Irish whiskey maker Killowen recently announced it is releasing two very limited expressions, a single pot still and a single malt whiskey.
Both are exploratory Irish whiskeys in the sense that the new Killowen White Cognac whiskey comes from a rare cask and the Killowen Coconut Rum and Raisin Inspired whiskey sees five years of maturation with the unique flavors.
In a statement from Killowen, Founder and Master Distiller Brendan Carty wrote, “We realize that many of our beloved supporters might find it difficult to get some of these unique whiskeys … We simply couldn’t refuse the challenge at the time to provide the USA with the most complex yet delicate single pot still ever produced. While also considering a creamy luxurious single malt that leaves you salivating every time you think about it afterwards.”
Carty further explained that Killowen White Cognac Cask Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey is Killowen’s own rare distillate.
He detailed the mixed mash bill as having 8 bags of malted barley, 1 bag Maris Otter Malted barley, 4.5 bags unmalted barley, .25 bag of oats, and .25 bag of wheat. The fermentation was open top, natural and wild initially, with domestic yeast added after a week to complete the fermentation.
The cask was initially used for Hennessy Pure White Cognac and was made of American oak. The cask was not re-charred, instead it was delivered fresh and wet. And the cask strength bottling featured no added coloring or chill filtration.
“We were sad to see this cask go, but we wanted our first USA Barántúil to be something very special,” Carty said. “The balance within this whiskey makes it sing far beyond its age, with a sophistication of spice that can only further champion the ‘Single Pot Still’ category internationally. This is our native spirit, so we are proud to put our best foot forward in America.”
For the Killowen Coconut Rum and Raisin Inspired 5 Year Single Malt, the whiskey was sourced from the Cooley Distillery, where it aged for five years in a bourbon barrel that was previously used for finishing a West Indies Coconut Rum. This, too, was bottled at cask strength.
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“The palate is rich, oily and even silky,” Carty noted. “The coconut flavors are much more evident than we anticipated with heaps coming toward the finish which really complements the apple of the original distillate. We could drink this by the gallon at home, but sadly the Americans have it all now, the likes of which will never be seen here again.”
The White Cognac Cask Single Pot Still will have a suggested price of $106 for a 375ml bottle. The Bonded Exclusive Series Coconut Rum 5 Year Single Malt will sell for $69 for a 375ml bottle.
For more information or where to buy, check out www.eversonroyce.com.
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