Writers Tears debuts single malt

Walsh Whiskey Distillery has released Writers Tears Red Head Single Malt, a limited edition single malt aged in former oloroso Sherry butts.

Following the opening of their distillery at Royal Oak in Ireland’s County Carlow in June, Walsh Whiskey has added its “first major innovation” to the Writers Tears range since the inaugural Cask Strength release back in 2012.

The ruby coloured liquid – and indeed the name – of this particular expression were imparted by the influence of the oloroso butts it was aged in.

The whiskey offers orange peel, dried fruits and sherry plums on the nose, nutty Oloroso, spicy raisins and creamy oak on the palate, with a “long and wonderfully complex” finish that offers ” a flourish of orange”.

Walsh Whiskey Distillery co-founder and chief executive Bernard Walsh said: “We are thrilled with the result of the marriage between our first ever single malt expression of Writers Tears and these precious Oloroso sherry butts.

“The natural interaction and careful ageing between the pot-still spirit, styled in Writers Tears signature fashion in copper pots, as all Irish whiskey was in the golden era of the 1800s, and the Spanish wood contributes to the outstanding quality and distinctive flavours of this sublime single malt.”

Just 12,000 bottles of this limited edition liquid will released to select markets from early September.

The expression is distilled without chill filtering at 46% abv.