Tyrconnell 10 Year Old Set of 3 - Madeira, Sherry and Port Casks Finnish (3x70cl, 46%)
An older design, a very good-looking set of three 10 year old whiskies finished in a different way.
Madeira Cask Finish - This version of The Tyrconnell is aged 10 years, then is finished in casks previously used to age Madeira, a fortified wine hailing from a group of islands off the coast of Portugal. Bottled at 92 proof to bring out the flavour nuances of its casks.
Port Cask Finish - After a decade resting in bourbon barrels, The Tyrconnell Port Cask Finish is transitioned into port wine casks from the Duoro Valley in Portugal for an additional 6-8 months of aging. Bottled at 92 proof, the additional time spent in hand-selected port casks gives this single malt whiskey its unique flavour.
Sherry Cask Finish - After ten years spent in bourbon barrels, The Tyrconnell Sherry Cask Finish spends an additional 6-8 months in Oloroso Sherry casks from Spain. The casks exert their influence on the whiskey, creating a noticeably darker finished product. The interaction of single malt and fortified wine casks creates a veritable dessert in a glass.
The legend of The Tyrconnell was born in 1876, when R. M. Delamere entered his chestnut colt, Tyrconnell, in the prestigious National Produce Stakes horse race. Fortune found favor with Delamere that afternoon, as Tyrconnell bested horses and oddsmakers alike on his march to victory. The surprise victory captured the imagination of the assembled crowd, which included the Watts, which included A.A. Watt, local gentlemen distiller. He chose to commemorate the occasion by creating a limited edition, small batch whiskey that bore the name of their local champion. Although A.A. Watt intended to make The Tyrconnell just once, it ended up becoming Watt's most popular whiskey. Before Prohibition, The Tyrconnell was claimed to be the best selling Irish whiskey. Today, the brand is maintained by the Kilbeggan Distilling Company, proud protectors of Irish whiskey making traditions. Each bottle bears the same commemorative label celebrating Tyrconnell's triumph.
Cooley distillery was opened in 1987 after it was converted from a pototo alcohol plant by John Teeling. It now operates two pot and three column stills, generally double distilling as opposed the more familiar triple distillation that most Irish producers favour. It was bought by Beam Inc. in 2011, with its former owners now operating the Teeling distillery in Dublin. Cooley's core range includes the Kilbeggan blends and a peated and unpeated single malt, called Connemara and Tyrconnell, respectively. In addition to this, they have a massive contract distilling operation, providing whisky to a number of independent labels like this.