West Cork Glengarriff Series Bog Oak Charred Cask (70cl, 43%)

This is a triple-distilled Irish single malt from West Cork Distillers, part of the Glengarriff Series. It spends four years in sherry casks, then finishes for four to six months in casks charred with bog oak from the Glengarriff bogs. The bog oak is the fuel for the charring; the whiskey is not matured in a cask built from it. The distillery developed its own charring equipment for the process, built with a local blacksmith. It is bottled at 43%, without chill-filtering or colouring. The nose is spicy with dry leather and sweet dried fruit. The palate is intensely spicy, with malt and freshly crushed pepper. The finish is fairly short to medium and softly drying, with orange and lemon, then green apple skin.