An interesting collaboration has been brewing, and this time Clonakilty Distillery have teamed up with a number of US breweries to create a range of bespoke limited-edition cask finished whiskeys which are mainly for sale in the American market.
There is 4 bottles available from 25th September, with some lucky Irish fans getting the opportunity on a small number of bottles that have been held back in reserve for sale at their distillery shop in Clonakilty, and online store.
Release No.1
Manor Hill “Baltic Porter” cask finish. 48.5% ABV
The first in the collaboration series to be released, this collaboration brings together two-family farms separated by 3,000 miles. Based in Maryland, Manor Hill Brewing works with the local land to fashion a range of aromatic, hops forward, farmhouse style beers.
Their Baltic Porter imparts hints of dark bitter chocolate, peach cobbler and liquorice which partner beautifully with the leather and oak spice flavours of Clonakilty whiskey.
Official tasting notes:
NOSE: Cocoa, peach cobbler and rich bitter spices.
TASTE: Dark chocolate, stone fruit and liquorice with a silky mouth coating.
FINISH: Leather and oak spices linger with bitter chocolate for a long finish.
Price: €85.00
Limited Release: 1,220 bottles in total, only 320 bottles kept for Ireland.
Available to purchase here now.
Release No.2
Pelican “Mother of All Storms” Barley Wine cask finish. 46% ABV
Located in Oregon, Pelican Brewing is a small brewery with big ambitions to create something unique and sensory.
Clonakilty whiskey finished in a Mother of All Storms ex-barely wine cask. Expect flavours of toasted oak and vanilla and toffee to push through the whiskey, warmed by a hint of mixed spices and dried sultanas.
Official tasting notes:
NOSE: Warm spice, cut straw, clove, nutmeg, ground almond, vanilla.
TASTE: Almond, barley, raisins, sultanas and leather.
FINISH: Dried peels, mixed spice, straw and vanilla.
Price: €85.00
Limited Release: 1,500 bottles in total, only 378 bottles kept for Ireland.
Release No.3
26 Degrees “IPA1A” cask finish. 46% ABV
Located in Florida, 26° Brewing are craft beer experts based alongside the iconic beachside highway route A1A.
26° Brewing’s flagship IPA1A imparts the resulting whiskey with notes of ginger and zesty hops and leaves a lingering punch of rich dark chocolate and orange drizzle cake.
Official tasting notes:
NOSE: Satsuma mandarin, mint, ginger, crème brulee.
TASTE: Candied ginger, floral hops, dark chocolate orange and tangerine.
FINISH: Orange drizzle cake, cocoa nibs, hops.
Price: €85.00
Limited Release: 750 bottles in total, only 185 bottles kept for Ireland.
Release No.4
Revival “You Thirsty?” IPA cask finish. 43.6%
Clonakilty Distillery and Revival Brewing, Rhode Island, have come together to release a bespoke whiskey.
Revival’s “You Thirsty?” beer is part of the new era of North Eastern IPA’s. With three times the hops, the beer imparts this whiskey some floral notes with a slightly bitter citrus finish.
Official tasting notes:
NOSE: New world hops, mango, passionfruit, grapefruit, cut straw.
TASTE: Floral hops, nettle, grapefruit, honey and lime.
FINISH: Soft oak with dried limes and tangerine.
Price: €85.00
Limited Release: 1,600 bottles in total, only 144 bottles kept for Ireland.
Best of luck with your search, let me know what you think of this latest collaboration, for more information visit the Clonakilty Distillery website.