West Cork Single Malt Irish Whiskey (70cl, 40%)

This is a single malt from West Cork Distillers in Ireland. It is made from Irish malted barley and natural spring water, triple distilled in pot stills and matured entirely in first-fill bourbon casks, meaning barrels that are holding Irish whiskey for the first time after their bourbon use. It is bottled at 40% in a 70cl bottle, without chill-filtration or added colouring. The nose combines malt, vanilla and brioche with sweet spices, a light grapefruit note and some oak. The palate is soft and balanced, with malt, vanilla and butterscotch alongside citrus, apple, pear and apricot. The medium finish keeps vanilla and caramel, with fruit and a little pepper.