Clonakilty Irish Whiskey Finished In Pelican Brewing Stout Barrels represents a $69.95 proposition in the evolving Irish whiskey landscape.
Crisp bitter alcohol esters, which melt into banana bread, walnuts, and wildflowers. Warm with a smooth taste, the whiskey benefits mightily from the stout and ex-rye cask in this case. I think Pelican and Clonakilty make a good team with this one. I believe using an Imperial Stout vs a fruitier beer paid dividends. Although this whiskey is good, Im unable to separate it from the crowd of other good whiskey/beer combinations. The spunk of Irish whiskey certainly helps, but it still comes across too young. I am clearly drinking two different drinks working independently but achieving a similar goal, where they should be working in tandem. I think this collaboration, with a touch more time, could be something really remarkable in the near future. Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by Whiskeyful or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.
Verdict
Clonakilty Irish Whiskey Finished In Pelican Brewing Stout Barrels represents solid craftsmanship at $69.95. While it may not redefine expectations, it offers genuine quality and reliable drinking pleasure.
