Writers’ Tears Double Oak Makes Whisky Advocate Top Ten
Writers’ Tears Double Oak Named as Only Irish Whiskey in Whisky Advocate Top 10 Global List of Whiskeys Released in 2019
A few months ago I reviewed the a new Writers’ Tears expression from Walsh Whiskey in Carlow. Writers’ Tears Double Oak is finished in both American Oak and French Oak casks and is the third expression of the core portfolio of Walsh Whiskey. Walsh Whiskey established a close collaboration with the Legaret Family in Cognac, France to secure casks for the “Champagne Blend” of Single Malt and Single Pot Still Irish Whiskeys in Double Oak.
The use of French oak casks in the maturation of Irish whiskey was widespread through the 17th and 18th centuries. This would have changed in the 19th century, with the arrival of more affordable and larger quantities of American oak casks because of the surge in exports of Irish whiskey at the time. This gave rise to a unique blend of both French and American Oak casks being used to mature Irish whiskeys. The resultant blends gave a French nuanced twist to the flavour profile of Irish Pot Still and Malt Whiskeys.
American oak contributes bolder flavours with more sweet and vanilla overtones due to the presence of more lactones in the wood. The French oak, on the other hand, generates silky tannins yielding a light sweetness combined with fruity flavours, that linger in the finish.
Whiskey Advocate, which is one of America’s leading whiskey websites, has just named Writers’ Tear Double Oak as one of its Whisky Advocate “Top Ten” Global Whisk(e)y releases for 2019. It was the only Irish Whiskey to make the top ten this year. No Irish Whiskey made the top ten last year.
Here’s the official Press Release from Walsh Whiskey.
Writers’ Tears Double Oak Named as Only Irish Whiskey in Top 10 Global List of Whiskeys Released in 2019
Carlow, Ireland – 2nd December 2019: Writers’ Tears Double Oak was first released, by Walsh Whiskey, in May 2019 and has already turned heads, especially in the United States – the world’s largest market for whiskey where 50% of all Irish whiskey is sold. Today Writers’ Tears Double Oak has been confirmed in the United States as the only Irish whiskey to make the elite Whisky Advocate listing of the Top 10 World Whiskey Releases of 2019. The other 9 included 4 Bourbon expressions, 4 Scotch and a Tennessee whiskey.
Writing for Whisky Advocate, Jonny McCormick’s citation for Writers’ Tears Double Oak reads:
“Walsh Whiskey has rarely released better whiskeys than those of 2019, which included two expressions made in collaboration with the Legaret family of Deau Cognac. Here, they apply bourbon and French oak cognac barrels to the unique marriage of single pot still and single malt Irish whiskeys, arguably the most premium interpretation of the Irish blend. Aromas of dark berry fruit, cinnamon, fudge, milk chocolate, graham crackers, jellied fruit, and a smudge of dry spices. Compelling, well-structured whiskey with cinnamon, chocolate, dark toffee, pepper, and ginger; never cloying, nor overly sweet, just a richly rewarding glass.”
Bernard Walsh, Chief Executive and co-founder of Walsh Whiskey said:
“This is high praise for our new core expression in the Writers’ Tears stable. It caps a great year for us which saw The Irishman Single Malt Single Cask 17 Year Old named Irish whiskey of the year, and when we loaned Martin Scorsese our logo to help him make his movie!”
Earlier this year, Writers’ Tears scored a double coup when the range was the only one in the world to have two expressions included in the Whisky Advocate list of highest-scoring 21 whiskeys reviewed out of 150 this Fall/Autumn. Writers’ Tears Double Oak and Writers’ Tears Cask Strength (2019) were the only Irish whiskeys to make that list.
Writers’ Tears Double Oak, is the third core expression in the Writers’ Tears range which includes the Copper Pot and Cask Strength versions. The wider Walsh Whiskey portfolio comprises of 16 expressions in the extended Writers’ Tears and The Irishman ranges.
Summary of Writers’ Tears Double Oak
- An exclusive Irish whiskey created using two woods and two styles of premium Irish whiskey
- Aged and Matured in
- American Oak Bourbon Casks from Kentucky
- French Oak Casks from Cognac.
- A unique marriage of aged
- Single Malt Irish Whiskey
- Single Pot Still Irish whiskey
- 46% ABV
- Triple Distilled – The Irish Way
- Distilled using 100% Barley – The Only Way
- Non Chill Filtered – The Natural Way
- The RRP is €55 Ireland / $64.99 USA.
Stuart McNamara (@WhiskeyBlogger) is an international Whiskey Blogger who edits several International Whisk(e)y and Whiskey Tourism sites including IrishWhiskey.com and WhiskeyBlogger.com. He is Chair of the Irish Craft And Artisan Distilleries Association (ICADA) and is an elected member of the National Council of ISME, the Irish SME Association. He is also the creator and editor of International Irish Whiskey Day which is celebrated on 3/3 or 3rd March each year and had a global social media reach in 2021 of over 20 Million. He is a Director of Portmagee Whiskey and has also acted as both a brand and product development consultant to several other Irish Whiskey and other spirits producers.
