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Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Writers' Tears Limited Edition, Japanese Cask Finish

Yes, another NAS Irish whiskey with a secondary maturation. But at least this finish is......whiskey adjacent.

A bit of drama has set in during the young life of Walsh Whiskey, the producers of the Writers' Tears and The Irishman brands. The Irish company partnered with Italian drinks producer Illva Saronno to build Royal Oak Distillery in 2016. Three years later, Saronno took full ownership over the distillery after a dispute. Walsh Whiskey continued to own the two whiskey brands until it was purchased by the Latvian Amber Beverage Group.

I still don't know from where Writers' Tears is sourced. Bushmills? If you know, please drop a hint in the comments below.

pilfered pic
Distillery: ???
Brand: Writers' Tears
Owner: Amber Beverage Group
Country: Ireland (with Latvian owners)
Style: Single Malt + Single Pot Still
Distillations: Three
Age: NAS
Maturation: American oak first, Mizunara oak second
Alcohol by Volume: 55%
(thank you Doctors Springbank!)

NEAT

Nose - Mint leaf, orange candy, and bubblegum, with some florals and veg in the background.

Palate - Pencil shavings, Play-Doh, and umeboshi. Cherries, sugar, and a hint of grapefruit.

Finish - Pear syrup, bitter grapefruit, and a little bit of anise.

DILUTED to ~46%abv, or 1¼ tsp of water per 30mL whiskey

Nose - Oranges, pears, ginger, and banana pudding.

Palate - Mild. Pears, peach candy, and cherries.

Finish - Circus peanuts.

WORDS WORDS WORDS

This was two steps above Monday's Dingles. It's neither dreamy nor complex, but its very drinkable, even at full strength. And the fruitiness has me thinking this was at least partially fashioned from Bushmills's stock. The mizunara is very subtle. It's also an expensive oak, so I wouldn't be surprised if it was third-fill, which is a good thing. I'd like to try this one again sometime.

Availability - ???
Pricing - €80-€120 maybe?
Rating - 82