This whiskey is the flagship bottling in the Cask Finish Series from the Irish family-owned distillery of Clonakilty. It is a marriage of Irish single grain whiskey and Clonakilty single pot still whiskey. This has been matured in a combination of ex-bourbon and virgin American oak casks, plus STR (shaved, toasted and re-charred) European oak ex-red wine barrels.
The Clonakilty distillery was founded by Michael and Helen Scully in 2016. It is located in the town of Clonakilty, Co. Cork in southwest ireland. The town sits at the head of the tidal Clonakilty Bay on West Cork’s Atlantic coast. Production did not begin until 2019 with their first whiskey appearing in mid-2024. It is a true family operation as Michael and Helen’s children – Conor, Cliodhna and Sean – also work for the company. The whiskey is farm-to-bottle with all barley used for production grown on the family’s coastal farm. Then all distillation, maturation, finishing, blending and bottling happen at the distillery. They are also B-Corp certified.
Clonakilty Double Oak Cask is released at 43.6% ABV and is available in Ireland, the UK and other selected world markets. A bottle will cost around £50. The Cask Finish Series also features the Port Cask edition.
Our Tasting Notes
The colour is bright gold and the nose is fresh, sweet and woody. Uplifting aromas of vanilla sponge cake, toffee and honey are complimented by some malted biscuit, zesty bitter orange oil and freshly sawn oak. There are also some red fruit and nutty aromas sitting underneath, alongside a good pinch of warming peppery spice. A hint of milk chocolate comes through with time in the glass.
On the palate this whiskey is instantly gripping and engaging. There is plenty of gingerbread up front and this is quickly joined by the vanilla sponge cake and toffee from the nose. The vanilla becomes more reminiscent of vanilla custard with time, especially when water is added. Notes of milk chocolate and cocoa powder also come through nicely, as does something like dried cranberry and burnt orange.
The woodiness and warm spicy characteristics take hold, particularly in the second half of the palate. This adds heat, depth and an increasing dryness. The freshly sawn oak is back and is accompanied by a hefty pinch of baking spice – thnk of cinnamon, cassia bark, mace and clove. There is also some white pepper, which adds to the mouth watering heat.
The finish is of decent length and is drawn out by the drying oak and warming spice. The sweeter elements fade quickly but a nice nutty note comes through. This is reminscent of toasted hazelnut with a hint of walnut. The oak dominates and makes the finish very woody.
What’s The Verdict?
This is our first taste of Clonakilty and it is impressive. We now cannot wait to sample more from their range. We also like the farm-to-bottle ethos and you can taste the cereal in the whiskey. This sounds obvious, but here you can REALLY taste it. You can also taste plenty of oak and the marriage of American and European has created a heady mix. Definitely a distillery to add to your Irish portfolio, if you have not already.
