Natterjack Irish Whiskeys - Irish Whiskey Review - May 2026

The Natterjack is Ireland's only native toad. An endangered species, the toad is hard to find but can be located primarily in County Kerry. Luckily, the Natterjack Irish Whiskey range is much easier to locate across the USA. 

Natterjack toads are part of folklore and magic rituals which have a similar process to whiskey making. One ritual magic practice sought to obtain the toad bone, a talismanic object giving its holder power over horses. The ritual involved first placing a Natterjack toad in a copper pot with holes before then burying it in an ant hill long enough for the flesh to be stripped clean. The remaining skeleton was thrown into a stream to identify the toad bone, which would float upstream. Despite this magical history and common use of copper pots, no toads were harmed in the making of Natterjack Irish Whiskey.

Natterjack Irish Whiskey is an independent brand which launched in 2019 in Dublin. Plans to open a distillery in Co. Waterford were postponed once the Covid pandemic hurt the overall industry in 2020-21. The brand partnered with USA investors in 2022 to avoid closure and keep the toad running. The Natterjack has a distinct yellow stripe down its back and is known as the running toad, as it does not hop. The brand's whiskey offerings prominently display the Natterjack toad on its bottles.

The Natterjack core range consists of three triple distilled blend expressions with common elements. All three blends share a mash bill of 20% malted barley and 80% corn/grain with maturation in both ex-bourbon and virgin American oak casks. Likely sourced from Great Northern Distillery, the three non-age statement offerings differ in abv and/or time spent in the two cask types. 

The original Natterjack blend was released in 2019 at 40% abv. Aged for 3.5 years in ex-bourbon casks before finishing for around a year in virgin American oak having a level 4 char. A blast of orange citrus on the nose gives way to vanilla and molasses flavors and a medium finish. An enjoyable everyday drinker that works great when you just want to relax without much thought. 

In 2023, Natterjack launched the cask strength version of their blend at a whopping 63% abv. This edition makes its presence felt even beyond the three dimensional toad protruding from the bottle face. It's almost like the toad is calling out to you, not surprising given its loud and distinctive mating call that can be heard from over a mile away. A few drops of water really open this up and enhance the candied orange aromas. A much heavier and satisfying mouthfeel of spicy ginger and graham crackers complement the orange caramel finish. It's like a spicy creamsicle in a glass. A bold offering that deserves your attention and gives it back in kind.

In 2024, a mishap reaped benefits for whiskey fans with the release of the limited edition Natterjack The Mistake. Originally intended for the core blend, 46 casks were mistakenly left to age for an additional year. After two full years of finishing in heavy charred Virgin Oak casks, the whiskey was released at 46% abv. Marketing efforts and a creative label with overlapping toad prints supported the launch. The subsequent success led to the expression being made a permanent part of the core range. Oaky aromas are immediately evident before dried, barbecue meat flavors are introduced. Toasted maple syrup coats the weighty mouthfeel of the medium length finish.

The Natterjack range leans into its American influence from high percentage corn composition aged in bourbon and virgin oak casks. The three expressions provide a range of alcohol strength to suit typical bourbon drinkers making these a popular choice for the American whiskey market. Natterjack also provides Irish whiskey fans with a welcome respite from the more common sherry influenced offerings as well as the multitude of other wine finishes on the market. Fairly wide distribution across the USA with bottles available for direct purchase/shipping from the company website. Which one of the three toads is your prince may depend on your mood on a given day. In any case, the three Natterjack toad whiskeys make up an unusual but tasty Celtic "knot". 

A. Dwyer - May 2026