Connemara Distiller’s Edition

The new labels of this Irish Connemara mention Kilbeggan Distilling Co. which is the name of a distillery but also the name of the group. Mind that the peated Connemara whiskey is produced at the Cooley distillery, the other half of the group.

Connemara Distillers Edition was matured in bourbon casks and finished in Oloroso sherry casks – a similar concept to Diageo’s Distillers Editions. I believe this was once exclusively available in France but it recently made it to the core range.

Update: I also tried a 2022 edition of the Connemara Distillers Edition

Connemara Distiller’s Edition
(43%, OB 2015)

Nose: starts with a nice sooty note, exhaust fumes really. Some heathery smoke and burnt plastic (which is not an off-note here). Not extremely intense though – hardly any medicinal notes here. And there’s also a roundness of bramble and red apples. Honey. Hints of eucalyptus.

Mouth: again fairly smooth, with an oily texture and a deep, earthy and sooty side and firm spices (pepper). Dark fruits, as well as some roasted peaches. Develops a gingery note and a herbal, slightly bitter edge towards the end.

Finish: long, with wood smoke, liquorice, cloves and something of a cough drops.

Quite nice, I like the mild peat which has an individual character that’s different from Islay malts. Also the dark fruitiness of the sherry works out well. Around € 40 from LMdW or Master of Malt for instance.

Score: 83/100