McConnell’s is a premium Irish blended whisky from the Belfast Distillery Company. This Sherry Cask Finish sits alongside a 5 Years Old whisky to form the brand’s core range. McConnell’s Sherry Cask Finish is also aged for 5 years. It is matured in first-fill ex-Bourbon barrels, then finished in ex-Oloroso Sherry casks
At the heart of the Belfast Distillery Company is a distillery built into a conversion of the A-Wing of Belfast’s historic Crumlin Road Jail. The Grade A-listed building has been closed since 1996. This held some of the most dangerous political prisoners during The Troubles, an infamous period in Northern Ireland’s history. The distillery began production and opened its doors with a visitor centre in 2024. This followed three years, and £12 million, of development.
The McConnell’s Irish whisky brand was resurrected in 2020. However, it dates back to 1776, but ceased in the 1930s. Whisky was originally sold by Hugh McConnell who was listed, at the time, as a grocer and spirit dealer in Belfast. His sons John and James McConnell carried on the legacy. They built the brand’s first distillery in Belfast, known as Cromac Distillery, in 1899.
While there’s a convention that the Irish spirit is spelled ‘whiskey’ and Scotch as ‘whisky’, ‘whisky’ is the form that was traditionally favoured by McConnell’s. They have decided to honour that tradition, and distinctively spell McConnell’s product as they historically have; with no ‘e’.
‘McConnell’s 5 Year Old’ was first established in Belfast in 1776 and was a hugely successful brand for over 150 years. Now the brand is thriving again and the team at Belfast Distillery Company is immersed in “Restoring The Legend”.
McConnell’s Whisky
McConnell’s Sherry Cask Finish is bottled at 46% ABV without chill filtration. It is currently widely available through specialist spirits retailers and Amazon across UK, Europe and the US for around £45/ $48.
Our Tasting Notes
This deeply auburn coloured whisky is distinctly a ‘sherry-bomb’ on the nose. With bittersweet notes of bitter almond, dried brazil nuts, and tobacco, alongside dried red berries. There is a dry, oxidative quality like wet earth or stepping into a damp cellar. Dried raisins, dark chocolate, and dark caramel bring intense levels of sweetness.
On the palate this whisky is silky and thick with just enough oiliness. The first impression is of those sweet dried raisins, dark chocolate and dusty cooking spices that have been in the back of your cupboard for too long. Undeniably sherry. There is a really fine balance playing out in your mouth of bitter tastes that are both herbal and leafy. We would like to describe these as tobacco, but are also familiar from alpine aperitifs or liqueurs.
But the sweetness never leaves your palate. It almost feels sticky in its richness. There is a distinct nuttiness also. This wraps around everything and is reminiscent of brazil nut with hints of praline and marzipan.
The finish is of decent length and the bold, sweet, fruity and nutty characteristics carry through well. The classic sherry cask elements are delicious before fading to reveal a peppery heat and warming spice. A true delight.
What’s The Verdict?
This is a bold sherried style of whisky. It packs an unapologetic punch. Fans of a sherry bomb will utterly adore this. The only negative is that the sherry is so dominant that the nature of being an Irish whiskey is hidden deep. But if you are after an Irish whiskey we would recommend heading over to their more traditional classic 5 Years Old instead.
For a very reasonable price point McConnell’s should be a real people pleaser. As this is obviously made from sourced Northern Irish aged spirit, we do hope that when whisky made by the Belfast Distillery Company themselves is released that it maintains this high standard.
