The Dram Club - October 2022
We’re taking a quick trip over to Ireland to experience a rising star in the craft distilling scene with this unique Mizunara cask-finished single malt from Glendalough Distillery!
GLENDALOUGH
MIZUNARA - FINISHED
SEVEN YEAR SINGLE MALT
DISTILLERY: Glendalough
MASH BILL: 100% malted barley
MATURING: aged seven years in first-fill ex-bourbon casks; finished in 70% virgin (30% used) Mizunara casks
NOSE: vibrant, fruity and floral
PALATE: round and smooth with chocolate orange, sandalwood, and cinnamon
FINISH: long finish with toasted oak and oriental spice
ALSO CHECK OUT: Glendalough makes a fantastic gin with locally-foraged botanicals!
About Glendalough Distillery
Glendalough Distillery (pronounced “glen-da-low” or “glen-da-loch;” it depends on the Irish’s humour at the moment and whichever a silly American tourist says first) started as a passion project between five friends with a desire to rejuvenate the craft distilling culture of their country. They settled on the idyllic, picturesque Glendalough, or “glen of two lakes” just south of Dublin, one of the most traveled to sites in all of Ireland. The site is well-known for its 6th century monastic ruins founded by Saint Kevin. The story of Saint Kevin speaks through not only their labels but their philosophy as well. St. Kevin disappeared into the mountains for seven years to become one with nature. He would stand, arms outstretched and half-submerged in the waters to pray. One day, a blackbird came and laid her eggs on his hand, so he held vigil until they hatched. He later built his “City of Seven Churches” that still stands today. Their standard single malt is aged seven years, a number important not only to Saint Kevin and the Catholic religion but to Celtic mythology as well.
Why We are Excited about this Dram
While the Dram Club focuses on Single Malt Scotch, we have on occasion dipped into peripherals such as Japanese and Irish Whiskies, and this pour couldn’t be more prudent. The whiskey begins like most Irish single malts: 100% barley triple distilled and aged in ex-bourbon barrels (all sourced proudly from Missouri!). The whiskey is aged for seven years before being finished in rare Mizunara casks – you may have heard of these from our Japanese whiskey releases. Mizunara is a rare oak of unique qualities found in Japan. It takes over 200 years for the trees to mature (even longer than French Oak), yet the wood is even more porous than American White Oak. Even the most ardent Cask-strength Bourbon fanatics would be overpowered by the intense brashness should a spirit be aged in entirely new Mizunara casks (Glendalough finishes this bottle in only 70% virgin barrels for a mere 4 months). This unique oak lends intense coconut and incense notes to the whiskey which become more pronounced as you sit with the dram. I have been excited by Glendalough for years now: their gin is aromatized with forage local herbs and is simply exquisite. Even their entry-tier whiskey offers plenty during a nosing. This lovely extra-matured bottle will make a proud presentation when entertaining even the most ardent Scotch Single Malt companions.
Slainte!
Care to read more about Glendalough 7-Year Mizunara Finished Single Malt? Check out the InsideHook review HERE.