Clonakilty Single Pot Still - September 2024 Irish Whiskey Review
Posted by Irish Whiskey USA on
2024 is shaping up to be a big year in Irish Whiskey. Several of the new wave of Irish distilleries have launched their inaugural releases this year. Clonakilty is part of this trend having launched their Single Pot Still in Ireland earlier this year. In September, their first 100% distilled at Clonakilty Distillery expression made its way from the Wild Atlantic Way to US shores.
The Clonakilty brand is no stranger to US Irish whiskey fans having had a strong presence for a number of years both in retail stores and with their US online store. Clonakilty is arguably the leader in beer finished Irish whiskey releases having partnered with numerous local craft breweries In US regional markets. Their original core range of sourced whiskeys was featured in a prior IWSA virtual event back in April 2021. With Clonakilty's release of their single pot still expression, the US now has access to their first whiskey made with their own farm grown barley and distilled at their distillery.
Located in West Cork along the Wild Atlantic Way, the Clonakilty Distillery is hard to miss since its March 2019 opening. Located in the middle of Clonakilty town, the view of the copper pot stills through the glass could stop traffic. Visible on approach, the stills also overlook the town when viewed from inside. The distillery's coastal location and corresponding warehouse impart a maritime quality to their whiskeys. Bottling is handled in the distillery making it a complete family farm grain to glass operation.
The Batch 1 single pot still whiskey is comprised of 60% unmalted barley and 40% malted barley. This is somewhat different with many of the new non-Midleton single pot still expressions opting for a 50/50 mix. The triple distilled spirit is aged for five years in a combination of casks. Around 60% is matured exclusively in ex-bourbon casks. The remaining 40% is aged initially in ex-bourbon casks. After 4 years, it is re-casked into Amontillado and Oloroso sherry casks for an additional year of maturation. The whiskey is then bottled after a 2 week gentle cut process which slowly brings the abv strength down to 46%.
Official tasting notes
Nose
Vanilla sweetness leads to hints of demerara sugar, citrus peel and kiwi.
Palate
Vanilla, caramelised pear and apple, gives way to a gentle wood spice, dark chocolate and orange.
Swirling the whiskey in the glass leaves a lovely oily residue characteristic of an Irish single pot still. Both fruit and caramel are evident on the nose. The liquid has a wonderful mouth-feel with great weight from the 46% abv. Medium spice works well against the fruity caramel flavors. The finish is medium to long and very enjoyable. At 5 years old, this single pot still does not fall victim to the weaknesses that befell young releases of this style from other brands. Clonakilty's inaugural release is a superb expression of the single pot still style worthy of inclusion in your home bar.
The Clonakilty Single Pot Still represents an important milestone in the current Irish Whiskey renaissance. Part of the 2nd wave of single pot still releases after Dingle, Teeling, Drumshanbo, and Great Northern Distilleries augmented the classic Irish Whiskey style made famous and dominated by Midleton Distillery. Clonakilty's single pot still whiskey is a worthy culmination of the efforts from this independent, family owned and operated Irish Distillery. Rollling out across the USA in September/October in both retail locations & their online shop at shopclonakilty.com for ~$50.