Today sees the launch of Killowen Whiskey Signature 5 Year Old Single Malt- Rum & Raisin (55% abv) A vatting of single malts from different casks: Killowen Dark Rum & PX sherry casks.
Killowen Dark Rum offers notes of rich molasses and tropical fruits where-as the rich PX serry casks provide abundant raisin and dried fruits amidst the backdrop of the famous apples and pears often found in the sourced distillate.
The playful name is a nod to the cask choices and the beginning of a signature release that will be replicated in varying forms. This is another proudly sourced whiskey release from Killowen, having selected a handful of casks from a distillery in the neighbouring County of Louth which is clearly mentioned on the bottle. Killowen have now launched themselves into the single malt scene after extensively exploring blending and finishing in their previous Bonded Experimental Series.
The vatting of these casks will be carried out in batches, normally 200 litre and 120 litre, allowing for slightly more bottles per batch than previous releases. When we were considering this new release, we allowed for a lower price point, however quality was, as always, paramount.
The Rum & Raisin is presented in a new bottle type, and with a beautiful new labelling design: cork and tamper seal. This means that the wax seal will be kept for future releases outside of this particular signature style. The luxurious Rum & Raisin is the beginning of an evolving family of releases that will continue from sourced liquids into Killowen’s own distillate.
Continuing with the discipline of Killowen Distillery, all bottles are at high strength, there has been no chilled filtration or added colouring. The spirit has come straight from cask to bottle, each pour is full of flavour and high in alcohol content. The virgin Cask is lightly charred and so the unfiltered spirit is relatively free of char this time.
Killowen Distillery believe a whiskey should be enjoyed at high strength and can diluted by the consumer for a more intimate and educative drinking experience.
There is a noticed change in the flavour profile of the spirit as it dilutes & breathes. Different fruit and spice notes become apparent as the spirit begins to open up.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: A burst of fresh apple Juice along with black-strap molasses and a generous helping of warm Christmas pudding.
Palate: Sweet & Juicy large green apples along with dark sugar. A range of dried fruits such as raisins, sultanas & figs. All of this with heavy old-style dark rum as a backdrop. A late arrival to the tropical Caribbean, with Coconut and Vanilla a molasses.
Finish: Caramelised demerara sugar with toffee apple or candy apple. Red apples this time instead of the green ones earlier on, with a stand-alone note of ground almonds towards the end before a dollop of Christmas cake to finish… but you keep going back for more.
On sale from midday today.
Purchase from Irish Malts, Celtic Whiskey Shop & any quality outlets in Northern Ireland powered by Anzac Wholesale, and available on The Whiskey Exchange early next week.
RRP ROI: 59.95 euro, RRP UK: 54.95 Stg
Slán go fóill,
Danny
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