Connemara 22 YO

Connemara 22 YO, 46 %

Connemara is one of the brands produced at Cooley Distillery, owned by the Kilbeggan Distilling Company. It is not very often we get our hands on Irish whiskey here at Whisky Saga HQ, and especially such old whiskey as this one.

Cooley Distillery started production in 1987, making this whiskey one of the oldest ones produced there. The Connemara 22 YO was released in the Autumn of 2014. It has been matured exclusively in 1st fill bourbon barrels.

Connemara is peated Irish whiskey, which is quite rare. We have previously reviewed Peated Single Malt and Turf Mor whiskey from Connemara.

The Connemara 22 YO is available to buy online at around GBP 120.

Nose (22/25): Wood smoke, oak and vanilla. Soft and appealing nose. Apples come to mind as well. The peat level is rather soft, and not dominating in any way.

Taste (22/25): Burnt caramel, peat, wood smoke, ashes, oak and ginger. Fizzy and a bit chewy mouthfeel. Honey and caramel sauce poured over canned pears and apples. Again rather soft on the peat. It is nothing like the very peated Turf Mor.

Finish (21/25): Medium length and rather cool finish. The caramel, ginger and thick wood smoke dominate all the way, although there is a hint of fruitiness.

Balance (22/25): A very nice, old Irish whiskey. There certainly is a lot of great whiskey being produced at Cooley Distillery.

Score (87/100)

Image from Celtic Whiskey Shop.

Sláinte! - Thomas