Sidney Frank Importing Co.
Age: NAS
ABV: 40%
Price: $18
Michael Collins Blended Irish Whiskey Review
EYE
Light yellow
NOSE
Decent amount of malty sweetness with notes of caramel apples, honey, orchard fruit, mild spice and some light toasty notes. There is a bit of darkness slowly moving beneath the rest of the nose.
PALATE
Malty and fruity with notes of dark sweets, spice, vanilla and citrus rind. That same dark undertone from the nose appears on the palate
FINISH
Long spicy malty finish with hints of dark sweets and wood that fade to grain alcohol.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Ok balance with a medium body and an easy smooth texture.
OVERALL
The Michael Collins Blended Irish Whiskey isn’t too bad as far as blends go. It seems to have a decent amount of malt in the blend and while it does come across a bit young on the nose and palate it doesn’t scream young from the top of it’s underdeveloped lungs. It seems like at least a little bit of older malt has found its way into this one. All-in-all it’s not too bad. Something I could drink now and then, but definitely not on a regular basis.
SCORE: 81/100 (range given since it was not tasted at home)
value = As a mixer or a cheap way to change things up now and then Michael Collins Blended Irish Whiskey not a bad way to go and the price is fairly well set.
