Walsh Whiskey Releases An Ice Wine Cask Finished Whiskey

by Hannah Kanik
October 29, 2021

Walsh Whiskey out of Ireland recently unveiled what’s described as a first-of-its-kind creation of an ice wine cask finished whiskey.

The brand, known best for Writers’ Tears and The Irishman super-premium whiskeys, is calling its new offering Writers’ Tears — Icewine Cask Finish, in collaboration with Inniskillin Winery in Niagara, Ontario. Inniskillin is a Canadian estate winery and leading producer of ice wine.

This limited edition release is said to be a unique, triple-distilled vatting of single pot still & single malt Irish whiskeys and has been finished for an additional 12 months in ice wine hogsheads before being bottled at 46% ABV.

This is the 23rd expression from Walsh Whiskey founders, Bernard & Rosemary Walsh. The Walshes worked with Inniskillin Winery and its then Head Winemaker, Bruce Nicholson, touring the vineyard and sampling fermenting wines before selecting 12 hogshead casks originally cooperated by the Berthomieu Cooperage in France.

The selected hogsheads were disgorged of Inniskillin Icewine in March 2020 and shipped to Ireland where they were filled with Writers’ Tears — Copper Pot in May that year. It was checked at monthly intervals and was bottled 12 months later in May 2021.

“I first tasted icewine in 2011, so plans for this expression have been fermenting in my head for some time,” Bernard Walsh, Walsh Whiskey Managing Director, said, in a prepared statement. “With our core Writers’ Tears – Copper Pot expression we have a unique combination of predominantly spicy Single Pot Still married with Single Malt Irish whiskey. This core expression gets a whole new dynamic complimented beautifully by the intense natural sweetness imparted by Inniskillin’s show-stopping icewine.”

The whiskey’s aroma, according to official tasting notes, has peach and apricot over a unique pot still spice. On the palate, it has floral notes and nutty oak with a fruity finish.

Just 3,500 bottles of Writer’s Tears — Icewine Cask Finish are being released ot Canada, the US and Ireland for CAN$99.95/US$84.99/€70. The whiskey is in market in Canada and Ireland and will be on shelves in the USA in early November.