New Release Register: Roe & Co and High n’Wicked Irish Whiskeys

by Beth Squires
February 26, 2024

The world of Irish whiskey sees the release of two innovative Irish whiskeys in 2024. This week’s New Release Register includes a solera matured Irish single malt whiskey and a single grain Irish whiskey finished in Barbadian rum casks.

Roe & Co Solera Single Malt Irish Whiskey Edition 1

Diageo’s Roe & Co Irish Whiskey has announced the launch of its latest expression – the Roe & Co Solera Single Malt Irish Whiskey. This new addition to the Roe & Co family utilizes the solera method, a process that involves fractional finishing of whiskey across a range of ages and diverse cask types, including the first-ever casks produced at the Roe & Co Distillery.

The solera process ensures an ongoing evolution of the flavor profile. The whiskey is finished in one layer of the solera system before a portion of it is cascaded through to the next layer, each employing a different cask type, creating a complex and ever-evolving flavor profile over time.

This innovative process results in a whiskey packed full of flavor. Notes of sweetness and toffee from the American bourbon barrels, toasted notes from the alligator char, nuttier elements from the chestnut casks, and rich fruit from the Sherry casks all come together in this unique whiskey.

The non-chill filtered Roe & Co Solera Single Malt first edition was bottled at 46% ABV and will be available for €85 from February 2024.

High n’Wicked Foursquare Mark X 2007 Finish

High n’ Wicked has introduced a fresh, limited release to its repertoire – the High n’ Wicked Foursquare Mark X 2007 Finish Single Grain Irish Whiskey. This unique expression was crafted in partnership with Foursquare Rum Distillery and is a single grain Irish whiskey initially distilled in County Cork, Ireland.

The whiskey’s mash bill consists of 95% French maize (corn) and 5% malted barley. It matures first in ex-bourbon barrels before undergoing a six-month finish in casks previously holding Foursquare Exceptional Cask Selection Mark X – 2007 from Foursquare Rum Distillery in Barbados.

This whiskey is bottled at 100 proof (50% ABV) and boasts aromas of “coconut, treacle, lemon peel, almond, nougat, fig, and vanilla”, leading to “subtle tropical notes of clove and cinnamon followed by rich caramel and candied hazelnuts”. The finish “lingers gently with a hint of custard”.