Mizen Head 14 Year Old Cask Strength Review

Likely sourced from Cooley, the Mizen Head 14-Year-Old Cask Strength is a representation of something we're seeing more and more of in the market; less and less messing with the whiskey. It's cask strength, non-chill filtered and of natural color. It's as close to the barrel as you can get at home and allows the fullness of the whiskey show through.

What's going on inside the bottle is great, but what's happening on the outside of the bottle makes me groan a bit; West Cork seems to have some labeling problems lately. First there's the "cask strength" on their non-cask strength Glengarriff Bog Oak and Peat Charred Cask releases.

Now, on this release the back of the bottle states this is a "blended Irish Whiskey matured in Bodega sherry casks" right under the large Single Malt. On the front of the bottle it only mentions single malt and states that it's sherry finished, not matured, like in the whiskey shop quote below.

I like what West Cork is doing from a whiskey perspective, but they need to get their act together on the label front. Anyways, enough about labels, let's get into this Irish Whiskey review.

Mizen Head 14-Year-Old Cask Strength Review: Details and Tasting Notes

Named after the most Southern point of Ireland, the Mizen Head 14 Year Old has been produced by West Cork Distillers. Initially aged for 14 years in an ex-Bourbon cask before being finished for 6 months in a Bodega Sherry cask.

Mizen Head 14-Year-Old Cask Strength Review: Details (price, mash bill, cask type, ABV, etc.)

Region: Ireland

Distiller: Unknown (Cooley)
Bottler: West Cork Distillery
Mash Bill: 100% Malted barley
Cask: First Fill ex-Bourbon, ex-Sherry
Age: 14 years
ABV: 56%

Price: $200

Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color

Mizen Head 14-Year-Old Cask Strength Review: Tasting Notes

NOSE
Sherry sweetness, citrus zest, malt, herbal, metal, toffee, dried fruit and oak.

PALATE
Malty sweet, citrus zest, spice, sherry sweetness, oak, earth, herbal, dried fruit and goji berries.

FINISH
Long -> Herbal, char, dried fruit and citrus.

BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Good sense of balance, round full body and an oily warm feel.

Mizen Head 14-Year-Old Cask Strength Review: Overall and Score

The aroma reminds me, a bit, of a malt heavy genever with the herbal profile that runs through it - however, this is fruitier, earthier and oakier. The palate tells a similar story and pulls the same comparison, but with a bit less herbal nature and a bit more malty sweetness. The finish pulls off this trick where the first couple seconds make me think of a good gevever and tonic before switching to more sweet and earthy malt profile.

Initially the herbal notes threw me for a loop and I couldn't help but think West Cork was pulling a fast one on us. After a few days the herbal profile died down a bit to sit in the middle of the overall profile, but remains a constant note. In the end it's tasty, and that's what matters. It's also truly unique, which makes it fun; this is the kind of thing I'm excited to drink more of.

SCORE: 87/100 (B+)