Connemara Peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey
80 Proof
Price Point: $35 – $45 for 750 ML
Background
I first had Connemara maybe three years ago. Without studying the label carefully (this was before whiskey was such a passion for me), I assumed it was a Scotch based on its peaty aroma and flavor. Looking back, it seems foolish, but then again, Connemara is a very radical expression coming from the Emerald Isle. Most Irish whiskeys are triple-distilled with no presence of peat, while this one is double-distilled with a distinct peat character.
I’ve said it here before and I’ll say it again – variety is what makes whiskey so interesting. Certainly the people behind Connemara share that philosophy with me.
Review
You guessed it – the nose has a fair amount of peat. In addition, there is some smoke as well as a medicinal quality (almost like Vick’s). Connemara’s nose is also slightly creamy.
The first taste that I picked up was burnt rubber. Not the best flavor in my opinion. Afterwards, I picked up a little bit of mint. Connemara is slightly sweet, but a little bit thin.
It’s a little bit bigger on the finish with a good deal of smoke. The peat will stay with you, which is one positive to take out of this whiskey.
Rating & Recommendations
If you couldn’t tell by the tasting notes, I’m not quite as keen on Connemara as some of my fellow bloggers are. It earns a rating of 82 out of 100.
This whiskey is over-hyped in my opinion, perhaps gaining popularity from the novelty of a peated Irish. It’s certainly a nice change from some of the monotonous expressions from the Ireland, but leave peat to Islay!
-Ryan