Tasting Notes For Writer’s Tears Double Oak Irish Whiskey
Nose: Dashes of sweet vanilla, notes of cinnamon, plum & poached pear.
Taste: Pressed grapes and citrus zest.
Finish: Chocolate undertones and lingering spice.
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Double Oak is the third core expression in the Writers’ Tears range which includes the Copper Pot and Cask Strength versions. The American oak contributes bolder flavours with more sweet and vanilla overtones due to the presence of more lactones in the wood. The French oak, on the other hand, generates silky tannins which yield a light sweetness combined with fruity flavours that persist in the mouth.
The use of French oak casks in the maturation of Irish whiskey was widespread through the 17th and 18th centuries. This changed in the 19th century, as a result of a lack of availability of French oak due to the wine blight of the 1860s. This coupled with the arrival of more affordable and larger quantities of American oak casks, which was driven by the surge in exports of Irish whiskey at the time, gave rise to a unique ménage of both French & American Oak barrels being used for maturing Irish whiskies and the resultant blends gave a new twist in the flavour profile of Irish pot and malt whiskeys. -
Whisky Advocate: 94 Points - 2019
Whisky Advocate: Top Ten Whiskies of the World - 2019 -
The company behind The Irishman and Writers Tears whiskey was set up by husband and wife partnership Bernard and Rosemary Walsh in 1999. The initial aim for the Walshes was to blend and bottle the perfect Irish coffee, and as such the first offering from the couple was the Hot Irishman. Moving on from this, The Irishman Irish cream was released in 2005, before an agreement was reached with Irish Distillers in 2006 to distil and lay down whiskey stock for the Irishman whiskey. The first whiskey released under The Irishman label was released in 2007. Since then, the whiskey has went from strength to strength, earning critical acclaim and picking up multiple awards along the way. Many of the whiskeys in this range are unique, blending traditional Irish single pot still whiskeys with Single Malt Whiskeys, to create a fusion not seen since the heyday of Irish Whiskeys. The Irishman range has been so successful it has allowed the Walshes to open their own distillery, Royal Oak.
Royal Oak is the majestic home to the Walsh Whiskey Distillery, founded by Bernard Walsh, is a family-owned and operated distillery which ceremoniously opened its doors June 21, 2016. Walsh Whiskeys marks the return of Whiskey distilling to County Carlow, for the first time in over 200 years. They are also the only independent Irish Whiskey distillery to produce the three styles of Irish Whiskey– pot still, malt, and grain under one roof, in one still room. With columns for grain Whiskey, and pots stills for malt, Walsh Whiskey has the capacity to produce 650,000 cases of Whiskey per annum.
The picturesque distillery is also designed to hospitably caters to visitors, with its three specially crafted imported copper pots stills, built in the legendary Scottish Forsyths -the world’s most prestigious supplier of distillation equipment- and two, forty plate column stills.
A slight break from the traditional ex-Bourbon and Sherry, Walsh Distillery ages their Whiskeys in quality casks from around the world: Bourbon barrels from Kentucky, Sherry Butts from Jerez, Rum casks from St. Lucia and Marsala wine casks which they are receiving from their partners Illva Saronno in Sicily.
Walsh Whiskey’s heart and soul are the very popular Writers Tears and Irishman Whiskey. Their goal is to expand the already existing line-up of these Whiskeys. Their growing production line up is a robust offering of various expression of these brands, with 8 Whiskey (5 Irishman, 3 Writer’s Tears) offerings.
Their hybrid, single malt/pot still Irishman Founders Reserve, is highly acclaimed by Jim Murray who gave it 93 points, calling it “quite a wonderful blend.” Their distinctly floral, highly acclaimed Writer’s Tears Copper Pot , is also one of the highest rated Irish Whiskey’s in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible and one of our all-time favourites. Walsh rounds out their production range with an Irish coffee and Irish cream. -
Producer Walsh Whiskeys Style Premium blend of Single Malt and Single Pot Still Age No age statement Volume 70CL ABV 46%