Latest news with #DawnDavies
Forbes
09-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Six Top Rated Irish Whiskeys, According To The Whiskey Exchange
Shot glass full of Irish whisky with a four leaf clover as a lucky garnish. getty Irish whiskey has been the fastest-growing whiskey category in the world over the past decade. Ireland has over 45 whiskey distilleries, up from just 3 in 1990. Recently, I spoke with Dawn Davies, head buyer at The Whiskey Exchange, the world's largest online whisky vendor, about her top Irish whiskey recommendations. Here are brief descriptions and tasting notes on her six top choices. Boann is a family-owned distillery in County Meath, Ireland. One of their unique creations, the Marsala Cask expression, showcases their innovative cask finishes. The triple-distilled whiskey uses a traditional single pot still mash bill of malted and unmalted barley, oats, and rye, all locally sourced from Irish farms. The spirit is first aged in heavily charred ex-bourbon barrels from Kentucky's Brown-Forman distillery. After the initial maturation, the whiskey is transferred to Superiore and Fine Marsala butts of French oak from the esteemed Cantine de Vinci in Sicily. The Marsala cask finish adds layers of spice and juicy citrus character. The whiskey features subtle spices, resinous bark, and burnt orange aromas, complemented by freshly cut grass and honey notes. It's rich and viscous on the palate with a notable mouth weight. It features sweet marmalade, peppermint, and oak spice notes. The finish is long and flavorful, with a lingering spicy aftertaste of cinnamon and clove notes. Blackwater Distillery, in County Waterford, Ireland, is known for its innovative approach to whiskey production. Its Starburst Spicebag Peated Rye Whiskey is Ireland's first peated rye whiskey. The whiskey's mash bill is 55% rye, 31% malted barley, 9% oats, and 5% peated malt, all sourced and malted within Ireland. The whiskey is matured in a single ex-Ribera del Duero wine cask from Northern Spain. The initial release was limited to 400, 500ml bottles. The whiskey is spice-forward, complemented by rich aromas of seasoned oak, caramel, vanilla, and assorted red berry fruits. It's bold and robust on the palate, featuring vanilla, ginger, cinnamon, caramel, and cooked barley malt flavors, balanced by red wine, peppery spice, and smoky notes. The finish is long and warming, with lingering spice, red fruit notes, and a subtle smokiness. The Starburst Spicebag Peated Rye Whiskey from Blackwater Distillery was awarded 'Best Irish Rye' at the prestigious World Whiskies Awards 2024, a testament to its exceptional quality and unique flavor profile. The Midleton Distillery, County Cork, Munster, Ireland where Green Spot and Redbreast, among other well known Irish whiskey brands are produced. getty The Green Spot Leoville Barton Bordeaux Finished Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey is a unique collaboration between two historic Irish families: the Mitchells, renowned Dublin wine and whiskey merchants, and the Bartons, esteemed Bordeaux winemakers of Château Léoville Barton. This partnership brings together the best of Irish whiskey and French winemaking traditions. This expression, crafted at the Midleton Distillery in County Cork, Ireland, undergoes initial maturation in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-Oloroso sherry casks for 7 to 10 years. It is then finished for 12 to 24 months in French oak casks previously used to age Château Léoville Barton wine, imparting unique characteristics to the final product. The whisky is aromatic on the nose, featuring delicate, perfumed aromas of honeysuckle, orange blossom, ripe strawberries, and yeasty bread dough. It's light to medium on the palate, featuring honeyed and fruity red berries, vanilla, and spice notes. The finish is long with with lingering sweet fruit and subtle spice notes. The Bushmills 16 YO is an outstanding expression from the Old Bushmills Distillery in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The triple distilled whiskey is aged for approximately 15 years in a combination of Oloroso sherry butts and bourbon barrels, followed by a finishing period of about 9 months in port wine pipes. This triple cask aging imparts a layered, complex character to the whiskey. The whiskey features honey, sweet apples, pears, bananas, and sherry aromas on the nose. It's robust, concentrated, and full-bodied on the palate, with a viscous texture and a pronounced mouth weight. It expresses orchard, stone, tropical fruit flavors, nuts, and spice, complemented by almonds, honey, Port wine, and vanilla hints. The finish is sweet and syrupy, with lingering notes of red berries, golden raisins, dried figs, and honey. Dingle Distillery, established in 2012 in County Kerry, Ireland, is among the pioneers of the new wave of Irish craft distilleries. Situated along the Wild Atlantic Way in Dingle, it was the first new distillery built in West Ireland in 150 years when distilling began in 2012. In mid-2020, Dingle released its core single malt Irish whiskey release, marking a significant milestone in its history. The whiskey is triple distilled with a 100% malted barley mash bill. It's aged in a combination of 61% Pedro Ximénez (PX) sherry casks and 39% ex-bourbon casks, creating a harmonious blend of rich, sweet, and fruity notes. The whiskey offers a flavorful and complex nose, featuring pine aromas, chalky minerality, charcoal/smoke, pronounced notes of citrus peel, and the typical PX notes of raisin, fig, and date. It's smooth and robust on the palate with an oily, viscous character and a pronounced mouth weight. Showcasing flavors of licorice, candied citrus zest, dark chocolate, dried black fruit, and creamy butterscotch. The finish is long and layered, with lingering notes of dark dried fruit, spice, and a subtle sweetness. The Redbreast Range of Irish Single Pot Irish Whiskeys Photo, courtesy Redbreast/Irish Distillers Ltd Redbreast 15 YO is a premium expression from Midleton Distillery, one of Ireland's most iconic whiskey producers. Redbreast is celebrated for its single pot still Irish whiskey style, which uses a mash bill of malted and unmalted barley, triple-distilled in copper pot stills. The 15-Year-Old expression was first introduced in 2005 as a limited edition for the French market but became a permanent addition to the range due to its popularity. This whiskey is aged in bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks, offering a richer and more complex profile than its younger sibling, the Redbreast 12 YO. Combining bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks creates a harmonious balance of sweetness, spice, and fruit. The whiskey is rich, layered, and aromatic on the nose, showcasing dried fruit notes of raisins, figs, and prunes, sweet notes of honey, caramel, subtle hints of toasted oak, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg spice. A touch of candied citrus zest and floral undertones adds brightness to the aroma. It's robust, flavorful, and silky on the palate, exhibiting flavors of rich dark chocolate, dried fruits, and orange marmalade, balanced by creamy toffee and vanilla. Spicy undertones of clove and black pepper emerge mid-palate, blending with the nuttiness of roasted almonds. A subtle Sherry sweetness and seasoned oak notes provide depth and structure. The finish is exceptionally long and warming, with lingering notes of dried fruit, sweet spice, and oak, and a gentle nuttiness that fades gracefully. These Irish whiskeys are generally available in the US. They can also be ordered directly from the Celtic Whiskey Shop, Ireland's largest whiskey retailer, or The Whisky Exchange. All six whiskies are outstanding and worth trying. If you are a fan of Irish whiskey, or just getting started, you have much to explore here. For more recommendations of top rated Irish Whiskeys see: The World's Best Irish Whiskeys From The World's Top Competitions and The Top Irish Whiskeys According To The 2025 World Whiskey Awards.
Forbes
08-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Six New Gins You Must Try, According To The Whisky Exchange
Five colorful gin tonic cocktails on bar counter. Gin has been one of the fastest growing spirit categories over the last decade. Gin has undergone a renaissance over the last several decades, with an unprecedented increase in aroma and taste profiles. At last count, there were over 6,000 gins available worldwide. Recently, I spoke with Dawn Davies, head buyer at The Whiskey Exchange, the world's largest online spirits vendor, about her best new gin selections. Here are brief descriptions and tasting notes on her top six recommendations. Bordeaux Distilling Co., a contemporary distillery in Bordeaux, France, established in 2018, is known for its innovative approach to spirit production. Botrytis Old Tom Gin, also known as Noble Rot Old Tom Gin, pays homage to the region's renowned Sauterne dessert wines produced by the Botrytis cinerea fungus, commonly known as "noble rot." The gin is crafted using seven aromatic plants, emphasizing green cardamom and jasmine botanicals. True to the Old Tom style, this gin is sweetened, but uniquely, the distillery employs Sauterne wine to impart sweetness. The gin features powerful aromas of white flowers and cardamom on the nose, complemented by subtle hints of fresh citrus. On the palate, the gin presents a harmonious blend of botanical flavors, with green cardamom's spiciness and jasmine's floral notes taking center stage. The sweetness from the Sauterne adds depth and a smooth mouthfeel, enhancing the overall complexity. The finish is long and smooth, with lingering sweet and floral notes gradually fading away. Almqvist Destilleri, a boutique distillery located in the historic village of Rejmyre, Sweden, was founded by Bex Almqvist. She brings over a decade of experience from her tenure at Absolut Vodka. The Nordic Dry Gin is Almqvist's interpretation of the classic London Dry style, infused with distinctive Nordic botanicals to create a unique flavor profile. Distilled in a 110-liter copper pot still, the gin incorporates seven carefully selected botanicals: juniper, lingonberries, coriander seed, orris root, angelica, fennel seed, and meadowsweet. Notably, the gin eschews traditional citrus elements, instead relying on the natural citrus notes derived from coriander seeds. The gin features juniper and fresh floral notes, complemented by subtle hints of fennel and coriander seed. The palate presents a balanced and rounded profile, with the traditional juniper backbone enhanced by the sweetness of lingonberries and fennel. The finish is long and crisp, with lingering notes of meadowsweet and a subtle herbal undertone, leaving a refreshing aftertaste. The gin still at Mousehall Estate Mousehall Country Estate, a family-run distillery in East Sussex, UK, produces Sussex Dry Gin. The estate, first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, was revitalized in 2017 by Gary and Kathy Jordan, owners of Jordan Wine Estate in South Africa, along with their daughter, Christy Jordan. With a background in viticulture, the family transformed the neglected property into a thriving distillery and winery. In 2021, they converted an abandoned barn into their distillery, housing a 400-liter traditional copper pot still named "Amahle," meaning "The Beautiful One. This operation is among the first distilleries within a winery in the UK. Launched in June 2022, the gin is crafted from grape and grain neutral spirits, combined with 13 botanicals reflecting the family's English and South African heritage. The gin includes South African Rooibos and locally grown Sussex coriander seed. The nose displays enticing aromas of juniper, fresh citrus, and floral notes from lavender and Rooibos. It's refreshing and complex on the palate, featuring juniper, zesty citrus, cardamom, and subtle floral undertones. The finish is long and smooth, with lingering hints of cubebs, citrus, and fennel seeds. This distinctive gin, produced by the Holyrood Distillery in Edinburgh, Scotland, is inspired by Arthur's Seat, the prominent hill overlooking the city. "Height of Arrows" is the literal translation of "Àrd-Na-Said," the Gaelic name for this extinct volcano. Standing at 823 feet, Arthur's Seat's height was historically considered the maximum distance an archer could shoot an arrow, hence the name. Holyrood Distillery's gin focuses on highlighting juniper aromas and flavors. A balanced presentation of clean, fresh pine and resin notes and light citrus zest adds depth and complexity. It's oily and mouth-coating on the palate, featuring juniper, orange zest, and lemon pith, followed by bold black pepper and cardamom notes, tempered with a light herbaceous smoothness. The finish is long, smooth, and dry, with effervescent spicy notes. A Refreshing Gin Martini with a Lemon Garnish Seadog is a robust gin from the Southwestern Distillery on the rugged north coast of Cornwall, England. Founded by Tarquin Leadbetter, the distillery is renowned for producing small-batch, artisanal gins that capture the essence of Cornwall's maritime terroir. "The Seadog" adheres to the traditional, 57% ABV, navy strength standard. This gin was awarded "World's Best Gin" at the 2017 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The gin uses 12 botanicals: juniper, coriander seed, angelica root, orris root, green cardamom seeds, cinnamon, bitter almond, licorice root, Violet leaves, and orange, lemon, and grapefruit peel. These botanicals are distilled in small batches using traditional copper pot stills. Fresh, crisp, and vibrant juniper dominates on the nose, complemented by light aromatic spices, orange blossom, and a hint of cardamom. The gin is creamy and dry on the palate, with delicate green pine and subtle frangipane notes, leading to a harmonious blend of citrus zest and exotic spices. The finish is long and crisp, with lingering citrus zest and a touch of spice. Four Pillars is a globally acclaimed distillery founded in 2013 in Healesville, Victoria, Australia. The founders—Cameron Mackenzie, Matt Jones, and Stuart Gregor—set out to create a gin that encapsulates Australian botanicals while paying homage to gin's global heritage. The distillery quickly rose to fame, earning the International Gin Producer of the Year title at the International Wine & Spirit Competition in 2019, 2020, and 2021. The name "Four Pillars" symbolizes the key elements in their gin-making process: a copper still, exceptional botanicals, pure water, and a commitment to craft. Four Pillars uses small copper pot stills, including their iconic "Wilma," to produce their distinctive gins, which showcase a balance of traditional and native Australian botanicals. The gin is bright and fresh, with dominant juniper and citrus notes. It features subtle hints of native Australian botanicals like lemon myrtle, which adds a zesty and herbaceous touch. Spice notes, including coriander seed and cinnamon, add complexity. It's juniper-forward on the palate, but balanced by layers of sweet orange, grapefruit peel, and native pepperberry. It is creamy, with cinnamon and star anise offering a warm and slightly spicy undertone. Using Tasmanian pepperberry adds a unique earthy and spicy depth, distinguishing it from classic London Dry styles. The finish is long, smooth, and clean, with lingering citrus and soft spice. A faint floral note from native lavender enhances the complexity. The Four Pillars Gin Range Four Pillars also produces several exotic gins. These include: Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz Gin: Made with Shiraz grapes, resulting in a rich, fruity, and slightly sweet gin. Four Pillars Olive Leaf Gin: A savory gin with olive and rosemary notes, ideal for martinis. Four Pillars Spiced Negroni Gin: A bold gin crafted to complement the bitter elements of a Negroni cocktail. These gins are all outstanding and will make outstanding Gin & Tonics that are refreshing and aromatic. Garnish them with a slice of citrus to bring out the citric notes or a sprig of rosemary to bring out the more herbaceous notes. A slice of apple or berries will accentuate the fruity notes. The Old Tom Gin is ideal for a Tom Collins or Martinez, while the herbaceous gins are ideal for a Gibson. All of them will work well in a Martini or a Negroni. Some of these gins are already available in the US, others are slated for release later in the year. Those gins unavailable in the US can be ordered via a UK internet vendor like The Whisky Exchange. For other gin recommendations see also The World's Best Gins For The Perfect Gin & Tonic. Cheers
