Another Seaweed Influenced Whiskey Emerges Out Of Ireland

There is a rather interesting trend emerging out of the Irish whiskey of late – aged brown spirit influenced in some way by seaweed. We saw that initially recently with Currach Irish Single Malt, first aged in first fill, ex-bourbon casks and then finished in unique “seaweed charred virgin oak casks.” Now on the docket is an expression finished in an ex-beer cask, the previous contents of which were laced with seaweed.

The new Writers’ Tears – Seaweed IPA Cask Finish, according to those behind it, is done in collaboration (the second such) with Dick Mack’s Pub & Brewhouse in the seaside town of Dingle in County Kerry, Ireland. The brewery, in 2018, had created what it calls a “seaweed IPA” that was brewed with 11 pounds of Irish kelp seaweed. 

A barrel that had been used in the creation of several batches of the Tóg Bog É Seaweed IPA was afterwards shipped to Walsh Whiskey, the owner of the Writers’ Tears brand. A little over a year ago it was then filled with Writers’ Tears – Copper Pot, a triple distilled blend of single pot still and single malt Irish whiskeys. The blend was then left to finish in this cask for some 14 months before being bottled.

“This time around we wanted to capture the unique flavours and influence of the harvested kelp seaweed, lashings of which were used in the creation of Dick Mac’s Seaweed IPA,” said Walsh Whiskey founder Bernard Walsh in a prepared statement. “Writers’ Tears is known for pushing the boundaries of creativity, and how better to showcase that than with the first Seaweed Finish that Irish Whiskey has ever seen.

“Dick Mack’s are known for their bold and innovative approaches to beer brewing and championing of Irish whiskey, as well as their legendary hospitality, so we knew this collaboration was a perfect match.”

“We were delighted with the response to our first collaboration with Walsh Whiskey and jumped at the chance to work on another really unique expression together,” added Finn MacDonnell, Proprietor and Great-Grandson of Dick Mack. “Our Seaweed IPA brings the influence of the wild Atlantic Ocean to life and has created something special with Writers’ Tears, which we are proud to have been a part of.”

As it stands now Writers’ Tears – Seaweed IPA Cask Finish is a single cask release, bottled naturally, non-chill filtered and at a cask strength of 56.3% ABV. 306 bottles were produced, each pricing around $89. Official tasting notes speak of “a colour of golden mustard and flavours of autumnal bramble apple, wrapped in a fragrant butterscotch, opening up to salted fruit syrup and liquorice on the palate. A creamy mouthfeel ascends, as though on the crest of a wave, lapping up gently with a dry earthiness.”