Celtic Whisky Company Fich a Haon (21) 16 year old 46%
Double distilled & first matured in a 1st fill bourbon cask for 14 years. Part of this cask was then re-casked in a specially commissioned 53 litre Pedro Ximenez sherry cask for over 2 years.
Cask 1899/ Dist: July 2001 Btl: Sept 2017/ Tasted: Oct 2017
Nose: Burnt coffee and very herbal Oloroso. Chunky, deep and unfussy, but ultimately pretty simple.
Palate: A mouthful of grapey Oloroso with hints of dark chocolate, but predominantly dried grape.
Finish: A little drying, tannic and bitter, with, wait for it….. dried grape!
Conclusion: One dimensional
Celtic Whiskey Shop Fiche a Do (22) 16 year old 46%
Double distilled & first matured in a 1st fill bourbon cask for 14 years. It was then re-casked in a red Burgundy cask from Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret for over 2 years.
Cask 0888/ Dist: July 2001 Btl: Sept 2017/ Tasted: Oct 2017
Nose: Lithe sherried dried fruit with dark honey, slightly burnt Demerara sugar, cinnamon and a touch of vanilla.
Palate: Quite light and almost delicate with prune, raisin and hints of cinnamon. Quite drying as the tannins kick in on the middle.
Finish: Long and succulent with lingering tobacco.
Conclusion: A good, clean wine cask, but unfortunately it gives no clues to its country of origin.
Celtic Whiskey Shop Fiche a Tri (23) 16 year old 46%
Double distilled & first matured in a 1st fill bourbon cask for 14 years. Part of this cask was then re-casked in a specially commissioned 53 litre Oloroso sherry cask for over 2 years.
Cask: 1901/ Dist: July 2001 Btl: Sept 2017/ Tasted: Oct 2017
Nose: Quite malty and full with plenty of Oloroso dried fruit. A subtle citrus note balances and with time hints of barley and manure appear.
Palate: Sweeter and showing more treacle, but it also displays a lithe citrus edge. Hints of dried fruit and soft spice.
Finish: Long and vibrant with an interesting battle going on between the treacle and citrus.
Conclusion: Again all sherry cask, but at least it displays a semblance of balance.
Celtic Whiskey Shop Cill Airne Cask Pedro Ximinez 16 year old 47.59%
Tasted: Oct 2017
Nose: Huge, sherried, treacly and almost PX-like grapey wine. Very sweet with dried fruit and a slight burnt sugar note. Pure sherry, no spirit character.
Palate: Mirrors the nose. Sweet, grapey and sherried with burnt sugar and soft tannins.
Finish: Long with burnt coffee grains and drying tannins.
Conclusion: If I wanted sherry, then I would have a glass of sherry!
Celtic Whiskey Shop Cill Airne Cask Oloroso 16 year old 47.85%
Tasted: Oct 2017
Nose: Lightly herbal sherry with hints of dried orange, raisin and malt. Quite mature, but pretty much all cask.
Palate: Soft, slightly treacly with very sweet plum, raisin and sultana. Pleasantly mouth-filling but one dimensional.
Finish: Medium length with lingering treacle, dried fruit and burnt spice.
Conclusion: Another sherry monster!
Whisky According to Chris Whiskyman 