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Whiskey Review: Midleton Dair Ghaelach Irish Whiskey

We review Midleton Dair Ghaelach from the venerable Irish distillery, the first ever Irish whiskey to be aged in native Irish oak.

OVERALL RATING

  • Savannah Weinstock is a whiskey enthusiast and industry professional.
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Midleton Dair Ghaelach

Tasting Notes

About:

Appearance:
Dair Ghaelch is a rich, orangey caramel in color.
Nose:
Up front on the nose is new oak and a touch of ethanol, likely attributed to the higher proof. Chocolate orange, espresso, and cream blossom through the ethanol tinge. Warm wildflower honey rounds its edges. The nose has a lovely, bold interplay between chocolate, coffee, and orange. After opening for a short time, yeasty bread dough, specifically sourdough starter, comes through, followed by charcoal, very sweet oak, and orange blossom water.
Palate:
Immediately incredibly creamy on the palate, Dair Ghaelach has a slight proof burn, but only briefly. The creamy, soft mouthfeel plays into the flavor of heavy cream and orange foam. Creamy, sweet, and citrusy on the front of the palate, the dram transforms into an earthy, complex mixture of coffee grounds, sweet orange, oak char, and overwhelming tobacco leaf. The finish goes from deeply intense tobacco leaf to a lingering sweet cream and coffee effect that seems to go on forever. Very satisfying. Conclusion: Earthy, creamy, and complex, Dair Ghaelach is a fully developed dram, and a whiskey that tastes the drinker through a journey. This whiskey was a delight to drink, and leaps and bounds above the majority of whiskies I’ve tasted in recent history. Dair Ghaelach could surely convert any serious whisk(e)y drinker out there to the world of Irish whiskey. FINAL SCORE: 95/100 [SHOP FOR A BOTTLE OF MIDLETON DAIR GHAELACH]
Finish:
Comments:

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Savannah Weinstock

Savannah Weinstock is a graduate of Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, where her Environmental Studies thesis delved into the intersection of Scotch Whisky, sustainability, and the commodification of nature and culture. During her thesis research, she spent time living and studying in Glasgow, Scotland, visiting and interviewing distilleries across the country, with a particular focus on the Hebridean Isles. Savannah is currently immersed in the industry, gaining firsthand experience with whiskey, spirits, and cocktails on a daily basis.

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