Currach Single Malt Irish Whiskey is a true innovation in the world of whiskey and the first to be finished in seaweed charred casks. Currach’s first expression was made with Irish Atlantic Kombu Kelp seaweed, a brown seaweed varietal, launched in March 2020 and is now sold in over 20 international markets worldwide.
After the success of its initial Atlantic Kombu release, Origin Spirits is delighted to release its second whiskey expression. Currach Single Malt Irish Whiskey - Atlantic Wakame Seaweed Cask.
The same process is used to create both expressions, the only variance being the seaweed used to char the individual casks. The flavours from both products are starkly different, yet share the same single malt DNA while having distinctive sweet, savoury and maritime qualities of their own. This shows the incredible diversity of Ireland's maritime terroir, and how this influences our single malt whiskey.
Currach Wakame Cask is an intriguing whiskey - complex yet subtle, vegetal yet sweet, light yet deep. Made from 100% Irish malted barley, it is a triple distilled single malt Irish whiskey, initially matured in 1st fill American oak ex-bourbon barrels before being finished in Atlantic Wakame seaweed charred virgin American oak casks. It is non-chill filtered, with no caramel colouring, and is bottled at 46% alc./vol. The initial batch is limited to only 3000 bottles.
Sustainably hand-harvested off the wild Atlantic coast of Co. Clare, Wakame seaweed is 100 % naturally grown and organically certified. Wakame, a green seaweed varietal, is both rare and seasonal, and considered to be the king of seaweeds. Wakame seaweed grows in the extreme lower shore on wave-battered rocks and in rock pools along the coast of Ireland. It grows in the winter months and is harvested in mid-spring/early summer when it is at its nutritional prime. Wakame is known for its' low light limitations and therefore does not grow in the mid-summer months. Wakame has a subtle, but distinctive taste and texture. It has a briny, salty, and umami flavour with a degree of sweetness. It is traditionally used in salads, soups, snacks, and as a seasoning, particularly in Japanese and other Asian cuisines.
Seaweed harvesting employs about 400 people in Ireland, mostly on a part-time basis, as it is very weather and tide dependent. Fourth Generation Seaweed Harvesters, The Talty Family, ensures only the finest seaweeds are selected for Currach Single Malt Whiskey. All their seaweeds grow naturally off the Wild Atlantic Way in Co. Clare. Hand-harvested in season to provide optimum nutrition, their seaweeds are organically certified. The precious harvesting waters are also tested quarterly to ensure they are of the highest quality.
Patrick Shelley, Founder of Origin Spirits Ireland Ltd. said; "Our vision with Currach was to create a single malt Irish whiskey inspired by the various elements of the Irish terroir. We are fortunate to have some of the best malted barley in the world and our coast yields an abundance of organic and sustainable seaweed. The union of these elements together in a whiskey is a world's first.
We were very encouraged by the success of our initial Kombu release which is now available in 20 countries, and wanted to let our consumers further discover the diversity of Ireland's maritime terroir with our Atlantic Wakame Cask" "Currach Atlantic Wakame Cask is a whiskey of sensory paradoxes. At its heart, it is a smooth Irish single malt but with the subtle briny and maritime characteristics often found in Scotch, thus giving it a uniquely rich, multi-layered and complex character"
Tasting Notes: Nose: An intriguing and enticing nose, as sea salt and rye cracker aromas give way to a golden caramel sweetness, backed by vegetal hints with a touch of iodine. Palate: Cracked pepper and oak spice, followed by briny yet sweet maritime notes, complemented by a white wine fruitiness, butterscotch and herbal green tea undertones. Finish: An elegant sweet and salty finish with a touch of liquorice and plenty of umami and maritime character. Such an intriguing whiskey is definitely one you're going to need to try for yourself! It's available righy now on Origin Spirits Online Store (originspirits.ie), Irishmalts (irishmalts.com), Celtic Whiskey Shop, Ardkeen Quality Food Store & Bradley's Specialist Off-Licence
Slán go fóill,
Danny