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Green Spot Quails’ Gate Debuts As Pinot Cask Finished Irish Whiskey

Irish Distillers, the makers of Green Spot Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, recently partnered with Quails’ Gate Winery in Canada on the third installment in the Green Spot Wine Geese Series.

They call it Green Spot Quails’ Gate.

A statement from Irish Distillers notes this will be a limited-edition, single pot still Irish whiskey finished in Pinot Noir casks from Quails’ Gate winery.

Green Spot Quails’ Gate
Irish Distillers, the makers of Green Spot Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, recently partnered with Quails’ Gate Winery in Canada on the third installment in the Green Spot Wine Geese Series. (image via Irish Distillers)

The whiskey will join permanent expressions Green Spot Château Leoville Barton and Green Spot Chateau Montelena in the series, which the whiskey maker describes as a “celebration of Ireland’s historic contribution to the wine world, as tribute to the group of Irish families known as ‘The Wine Geese’ who left Ireland and set up wineries across the globe.”

As Green Spot Quails’ Gate was finished in Pinot Noir casks, it represents two stories of Irish endeavor from the two Irish families who inspired this special edition whiskey.

Green Spot Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey was originally made just for the Mitchell family, who started business in 1805 in the heart of Dublin. This expression is meant to reflect the colorful history of the Mitchell’s whiskey bonding business, dating back to 1887, where they sent empty wine, sherry and port casks to the local Jameson Distillery to be filled with new single pot still spirit for maturation in the Mitchell’s cellar warehouse.

At that time, the additional wine influence added a new dimension to the whiskey, lending an air of quality, and it was at this point that Mitchell & Son developed a reputation for creating some of the finest single pot still Irish whiskey to be found in the Irish capital.

Located on the shore of Okanagan Lake in British Columbia, Quails’ Gate Winery was founded by the Stewart family in 1908 after Richard Stewart Sr. immigrated to Canada from Kildare, Ireland.

Today, they produce several wines including their Family Reserve Pinot Noir.

The new Green Spot expression is initially matured in American oak and ex-Sherry casks, and the whiskey is then finished for 16 months in the Pinot Noir casks to impart a delicate red wine bouquet to the nose, with notes of ripe cherry and raspberries.

The distiller’s notes explain that the residual soft tannins from the pinot noir give a silky sweet texture to the palate with notes of dried cranberries that go along with Green Spot’s signature tastes of red apple, sweet pear, vanilla and nutmeg.

Deirdre O’Carroll, blender at Irish Distillers, said that Green Spot’s distinctive blend of green apple, vanilla and toffee flavors have made it a beloved Irish whiskey since the 19th century, thanks to the Mitchell family.

She noted that maturing Green Spot in the Pinot Noir casks from Quails’ Gate adds an assortment of red berry flavors from the red wine seasoning that balances the orchard fruits and toasted wood finish.

Rowan Stewart, winemaker at Quails’ Gate, said, “The partnership between Spot Whiskeys and Quails’ Gate celebrates the best of both worlds … the deep roots of the whiskey tradition and our family tradition of winegrowing. Together, we have created an exciting collaboration that is both complex and memorable, honoring the legacy of both traditions.”

The new release comes bottled at 46% ABV, and is available in limited quantities in the U.S., Canada, Ireland, France, UK and Global Travel Retail for the suggested price of €65, $70, £54.

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