Glendalough Triple Barrel is a single grain whiskey made by “Ireland’s first craft distillery”. Founded in 2011 by a group of 5 friends the distillery started out making a poitin (potcheen) which, essentially, is to Ireland what moonshine is to American whiskey. The precursor to what would eventually become whiskey and what they used to help fund the distillery as their own stock, which must be a minimum of 3 years old, was aging.
Nose: Wine influence jumps right up front with a raisiny sweetness followed by notes of young malt, vanilla, toffee, pear heavy fruit and a light earthy bit of sawdust and a light floral note.
Palate: Like with the nose the raisiny winy sweetness jumps out first followed by a sweet graininess, apricots, vanilla, fruit, young malt and again that light earthy bit of sawdust.
Finish: Medium finish of malt, raisiny sweetness and a punch of port. I know it was finished in madeira casks, but it reminds me more of ports I’ve had than madeira.