Three Drinkers release Irish whiskey

Aidy Smith and Helena Nicklin, executive producers and presenters of Amazon Prime’s drinks travel show The Three Drinkers in Ireland, have launched a red wine cask-finished Irish whiskey.

The Three Drinkers has collaborated with Sliabh Liag Distillers to produce the limited edition Irish whiskey, which will launch ‘just in time for St Patrick’s Day’ on 17 March.

Sliabh Liag is considered to be one of Irelands ‘new wave distillers’, and is a partner distillery for the show.

The team wanted to create a spirit that showcased the ‘historic, subtly smoky style’ of Irish whiskey, while maintaining some classic fruitiness and adding their own fingerprint as lovers of fine wine.

“We always had the idea to create a product for every Three Drinkers series we produce,” said Smith.

“Meeting James and Moira [Doherty], founders of Sliabh Liag Distillers, in episode two of our Ireland show and seeing the amazing work they’d done with wine finishes before, confirmed that they would be the perfect partner to create our own version – and we love the result.

“Whether sipping neat or creating some signature cocktail serves, it offers the best of both worlds.”

The Three Drinkers Limited Edition Red Silkie Irish Whiskey hails from County Donegal on Ireland’s Atlantic coast, and is finished in red Pomerol wine barrels sourced from acclaimed producer Clos L’Eglise in Bordeaux.

“This whiskey is gorgeously rich and velvety,” added Nicklin. “James and Moira have captured that wonderful balance of dried fruit spice and moreish salinity topped off with deliciously complex, ripe, red fruit flavours coming from the wine casks. It’s so approachable and easy-drinking, yet with such elegant complexity, you could sit with it for hours.”

The whiskey is presented with a rose gold-to-amber colour. It it described as ‘unctuously rich and velvety’, and balances intense notes of ripe red fruits, candied orange peel and tarte-tatin with pipe tobacco, liquorice and ‘a dollop of lightly smoky, salted caramel’.

It is said to be approachable but complex enough to sit with over time, and a pleasure for ‘whiskey newbies and aficionados alike’.

“We’re absolutely delighted with how this whiskey has turned out,” said James Doherty.

“Our Silkie with its subtle hint of smoke, takes a finish really well and the Pomerol casks have given a remarkable sweet, spicy and floral overlay to the Legendary Silkie. I’d even go so far as to say that it’s the most successful red wine finish yet.”

This is the second product from The Three Drinkers, who launched a 17-year-old blended Scotch whisky to celebrate their first show, The Three Drinkers do Scotch Whisky, and which sold out within a couple of days.

A limited run of Red Silkie, The Three Drinkers Edition, is available for pre-order now on the Sliabh Liag website, priced at RRP £49.99 (US$60.67).

Soon after, it will also be available to purchase from Amazon.

The duo have confirmed that £1 from every bottle sold will go towards supporting mental health charity My Black Dog.

The Three Drinkers in Ireland won the Cultural Contribution to the Spirits Industry award at the 2022 Spirits Business Awards.