Second in our series of 12-year-old finished Irish Whiskey is the West Cork 12 Year Old Port Cask. Aged for 12 years in first-fill ex-Bourbon casks and then finished for 6 month in Douro Superior Port casks this whiskey brings us a nice combination of sweet characteristics that blend together quite well; which we’ll get to in more detail below.
Whiskey Review: West Cork 12 Year Old Port Cask
In West Cork’s Words: West Cork 12 Year Old Port Cask
“West Cork Irish Whiskey – Cask Finishes (43% abv/86 proof)
PORT CASK FINISH
Colour: Magogany Brown
Aroma: Malt, sweet & dark chocolate
Taste: Malt, dried grapes, lingering sweetness”
West Cork 12 Year Old Port Cask price, ABV, age and other details
Region: Ireland
Distiller: West Cork Distillers
Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Bourbon & ex-Port
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 43%
Price: $60
West Cork 12 Year Old Port Cask Tasting Notes
EYE
Honey
NOSE
Malt, vanilla, port, spice, tropical fruit, orchard fruit, tangerine and a bit of oak.
PALATE
Earthy malt, grapey sweetness, cinnamon, vanilla, caramel, tropical fruit, orchard and a light bit of honey and salinity.
FINISH
Long -> Dark fruit, sweet, malt, cinnamon and honey.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Ok balance, medium body and a lightly oily feel.
West Cork 12 Year Old Port Cask Review – OVERALL
I’m digging, but not completely loving, the West Cork 12 Year Old Port Cask. The aroma has more port than I would have expected and the palate has a nice dark sweetness layered over the earthy malt. While more than expected, the port quality is a bit light and while I know port is a tricky cask to work with, it’s super easy for it completely take-over, I wish they’d let it finish longer… and bottled at a higher proof.
I know I sound like a broken record every March, but the West Cork 12 Year Old Port Cask could be so much better at 46% and NCF. I seriously don’t understand why you would go through the trouble of aging for 12 years and then finishing for 6 months, damn near 13 years, just to water it down and pull out the oils. This is a connoisseurs whiskey not a “mass market” release and should get the c-level treatment.
SCORE: 86/100 (B)