Two of Ireland’s leading artisan drinks-producing families, Walsh Whiskey of Carlow and Dick Mack’s of Dingle, have collaborated to create a once-off, super-premium Irish whiskey, finished in a rare craft beer cask.
The Irishman – The Harvest Brown Berry Beer Cask Finish is a triple-distilled, non-chill filtered, marriage of aged Single Malt and Single Pot Still Irish whiskeys by Walsh Whiskey in Carlow. The cask originated from the Caribbean, Saint Lucia, where it first matured Rum for a few years before working its magic on Dick Mack’s Brown Berry Beer for six months.
The Harvest whiskey was then aged for an additional seven months in the distinctive Brown Berry Beer Cask from Dick Mack’s Brewhouse in Dingle. This rare single cask of whiskey is bottled at 50.04% ABV.
Just 264 bottles were produced of this incredibly rare Irish whiskey, with the majority pre-sold to members of the Friend’s of Walsh Whiskey whiskey club.
It is the fourth collaboration between Walsh Whiskey and Dick Mack’s Brewhouse in the magical coastal setting of Dingle in south-west Ireland. Previous releases were The Irishman – Coffee Stout Cask finish (2018), Writers’ Tears – Seaweed IPA Cask finish (2020) and The Irishman – Peated Red Ale (2021).
Bernard Walsh (Walsh Whiskey’s Managing Director) said: “We love working with Finn (MacDonnell), his renowned whiskey adviser Peter White and Brewhouse colleagues, Graham Murray, Brian Murtagh, Aussie Barrett and Seamus Lynch. Together we challenge both ourselves and each other while knocking some craic [fun] out of each project. This sweet offering finished at cask strength packs a friendly punch.”
Finn MacDonnell of Dick Mack’s Brewhouse & Pub said: “Working with Walsh Whiskey we always conjure up the most exotic of combinations for the lucky few to explore and this expression is no different. Where else would licks of Caribbean rum kiss spicy pot-still Irish whiskey, wrapped in beer traces offering toffee, caramel and chocolate – and all in the one bottle?”
Tasting Notes
A fruity creation that hides a strength of character behind its initial sweetness. Notes of spiced pine and Autumn berries hint at the beautiful sunset red ale that rested in these casks before The Irishman – The Harvest. Hints of sugar rum dance with fig and banana, before opening up to the unmistakable Pot Still spice. The sweetness of the Single Malt lingers long after the final sip.
