Like sprouting shamrock in the springtime, Irish Whiskey brands emerge into the light of March as sure as, well, St. Patrick’s Day.
After a two year hiatus due to the pandemic the New York Irish Whiskey Festival makes its return on Saturday, March 12.
The festival, according to a release from organizers, gives Irish whiskey “the moment it deserves” by offering consumers a unique chance ”to further explore the dynamic, growing category and Irish culture in a lively, contemporary atmosphere.”
Added the release: “In partnership with world-class Irish Whiskey experts, Sean Muldoon and Jack McGarry of The Dead Rabbit, the festival not only showcases bigger brands such as Bushmills, Powers, Teeling and Glendalough, but provides an opportunity for lesser known brands to step into the spotlight and introduce themselves to a young, engaged audience.
The festival is set for The View at Battery Park on the 12th. Tickets for daytime and evening sessions can be purchased for $75 from Ticket Tailor.
“With live Irish music, bites and over 25 plus Irish whiskey brands, this is the perfect way to gear up for St. Patrick's Day and celebrate the overall growth of the category.
With regard to the aforementioned Teeling Whiskey, the company has greeted the year’s third month with what it call “the fifth and final bottling of ‘The Renaissance:’ a limited edition award-winning series of unique 18-Year-Old Irish Single Malts.’
Said a release: “The series, launched in 2019, was created to celebrate the true global Renaissance of Teeling, Dublin and Irish whiskey as it continues to be the fastest growing Premium Spirit in the world, supported by the vibrancy from the many new entrants to the category.
“The Renaissance Series fifth bottling follows the first four award-winning releases all of which have been honored as some of the best Irish Single Malt whiskeys of recent years.
“The Renaissance Series has been a key part of Teeling Whiskey’s range of award-winning Irish whiskeys, which have collected over 350 international awards over the last nine years, including the title of ‘World’s Best Single Malt’ at the 2019 World Whiskies Awards and four ‘World’s Best Irish Whiskey’ honours at the 2021 World Whiskies Awards.
“The fifth bottling of The Renaissance Series consists of 18-Year-Old Single Malt that was aged initially in ex-Bourbon barrels for over 12 years before being finished in high quality, ex-Calvados casks for over 6 years. This dual maturation and, in particular long finishing time in the Calvados casks, imparts a beautiful depth of cinnamon and caramelised apple character, with dried cherries and woody tannin notes. Limited to just 9,000 bottles, the resulting Single Malt is then bottled at 46% with no chill filtration, a signature of all Teeling Whiskeys.”
John Teeling, founder and managing director of Teeling Whiskey stated: “Like all good things, the Renaissance Series must come to an end. These limited edition Teeling Whiskeys really lived up to their name, as they have been enjoyed and celebrated all over the world.
“For the final release we have hand selected some of our very best 18-Year-Old Single Malt to make sure we end this award-winning series on a high note. We can end this series knowing that the Renaissance of Dublin as the epicenter for world-class, city based whiskey distillation is now firmly re-established with our Dublin distilled Irish whiskey now being celebrated and enjoyed around the world.” More at www.teelingwhiskey.com.
Not to be outdone by anyone, Bushmills is also releasing a new offering.
Bushmills describes it latest offering as “an expertly crafted Irish malt that celebrates the marriage of two single malts matured for at least 11 years in hand-selected Oloroso sherry and bourbon barrels, then finished in Marsala wine casks. Bushmills 12 Year Old comes to the U.S. market under the care of Bushmills’ recently appointed Master Blender, Alex Thomas, and is the first expression to officially debut the brands’ new, elevated bottle and packaging for their award-winning single malts.
“As Irish whiskey fans across the U.S. look to trade up from blended whiskeys and crave more interesting premium offerings, Bushmills’ unmatched history of whiskey-making experience stands out. With over 400 years of expertise, no other distillery in Ireland has the same stock of malts with unique age statements, rare cask types and finishes as the Old Bushmills Distillery.”
With regard to Master Blender Thomas the release adds: Having first joined the esteemed distillery in 2004, Alex Thomas has spent over 17 years honing her craft before assuming the role of Bushmills’ Master Blender.
“She will be responsible for nurturing the Bushmills Irish Whiskey portfolio of aged single malts, spearheading product development and working alongside longtime colleague Master Distiller, Colum Egan.”
Said Thomas: “The Old Bushmills Distillery holds a very special place in the history of Irish single malt and the whiskey category as a whole, and it is a true privilege to be appointed as Master Blender,''
“Bushmills 12 Year Old is an exceptional malt that speaks to our rich brand history and expertise, and I am thrilled that it will be released to the United States for the first time while under my care as Master Blender.”
Concluded the release: “Like all Bushmills whiskey, the 12 Year Old is made from 100% unpeated malted barley, the freshest spring water from the River Bush and is triple distilled in small batches in traditional copper pot stills for smoothness.
“The distillate distinguishes itself after the marrying of two whiskeys that have aged minimally 11 years – one in Oloroso sherry butts and the other in bourbon barrels. To complete the process, fortified Marsala barriques from Sicily are used for 6-9 months as an intriguing finish to the whiskey, layering on extra flavors of ripe spiced fruit, sweet notes of brown sugar, and a delicate toasted nut character.”
And after all that, of course, the precious liquid ends up in a bottle; but not any old bottle
“Bushmills 12 Year Old marks the debut of an exquisite, decanter-style bottle and elevated packaging.” More at www.bushmills.com.
Meanwhile, the lesser known but up and coming brands that will be featured in the New York Whiskey Festival include The Sexton Single Malt, Roe & Co, Shanky's Whip, West Cork, West Cork Distillers and Lost Irish.
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