The escapee Irish, the divels in the pack, how did they escape? With family over there in the Emerald Isle, I do visit as often as possible, all parts of Hibernia get a calling, from the Republic in the south to the six counties in the north – so many new places to visit these days. I must get a small group together with pal Mark driving (so I can drink) and get a tour started. Lickin ma lips, I wrote this …

Dungourney 1964 Pot Still is from the Old Midleton Distillery, distilled in 1964 and bottled in 1994, this 30 Year-Old is a limited edition pot still whiskey. It is named Dungourney, after the river that had fed the old distillery. In 1994, the Master Distiller, Barry Crockett – any relation to davey? –  made a rare discovery when making his rounds of casks at the Old Midleton Distillery (in warehouse number 11 ) where his father, Max Crockett, had been Master Distiller. It was a cask not identified on his stock charts. The cask had been laid down 30 years earlier, in 1964, and had escaped enumeration on the commissioning of the new distillery and thus we have Dungourney 1964 Pot Still Whiskey. Some sources say there was just one cask but given that this has been matured in ex-Bourbon barrels and the production run was more than 1200 bottles then there were more likely 3 or more barrels – who really knows, eh Barry.

Coleraine 34 year old Irish Single Malt a very rare Irish Single Malt produced from the closed Coleraine Distillery. The distillery itself was converted from a manorial mill and started producing malt whisky in 1825. The distillery ceased production in 1964 and was completely shut down in 1972. This whisky was distilled in 1959 and matured for 34 years and bottled in 1993 from a single cask at cask strength. A limited edition of only 400 bottles. I last saw this at €4,000, does anyone care to share a sample with me?

Jameson Pre Prohibition, is a Jameson Pure Old Pot Still produced by the Old Jameson Distillery in Bow Street, Dublin. The bottle dates back to 1915, a pre Prohibition Whiskey that has made its way back onto the Irish Market. My question is, how? Where is it? How much is it? Does anyone know anything about it? paul@mcleanscotland.com

Ballyhoo Irish Whiskey This is a new release from the Connacht Whiskey Distillery which has been carefully blended. This is a 4 year old grain whiskey with a port finish at 43%.  Ballyhoo is light in colour with a gentle sweet vanilla and almond nose, finishing with a spicy kick. It’s a limited edition and one I cannee find!

Burke’s 14 Year Old Single Malt Single Cask. A first release from the (Mr Teeling) Great Northern Distillery, whiskey that was distilled elsewhere 14 years ago – who knows where? This is a single cask release and very limited in numbers. Bottled at 59% and currently exclusive to the Celtic Whiskey Shop, Dublin, any comments? Jack Teeling himself. “Now that we’re in production, our core role in Irish whiskey is innovation,” he says. “Now we can have fun.” I have been there on a visit, met the famous man himself and enjoyed my stay – family are doon the road

Ciaran Mulgrew the founder of The Quiet Man. You may be wondering where that name comes from. His father, John Mulgrew, spent 50 years working as a barman in the pubs of Belfast. I have been chattin to Ciaran many years now, his da, he said “He had this quiet way about him which people seemed to respect”. So when Ciaran started making whiskey years later, there was only one person to name it after: John Mulgrew, The Quiet Man, or in Irish, ‘An Fear Ciuin’. To this day The Quiet Man remains Irish owned and operated, and proudly independent, it’s no hard to get hold of, but I wanted to add it to my list, mentioned this to Liz, “never seen or heard of it” was her answer to my “you must have seen the film”, och well. It’s to be found in Derry, aye; Derry Mark!

Dhavall Gandhi is their whisky maker, “The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.1” by the way is an artistic exploration of maturation and blending; of flavour evolution and defining a sherry-led house style. We were lucky, we had samples for our delicate taste buds sent to us from the kind folks at the distillery. I was just about to smack this round my gums, when I thought of an alternative; I had guests on tour with me, all the way from California, why not ask them to try it and give me their thoughts … this is what we did. So what did our guests think?

Veronica and Bob fae San Francisco ; strong and delicious, would sell well in USA, sherry/wine taste, they both thought it was wonderful, Bob with a drop of water, veronica neat. This dram was powerful; illegal in Norway @ 60.6% a stunner, I really liked it, saying something from me for a below the border dram. A single malt, full bodied matured in PX and red wine casks American, French and Spanish oaks, non chilled, like Highway Star; Deep Purple – a long finish!

To add to the blog … The Lakes Distillery celebrates their first single malt selling out, by releasing The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.2.

Following the sale of all 5,992 individually numbered bottles of their first widely available single malt whisky in just five weeks, The Lakes Distillery has unveiled the second release in The Whisky maker’s Reserve series.The Whisky maker’s Reserve No.2 has evolved in keeping with The Lakes’ increasing sherry-cask influence. Without an age statement, The Whisky maker’s Reserve No.2 is a new, intense and robust single malt, bottled at cask strength – 60.9% ABV – and matured in the finest, meticulously sourced PX, red wine and bourbon casks. With only 4,788 bottles available in the UK, the nose is rich and complex with dry fruits and treacle, creamy layers of wood spice, comforting vanilla on the palate, and a long and luxurious finish. Non-chill filtered for a richer mouthfeel and fuller flavour, each bottle uses only the natural colours derived from the oak casks. Released on the 17^th October, The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.2 has a suggested retail price of £65 and can be bought from www.LakesDistillery.com where you can also discover more about The Lakes’ holistic approach to whisky-making.

WHEN ONE BECOMES THREE

The One Signature Blend is a new blended whisky from The Lakes Distillery. The last time I was doon there was a few years back now, with Liz on a day trip with an overnight, we don’t venture doon into Saxon land too often. This signature expression has The Lakes Single Malt at its heart, together with select Scotch grain and malt whiskies from the Highlands, Speyside and Islay.  A complex and balanced whisky with hints of stone fruit, light spice and honey-roasted nuts (not I might add Nobby’s Nuts). Bottled at 46.6% ABV, it is non-chill filtered with natural colours derived from the oak casks. Released on Monday 30th September, the recommended retail price is £39 and it can be bought from www.LakesDistillery.com. Where do you find this distillery?  Bassenthwaite Lake, near Keswick, in The English Lake District, it currently attracts over 100,000 visitors each year. Twice named ‘one of eight distilleries to visit before you die’ by the World Whisky Day campaign, the visitor centre, bistro and tour holds the Visit England’s Gold accolade and was voted the Icons of Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year 2019 by Whisky magazine. Well, we would suggest making your own mind up there, everyone who reads my blogs will know, my thoughts on awards.

As in many avenues in life, there is always an alternative – here is mine.

Paul McLean is the world’s most renowned independent whisky expert (in his own mind).  His Alternative Bible is the world’s newest whisky guide, with Paul having visited more distilleries in his own lunchtime than any other person who has ever lived including his dad (who is a whisky angel). Without fear or favour, after tasting many new whiskies, a thoroughly researched guide to all the whiskies he may have tasted. In terms of whisky, this is the alternative gospel. It has to be said, Paul buys all his own bottles, unless nice people at distilleries give him “drivers share” wee nips, he has no bias, no friends to please, no bulging bank account nor brown envelopes. My best (favourite) whisky of 2019 is a hard choice, high on the list is the fabulous Glendronach 18 year old. I do love a sherry finish and I have scored this 100/100. Why? Because each whisky is different, each person tasting has different tastes and likes/dislikes, I am not trying to be one person telling the world what is the best whisky to drink. I also am a fan of the Glenlivet 50 year old, happily consumed at the distillery library as a gift, thanks IL. A new dram to enter the best whiskies would be a cheap bottle – does it matter what cost? – Tamnavulin sherry finish, I bought, aye – bout, a 1 litre bottle at Tesco for £30! Cheap whisky, but not as we know it Jim. Strange as it maybe, some of my favourite drams seem to appear in my own top ten (or top hundred) consecutive years! Unlike certain other books/novels. I am not a Scotophobe, no, I like Irish, Japanese and other whiskies from around the world, but do think Scotland produces the best, but that’s just me.

No whiskies were hurt in writing this bible, none were thrown away, some were tasted and admittedly never tried again (not to mention names, but there is one from Texas, guests brought me, it was so bad I wouldnee even offer it to a Campbell! It was named after a creek in Texas, my mums name actually, so bad so it was, I now use it in summer months to get all those kamikaze flies of my windscreen). As mentioned, my dad is a whisky angel, my mum Rebecca is an angel, she didnee drink. I hear you ask “where can we buy this alternative bible?”answer; nowhere, I do not wish to make money out of telling the world what in my own mind, is the best dram in the world – even if everyone knows it isnee (I am under the illusion that people can make their own mind up). There are so many good whisky books out there, Ingvar, Charlie, David, Hans etc why would you waste good money on a book that is obviously biased as hell, even the devil doesnee buy that book! Use your money wisely, spend on the drams YOU like and the books that give good information. Aye, I have connections with the grand distillery upstairs, my dad, a pal Speyside, my Priest, and in my own mind, I am the best whisky drinker in the world to tell you what you should be drinking. Excuse me now please, I am away working on the best dram for 2020. PAUL MCLEAN.  Ps; I buy my own shirts too!