Country: Ireland
Brand: Connemara
Peated
Type: Single Malt
Whiskey
Age: NAS
Alcohol: 40%
Colour: Amber
Nose: Peat, Earth and
Smoke but significantly lighter and somehow less Organic and more Metallic than
your average Islay Malt. These first impressions are followed by Rubber,
Heather, Burnt Sugar, Oak and Apple. Hints of Leather and Honey and a bit of
young Medicinal Alcohol
Taste: Not very
attractive. A combination of Burnt Rubber, Earth, Caramel and bitter Herbal Tea
with very faint hints of chocolate.
Finish: Sweet
(Think more of Sugar than of Honey) and Bitter Almonds. Dry in the end with that
same medicinal off note that I found on the Nose. The Wet Earth stays for quite
a while and it’s rather unpleasant
With a couple of
drops of water the Nose becomes very light. The Peat retreats a bit and some
Malt and Grass appears. The Oak and Leather are coming through as well. On the
Palate it all gets very watery and the Finish becomes very short indeed. Still, you
can experiment with a few drops here.
Rating: 74,5
Nose: 20 – Taste: 19–
Finish: 17 – Overall: 18,5
General Remarks: In
the old days all Irish whiskey was dried with peat but today Connemara is the
only Peated Irish Single Malt. This whiskey is double distilled to improve its smoothness.
It’s a blend of a 4, a 6 and an 8 Years old whiskey. The Cooley Distillery
where Connemara is produced was bought early this year by Beam Inc.
Drinking Experience
Straight: Average
Conclusion: The
Nose is the best part of this whiskey despite the rubber and medicinal
off-notes. But on the Palate this Malt is disappointing and the Finish is
rather unpleasant. I’m sure that Connemara wanted to provide an Irish
alternative for Islay malts but I’m sorry to say that this whiskey is no match
for the Islay Single Malts. And since it’s also not as smooth as other Irish
whiskies despite the Double Distilling, it’s rather a Black Sheep in the family
if you ask me. It’s drinkable but I can’t recommend this.
Jan van den Ende May 3, 2012