Shortcross 5yr Single Malt - Irish Whiskey Review - September 2025

Exciting things are happening south of Belfast at Rademon Estate Distillery, home to the Shortcross range of distilled spirits. From the 2014 launch of their Shortcross Gin, the range of spirits has expanded into intriguing Irish Whiskey releases. David and Fiona, husband and wife team, are crafting unique expressions at their boutique distillery which are winning over whiskey enthusiasts and creating a legion of fans. 

From their first whiskey release in 2021, you knew something was different at Rademon Estate. Their inaugural release was matured in Bordeaux red wine casks before finishing in chinquapin oak, making it unusual having not been aged in either bourbon or sherry casks. Subsequent releases have continued the unique offerings with a rye and malt expression, malt and pot still blend, and peated single malts. Cask usage has so far abstained from traditional sherry casks and utilized combinations of bourbon, chinquapin, virgin oak, cognac, beer and even orange liqueur casks.

The 5 year old Single Malt, (un-peated version and the subject of this review), was produced in 2024 with 600 bottles released exclusively to the USA as of this writing. The whiskey was double distilled, matured, and bottled at Rademon Estate. No coloring was added to the non-chill filtered liquid bottled at 46% abv. The whiskey is a vatting of minimum 5yr old Shortcross malts aged separately in bourbon, virgin oak, and cognac casks. The proportions are not equal with bourbon making up the largest component, followed by the virgin oak, and a smaller cognac contribution.

Shortcross Official Tasting Notes:
Nose
Vanilla and clotted cream, with syrup coated fruit behind.
Palate
Orchard fruits & fresh grape combine to lead, as honey coated cereal follows.
Finish
Cognac and limousine oak spice, give way as orchard fruits return to give a long and
delicate finish.

For single malt enthusiasts (or snobs?), don't let the 5yr age statement fool you as this single malt definitely "punches above its weight". It is not overly sweet but has lovely fruit aromas and flavors, particularly subtle grape coated in honey. The different cask components work harmoniously to produce a complex and enjoyable drink with lingering finish.

This is the fourth expression in the Shortcross range I've been able to acquire and I've enjoyed them all immensely. I particularly like how different they all have been in both style, mash bill, and/or cask types. With the abundance of sherry matured Irish whiskeys dominating the market, I appreciate the more spirit forward expressions released to date by Shortcross matured in other alternative casks. Recommend you grab a bottle of this if you find it in the USA.

-A. Dwyer