Tyrconnell Ex-Bourbon Casks Single Malt Irish Whiskey 750ml

The Tyrconnell takes its name from a chestnut racehorse that stunned bettors by winning the National Produce Stakes in 1876 at odds of 100 to 1, an upset that so impressed distiller Andrew Alexander Watt that he named a whiskey after the horse. It became one of the best-selling whiskeys in pre-Prohibition America before Watt's distillery closed in 1925, and the brand lay dormant until John Teeling acquired it along with the Cooley Distillery in 1988. The Tyrconnell returned in 1993 as a non-age-statement single malt, and today it is produced at Cooley in County Louth under Beam Suntory ownership.

What sets Tyrconnell apart from most Irish whiskeys is Cooley's choice to double distill rather than triple distill, a departure the distillery adopted deliberately to differentiate itself from Bushmills and Midleton. This ex-Bourbon Casks expression is made from 100% malted Irish barley and matures exclusively in American ex-bourbon barrels, without any secondary cask finish, letting the character of the malt and the bourbon wood come through cleanly. It is part of a wider Tyrconnell range that includes additional expressions finished in port, sherry, and Madeira casks.

The nose offers lemon and citrus alongside soft bread notes typical of Cooley's malt character, developing into honey, vanilla, and light toast on the palate. A subtle sweetness carries through to a finish marked by gentle oak.