Tasting: Irish Whiskey: Big Boys of Irish Whiskey and Independent Bottlers with Irish breakfast (2/4/2023)

Join us on this Saturday, February 4th, 1.30 to 3.00 pm at Norfolk Wine & Spirits, for an in-store whiskey tasting with special guests Allan Dwyer, President Irish Whiskey Society and Sean McKay, Director of the Irish American Trading Company and our very own Nick Nastassi.

It is believed that Irish monks brought the technique of distilling perfumes back to Ireland from their travels to southern Europe around 1000 AD. The earliest recorded incident of whiskey in Ireland is from 1405, though this whiskey likely differed from what we now know as whiskey. This spirit was probably unaged and flavored with herbs and adjuncts to make it palatable as was the case in most distilled spirits in the earlier days.

Ireland is the home of whiskey. Ireland been making it longer than other whiskey producing nation. This longevity has influenced the craft of whiskey making in Ireland, in turn contributing to the depth and diversity of the Irish whiskey category. But this long history has been a checkered one. The number of operational Irish whiskey distilleries peaked at about 88 in the second half of the 1800’s and the general decline began before 1900 and continued into the new century.

At one point there were only two Irish Whiskey producers Middleton and Bushmills. Eventually Cooley joined the two. We will explore Irish whiskey history and discuss the key role these three distilleries played in the history of Irish Whiskey.

We will explore these “Big Boys of Irish Whiskey” with various expressions from the following distilleries.

Midleton Dair Ghaelach Knockrath Forest Tree No. 5 (56.5% ABV)
Midleton Dair Ghaelach Knockrath Forest Tree No. 6 (56.6% ABV)
Teeling Single Malt Aged 24 Years
Jameson 18 Year Old
Tyrconnell Single Malt Aged 16 Years
Glendalough Single Malt Aged 17 Years Mizunara Cask
Irish American 19 Year Old Cask Strength
High N’ Wicked Saints & Scholars Aged 18 Years Irish Whiskey Barrel No. 4340 56.2% abv
High N’ Wicked The Wild Rover Single Malt Irish Whiskey
High N’ Wicked Aeneas Coffey Irish Whiskey

Snacks and light refreshment will be provided.