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Connemara Cask Strength

Utterly Unique

0 692

@dbkReview by @dbk

30th Oct 2010

0

Connemara Cask Strength
  • Nose
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  • Taste
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  • Finish
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  • Overall
    92

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Connemara is one of two Cooley-owned brands of single malt Irish whiskeys (the other being The Tyrconnell). Unlike The Tyrconnell—or most other Irish whiskeys, for that matter—Connemara is peated. This, however, is but the least of the features marking Connemara Cask Strength Peated Single Malt as a special dram.

The nose is utterly unique. Up front is a symphonic mélange of sweet coconut and fresh banana, taking the shape of a delectable, sticky glaze poured over hot cinnamon rolls. Only beneath all of this will you find just a hint of light, clean peat.

The palate is perfectly suggested by the nose, again with fresh banana and coconut, forming a sort of candy shell over pastry. There is also crème brulée and saltwater taffy. The peat gently, but more noticeably, circles about. There is the distinct flavour—and sensation—of a marshmallow opening on the finish, growing steadily over the exhale. It is a beautifully complex dram, and the sweet, banana-coconut-marshmallow-and-peat finish seems to linger for hours.

The body is slightly oily and light, yet rich and creamy. The legs descend thick and slow down the sides of the glass.

This is one of the first whiskies that I have ever truly loved. Having tasted it the night I brought it home, I went straight back to the store the following morning to purchase a second bottle. That first bottle is now but a distant memory, and I am well into the second one. This whiskey does not ask for your attention, but rather steals it. I, for one, am captivated.

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6 comments

@monty
monty commented

Superb review DBK, I could not agree more !!

I would be really quite interested to try the new heavy peated expression which I understand is coming out soon.

14 years ago 0

@dbk
dbk commented

That's exciting news, @monty! Thanks to your information, I looked up the Connemara Turf Mór, and it sounds quite interesting. I hope a bottle comes my way.

14 years ago 0

@OJK
OJK commented

Hi @Monty and @dbk - I agree, fantastic review, and very much one of my favourite whiskies out there. I did however have the pleasure of trying the new Turf Mor version at The Whisky Show, and I can tell you it raises the bar even higher. Without question one of the best drams on offer at the show, ultra premium aged Scotches included. As soon as it's released it's a must-buy.

14 years ago 0

@dbk
dbk commented

That sounds like one hell of a dram, @OJK! I'm going to have to try really hard to get my mitts on that one...

14 years ago 0

O
OldJas commented

Nice, nice, nice review.

I always thought the cask strength was unavailable -- or at least rare -- in the US, but I just saw it for the first time in Rockford, IL at the steal-of-a-price $48. That's just a few bucks more than the price the regular Connemara has risen to. I'm very tempted to stock up.

Anyway, I took my first taste last night and found it dense and very promising. I'll keep these nice notes in mind as I dig into the rest of the bottle.

11 years ago 0

@dbk
dbk commented

Thanks for the compliments, @OldJas! I hope you enjoy the whiskey as much as you did the review. ;)

I featured the Connemara Turf Mór at a recent tasting. It's basically a highly peated version of the Cask Strength—every bit as spectacular, but with some additional dimensions that have to be tasted to be believed. I'm very, very impressed with Connemara.

11 years ago 0