Today we’re going to Ireland. A new distillery is being set up in county Cork , Southern Ireland by Hibernia distillers. To celebrate the occasion, they sourced Irish single malt from an undisclosed source (Although I’d bet it’s from Cooly distillery), named it Hyde No 1 Presidents Cask to honor Douglas Hyde who was the first president of Ireland.

Hyde 10 yo is a proper Single Malt whisky that was matured in ex-bourbon casks before being finished in a different spirit cask and there are two variants: one finished in a first-fill Oloroso sherry casks which is the reason for the post today and the other variant was finished in rum casks.

Hyde 10yo is a limited edition with only 5,000 bottles available, it’s a non chill-filtered (yay!) and bottled at a respectable 46%.

Hyde 10 Year Old No. 1 Presidents Cask (46%, €69.99)

Nose: Malty and I also banana at first. Spicy but not your usual sherry spices but instead it’s more of the herbal spices side with eucalyptus, a touch of menthol and even a some junipers. The cask finish is noticeable but it’s not up front on the nose. Instead it’s light and it’s like the glass is 1 meter away. There are light dried fruit and cinnamon but after a few minutes it’s getting sweeter, fruit in syrup (like tinned fruit) and more sugary but still maintain that light and far away feeling. Continue reading →