My love affair with the Irish Distillers range continues as they release a unique Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, the first to be finished in Bordeaux wine casks. Ever.
Below is the press release that was sent to me, and I’ve included my tasting notes as I was kindly sent a sample to experience:
Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard has unveiled the first ever Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey to be finished in Bordeaux wine casks, Green Spot Château Léoville Barton. The new release adds an innovative, new dimension to the classic Green Spot expression, which is already renowned among whiskey lovers for its exceptional quality.
Set in the heart of the Saint Julien appellation in Bordeaux, one of the most revered winemaking regions in the world, Léoville Barton is a grand cru Château renowned for producing world class wine. Léoville Barton is overseen today by Anthony and Lilian Barton, direct descendants of Thomas Barton, a ‘Wine Geese’ winemaker who founded a wine merchant company in 1725, after migrating from his native Ireland.
Green Spot can trace its roots back to Dublin-based wine merchants, Mitchell & Son, who matured, bottled and sold the original Green Spot under bond. Established in 1805, Mitchell & Son aged whiskeys bought from John Jameson’s Bow St Distillery in Dublin in their own casks up until 1968, when the practice of selling whiskey to bonders in cask ceased. From that date, Green Spot was bottled by Irish Distillers who also produce Yellow Spot 12 Year Old and now the new Green Spot Château Léoville Barton.
Initially matured in a traditional mix of ex-Oloroso sherry, new Bourbon and ex-Bourbon barrels the whiskeys were then transferred into the ex-Bordeaux wine casks for between 12 and 24 months. This imparted distinctive, floral flavours of varying intensity, resulting in a perfectly balanced whiskey.
Kevin O’Gorman, Master of Maturation at the Midleton Distillery, commented: “With its fresh taste profile featuring notes of green apple, vanilla, toffee and liquorice, Green Spot has been a favourite among Irish whiskey lovers thanks to the Mitchell family since the 19th Century, so it is an honour to launch a further extension to our Spot family.
“Maturing Green Spot in the Château Léoville Barton wine casks provided a fascinating assortment of floral and wood characteristics on the nose and palate, which give way to a long, spicy finish reminiscent of the terroir in France and Ireland. I hope whiskey fans enjoy this latest addition to our growing Single Pot Still family and join us in toasting this new whiskey resulting from of our shared Irish heritage.”
Anthony Barton, owner of Château Léoville Barton, added: “We are delighted to collaborate with the Midleton Distillery to create the new Green Spot Château Léoville Barton. Having been born in Ireland, whiskey is very close to my heart, and wine has been in my family for hundreds of years, so it is an enormous privilege to be able to merge the two now and share our heritage with the Mitchell family with such an exceptional result.”
Bottled at 46% ABV, Green Spot Château Léoville Barton is available from June in five markets, including Ireland, UK and France, at the recommended selling price of $65 per 70cl.
So, how does it all fare? Well below, I give to you my tasting notes –
Green Spot Château Léoville Barton – 46%
Ripe notes of red apple, forest floor and scorched damp oak on the nose. Dry berries follows near the finish. Bold, sharp notes of spice, oak and apple combine well on the palate. A thick texture, with grain notes coming through, followed by a bold, deep red wine finish that offers a smooth, lingering sweet finish.
A very complex expression here, and one that is perfect for the whiskey fan. Perhaps for the drinks cabinet at home, and perfect for when the winter nights start to roll in.
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