American

Keeper's Heart Irish + Bourbon

$39.99

OVERALL
RATING

Whiskey Review: Keeper’s Heart Irish + Bourbon

by Nino Kilgore-Marchetti
March 15, 2024

Tasting Notes:

About:

A triple blend of Irish pot still whiskey, Irish single-grain whiskey, and bourbon; 46% ABV; $39.99.

Appearance:

A lovely golden amber within the glass, carrying along with it solid legs and sufficient viscosity.

Nose:

Sweet and approachable greet the nose as a sniff happens, transferring notes of oatmeal, vanilla, caramel, dark chocolate, baked bread, and creme brulee.

Palate:

There are some different things going on here, reflecting the dual American and Irish whiskey heritages. There are offerings of vanilla, oak, malted bread, oats, cardamon, caramel, crunchy toffee, and grass.

Finish:

This comes and goes quickly on the finish, leaving behind only a hint of flavor that is neither here nor there.

Comments:

This is a pleasant whiskey, paying homage to the bourbon and Irish whiskeys within. There’s nothing particularly superstar about this expression, but it isn’t that bad either.

Keeper's Heart Irish + Bourbon review — We review Keeper’s Heart Irish + Bourbon, a triple blend of Irish pot still whiskey, Irish single-grain whiskey, and bourbon. (image via O’Shaughnessy Distilling Co.)

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was 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.

O’Shaughnessy Distilling Co. out of Minnesota is an Irish-focused American distillery with some serious talent. Its whiskeys are crafted by Master Distiller Brian Nation, known for his former work with Jameson and Redbreast, and David Perkins, founder of High West Distillery. Emerging from here are spirits said to seamlessly merge ” the smoothness of Irish whiskey with the boldness of American whiskey.”

Keeper’s Heart is the brainchild of cousins Patrick & Michael O’Shaughnessy, who’ve built a distillery spanning over 15,000 square feet and including three copper pot stills. Whiskeys under this brand have earned 130 global awards, including the World’s Best Irish Whiskey at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

What’s being reviewed here today is Keeper’s Heart Irish + Bourbon. This expression is a triple blend of triple-distilled pot still whiskey (malted and unmalted barley mash bill) from Ireland that’s aged over four years in refill American Bourbon barrels; grain whiskey (maize and malt mash bill) from Ireland aged over four years in refill American Bourbon barrels; and bourbon (75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley mash bill) that’s been aged over four years in virgin oak barrels.

Bottled at 46% ABV and priced at $39.99, this whiskey debuted in 2022.

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