Legend has it that when Ireland's great poets wept, their tears took on the glow of whiskey. Walsh Whiskey borrowed the story for a name and a style, and here it is bottled at a full 54.6%. Pear drops and candied fruit come first, followed by an herb garden in full bloom.

Expert description

Writers Tears Cask Strength Vintage Release 2022 is a Pot & Malt Irish Whiskey matured in American oak bourbon casks and bottled at 54.6%.

This is the 12th edition of Walsh Whiskey's annual Cask Strength series from Carlow. The 2022 vintage is a closed chapter, while the series carries on with new releases. The full run was 7,920 bottles, with 2,100 going to the USA and 5,820 to the rest of the world. Every bottle is individually numbered and signed by Bernard Walsh, the man behind Writers Tears.

Inside is a vatting of Single Pot Still and Single Malt Irish Whiskey, both triple distilled and matured in lightly toasted American oak. Single Pot Still is made from malted and unmalted barley together, Single Malt from malted barley only, and the label shows both grains side by side. Marrying the two is the whole idea behind Writers Tears, which draws on the pot still and malt blends of the 19th century. Bourbon casks tend to add sweetness and toffee, which suits the creamy finish well.

Tasting notes

Nose

Sweet and fragrant, with pear drops and candied fruit.

Palate

The sweetness opens into an herb garden in full bloom: heather honey, fennel spice and cinnamon. The flavours build in waves, and the body is full.

Finish

Creamy, chewy toffee that lingers with a warmth like a summer's evening.

Specifications

Name: Writers Tears Cask Strength Vintage Release 2022
Distillery: Walsh Whiskey
Region/Country: Ireland
Type: Pot & Malt Irish Whiskey
ABV: 54.6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak bourbon casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Distillation method: Triple distilled
Bottled: 2022
Number of bottles: 5,820
Edition: Vintage Release 2022 (12th edition)
EAN no.: 5099811090923

Flavour profile

Fruity · Herbal · Spicy · Sweet · Full-bodied

Did you know?

In the 19th century, a master blend of pot still and malt whiskey, both distilled in copper pots, was known as the champagne of Irish whiskey. That is the style Walsh Whiskey set out to bring back with Writers Tears.

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Amontillado is the forgotten midfielder of the sherry universe. Not as sweet as PX. Not as dense as Oloroso. But more complex than both. Mosgaard has chosen it as a cask type in 50 cl – and the result is nut kernels, hazelnuts and a dry, long finish.

Expert description

Mosgaard Amontillado is an organic Danish Single Malt Whisky bottled at 46.5% from Mosgaard Distillery in Odense. The whisky has been matured in Amontillado sherry casks – a sherry type that starts as Fino and continues ageing oxidatively into a complex, dry and nutty style. Amontillado casks give a character that differs clearly from the heavy sweetness of PX or Oloroso: here it is nuts, hazelnuts, wax and a dry, refined fruitiness. Bottled in 50 cl format.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dry hazelnut and waxy nuts with a light sulphury Fino background. Fresh and complex – far from the heavy sherry one might expect.

Palate

Elegant at 46.5% with nut kernels, lightly salted caramel and a dry, lavender-spiced oak. Amontillado gives a refined dryness that liberates the distillate rather than dominating it.

Finish

Long and dry with hazelnuts and an almost bitter, elegant oak tannin close.

Specifications

Name: Mosgaard Amontillado
Distillery: Mosgaard Distillery
Region/Country: Odense, Denmark
Type: Organic Danish Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 46.5%
Size: 50 CL
Cask type: Amontillado sherry cask

Flavour profile

Nutty · Dry · Complex · Elegant

Did you know?

Amontillado sherry starts life as Fino – the lightest and driest sherry type. When a Fino loses its biological shield (la flor) and begins to oxidise, it completely changes character and becomes Amontillado: deep, nutty and refined. It is two wines in one bottle, and this gives a unique cask profile for whisky.

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Writers Tears Cask Strength 2024 is an outstanding vintage bottling from Walsh Whiskey Distillery, uniting matured single pot still and single malt whiskey.

Expert Review

Writers Tears Cask Strength 2024 Limited Edition Irish Whiskey is a Pot & Malt Irish Whiskey, bottled at 54.5%.

Walsh Whiskey Distillery is renowned for its first-class Irish whiskeys and has quickly earned a prominent place in the market. This outstanding vintage bottling unites matured single pot still and single malt whiskey and impresses with its depth and flavour. Each year, only specially selected casks are chosen for this benchmark within super premium cask strength Irish whiskey. This edition is one of the rare Irish whiskeys at cask strength, matured in first-class American oak barrels.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Deep and complex with pot still character.

Palate

Powerful and full-bodied from the cask strength.

Finish

Long and intense.

Specifications

Name: Writers Tears Cask Strength 2024
Distillery: Walsh Whiskey
Region/Country: Ireland
Type: Pot & Malt Irish Whiskey
Vintage: Bottled 2024
Cask: American Oak Barrels
ABV: 54.5%
Size: 70 CL
Other: Triple Distilled, Limited Edition, Un-chillfiltered
EAN no.: 5391542860203

Flavour Profile

Powerful · Complex · Full-bodied · Intense · Exclusive

Did You Know?

Each year, only a small number of specially selected casks are chosen for the Writers Tears Cask Strength series.
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Writers Tears Cask Strength 2023 is an earlier vintage bottling from Walsh Whiskey Distillery, uniting matured single pot still and single malt whiskey.

Expert Review

Writers Tears Cask Strength 2023 Irish Whiskey is a Pot & Malt Irish Whiskey, bottled at 54.8%.

This edition from Walsh Whiskey Distillery unites matured single pot still and single malt whiskey, matured in bourbon casks. Each year, only specially selected casks are chosen for this benchmark within super premium cask strength Irish whiskey, making the 2023 edition one of the rare Irish whiskeys at cask strength.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Deep and complex with pot still character.

Palate

Powerful and full-bodied from the cask strength.

Finish

Long and intense.

Specifications

Name: Writers Tears Cask Strength 2023
Distillery: Walsh Whiskey
Region/Country: Ireland
Type: Pot & Malt Irish Whiskey
Vintage: Bottled 2023
Cask: Bourbon Cask
Bottles: 6050
ABV: 54.8%
Size: 70 CL
Other: Triple Distilled, Un-chillfiltered
EAN no.: 5099811090978

Flavour Profile

Powerful · Complex · Full-bodied · Intense · Exclusive

Did You Know?

Only 6050 bottles of Writers Tears Cask Strength 2023 were produced.
See our full range of Irish whiskey