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Whiskey Review: Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey Small Batch Rye

We review Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey Small Batch Rye, said to be the first rye whiskey to emerge from Ireland in a very long time.

OVERALL RATING

8
$30.00
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Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey Small Batch Rye

Tasting Notes

About:

Kilbeggan Small Batch Rye is 43% abv, 86 proof, and costs between $30-$35 per bottle. The mash bill is 30% rye, and the rest is malted and unmalted barley distilled in the world’s oldest working copper still.
Appearance:
It’s a light yellow-gold color. The liquid is a little thin and glassy, not at all sticky or saccharine. It looks really mellow and approachable.
Nose:
It took a few seconds for the whiskey to open up and release notes of sweet bread, apple peels, freshly cut grass. In the background, there are hints of caramelized sugar, ginger, warm allspice, Asian pear, pixie sticks.
Palate:
I like that this rye expression doesn’t smack me in the face, and the spice and heat are sort of hidden in the finish. Mellow tones of vanilla and allspice slowly build into the tingly rye spice that we’ve come to expect from rye whiskies. The spiciness of this expression isn’t as in your face as some high-rye mash whiskies, but the rye and sweetness of Irish whiskies compliment each other well, in a unique way. I added a splash of water and it opened up pleasantly fruity apple and pear notes. The slight fruitiness is unexpected and fills out the typical vanilla sweetness. The finish is quick and oaky.
Finish:
Comments:
Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey Small Batch Rye was a surprising expression and a unique take on rye whiskey. I liked the balance brought on by the sweetness from the malted barley and subtle rye spice. This is a solid release that is tasty neat, on the rocks or in your favorite whiskey cocktail – I’d go with a Manhattan.

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.

Shauna McKnight

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