Greenore Single Grain Irish 8 Year Whiskey
Photo courtesy of Cooley Distillery
Distiller Details
Cooley Distillery
Riverstown, Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland
Website Facebook TwitterAwards & Recognition
- 2010 Best Single Grain - World Whiskies Awards
- 2010 Gold Medal - International Wine and Spirits Competition
THL: What is it?
If there were such a thing, Greenore Irish Whiskey would be considered Irish bourbon.
THL: Why should you try it?
Greenore Irish Whiskey is made from 93% corn that is imported from France because the rough climate of Ireland is not well suited for growing corn. Malted barley makes up the rest of the mix, and the resulting hooch is aged in first-use bourbon barrels. Most blended Irish whiskeys are comprised of some whiskey that has been distilled in a copper pot still, which adds a bit more weight to the final product. Greenore uses a column still for the entire process, resulting in a more delicate and soft whiskey perfect for sipping neat or with an ice cube or two.
THL: Who makes it?
Connemara Peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey comes from the Cooley Distillery, which was founded in 1987 to resurrect some of the Irish whiskey brands that were no longer being produced at the time. Irish whiskey was reduced to a single company in the early 1970s, Bushmills. Cooley founder John Teeling acquired some old Irish whiskey brands and began to revive production. The Cooley Distillery also produces Connemara Peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey, Connemara 12 Year Old, Connemara Cask Strength, Michael Collins Irish Whiskey, Michael Collins 10 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey, Greenore Single Grain Irish Whiskey, and Kilbeggan Whiskey.
THL: What does it taste like?
Overall the whiskey is light, but the aftertaste has an incense-like spicy finish of cloves and allspice like the welcoming warmth and solace of an Irish bakery on a rainy afternoon.
THL: How should you drink it?
Like many Irish Whiskeys, this spirit is easy to drink neat or on the rocks.
This smooth spirit goes well, too, with a smooth cocktail like the Ward 8.
