Peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Via Kilbeggan Co Distilling
Age:  NAS
Abv:  40%

Bottle Notes
Nothing of note on the canister, and nothing at all on the bottle itself.

Nose
Quite a striking and lovely peat and smoke pair to open the dram.  Quite lovely, and for me, very reminiscent of Ledaig 10yo.  Some creamy vanilla undertones, perhaps a sprinkling of fruity goodness.  The smoke starts to settle in to something more… not quite stale, but like it is smoke that is embedded in wood staves.  So, maybe a smoky wood sensation.  Not free floating smoke on the wind, but a cold wooden smoke.  The peat continues, punching here and there, with a wet bog coating. With time a custardy fruit starts to rise.  This is nice, a changing nose with only a short time in the glass.

Palate
Quite a hit of smoke to start.  Then a very subtle, light mouthful.  Very light, smooth, but the peat and smoke seem to offer a bit of a bite to the sip.  Creamy mouthfeel on later sips – very much so.  But the taste remains light, slightly spirity.  Some streaks of vanilla, the creamy mouthfeel may be saving the taste for me.  Without it, it does come across as light and thin.  Sometimes comes in with the custardy vanilla, making the sip fairly nice.  A fair departure from the nose, to be sure.

Finish
Lightly alcoholic, very faint fruitiness.  Some of the smoke char perhaps – it’s all quite light.  Faint lines of vanilla, the creamy mouthfeel carries over a bit on the finish.

Final Thoughts
To be honest, I have very little experience with Irish Whiskies.  Jameson would be about the only one I could say yes, I remember that one.  And my memory isn’t fond – I’ve found it to be thin, spirity, and in need of not only ice, but a mixer as well.  I was intrigued by this one – a peated Irish Whiskey!?  I was fortunate enough to sample before I bought, at West Side Spirits and the opening peat and smoke was enough to convince me it was worth a try.

It has been an interesting bottle for the shelf, and when Ledaig 10 was extinct, I did feel it was a not-bad substitute.  However, once the peat and smoke start to fade in the glass, I’m brought back to my Jameson experiences, and it’s just not a profile that I get excited about, or enjoy.  Now that I see Ledaig 10 on the shelves again here in NS, I can’t see me putting this one back on the roster once it’s gone.