One half of me wonders if my palate has changed and that I'd have felt the opposite about them two years ago. Another half of me thinks I would have never liked the second whisky, ever. Another half of me was just happy to try them both at the same sitting.
Let's start with the one I liked:
I first tried McCarthy's at Peatin' Meetin' two years ago and was underwhelmed by it. In hindsight, I'm pretty sure my palate had been blown out by bigger cask strength peated whiskies that day. I wanted to give it another try, in a quieter controlled setting. Last year, I gained a sample of McCarthy's from Jordan of Chemistry of the Cocktail in a sample swap. And I'm glad I did.
McCarthy's is distilled at Clear Creek Distillery in Portland, Oregon. Owner Steve McCarthy buys peated barley malt from the Port Ellen maltings on Islay and has it shipped to Oregon. After it arrives, the malt is fermented by the Widmer Brothers Brewery. The resulting wash is distilled only once in Clear Creek's Holstein pot still. According to their site, the spirit spends some time in old sherry casks (though these casks may have been discontinued several years ago) as well as casks made from Oregon oak. They age it for three years. If you've ever tried to buy a bottle of McCarthy's you'll know why they don't age it any longer: each batch sells out quickly. For more details on their processes, please see Jordan's review or the Clear Creek site, both of which have a lot of good info.
I'm uncertain which batch this was from. Jordan's review mentions that it may be somewhere between 2006 and 2008. Many batches have been at 42.5% ABV, one was "cask strength" at 49% ABV. This one was bottled at 40% ABV.
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Brand: McCarthy's
Type: Single Malt Whiskey
Region: Portland, Oregon, USA
Malt source: Port Ellen maltings
Maturation: ex-sherry casks (though these may have been discontinued before this bottling was aged) and Oregon oak casks
Age: three years
Alcohol by Volume: 40%
NEAT
The color is gold. The first thing I notice in the nose is the ocean. Is it the Atlantic or Pacific?! Then bacon, well charred bacon. Then cinnamon, brown sugar, and kirsch. The peat is rich, clean, and bright (if that makes any sense) as opposed to dirty or ashy. There's a nice vanilla bean note, maybe from the Oregon oak? Also some plum brandy (Slivovitz) to go with the kirsch. After being aired out for over 30 minutes, the whiskey releases a scent that reminds me of the white plastic siding on the house I grew up in (the Horseheads house for you insiders). The palate is loaded with applewood smoked bacon. The peat gets ashy here, though it gets brightened up by sweet mint. Sweetness grows with time, but it is kept in check by an IPA-style bitterness. More bacon in the finish. The beer that goes with the palate's bitterness shows up here. Then sugary cigar ash. And -- to continue the personal notes -- the air on Inis Mór, the rocky Irish island I got lost on eleven years ago.
WITH WATER
Some fresh fruits (apricots and apples) peek out into the nose. Lots of bourbon-like American oak notes too, caramel specifically. Then candied peat, apple mint, and tangerines. The palate gets sugary, toasty, and mossy. Maybe a little bit of green herbs and yeast. The finish is sweet and smoky.
I can't believe this is the same whisky I tried two years ago. This further proves how different a whisky can be in separate settings.
It's been a while since I've experienced multiple sense memory connections with a single whisky. Putting aside these emotional connections for a moment, I have no issue with this single malt's very young age. While there are distillate characteristics in the nose, they work very well with the big ocean, bacon, and beer notes. The sweetness stays mellow until water is added, the oak doesn't get too big, and the peat lingers at a medium level. While I prefer it neat, water doesn't wreck it, which is impressive considering the low ABV.
But I cannot ignore those sense memories. I realize that you won't have the same connections, but they draw me more deeply into the drinking experience. Maybe you'll have your own. Or maybe you'll see this as a decent alternative to the other (imported) whiskies created from the Port Ellen maltings. In any case, McCarthy's shouldn't be dismissed by you peat fans. If young Taliskers and Caol Ilas ever get out of your price range, maybe you should look to Oregon next.
Availability - Here's Clear Creek's list of stores that carry their products
Pricing - $45-$60
Rating - 87 (neat score only, and for this batch only)