The Irishman Founder's Reserve

The Irishman Founder's Reserve, NAS, 40 %

On Wednesday I wrote about The Irishman Cask Strength, which was a very nice whiskey. I also tasted The Irishman Founder's Reserve at the Cinderella Whisky Fair 2014.

The Irishman Founder's Reserve was previously sold under the name The Irishman 70, and may still be found under this name in some shops with older stock.

This is what The Irishman writes about the Founder's Reserve:

The Founder’s Reserve is a unique take on the old Irish Pot Still Whiskey and is the original and signature blend created by founder Bernard Walsh.

It is a blend of two styles, Single Malt and Single Pot Still. The proportions used are 70 % Single Malt and 30 % Single Pot Still. This is unusual in itself, as it is the only Irish blended whiskey to contain 100 % whiskey distillates from the copper pot still and 0 % Grain or Column still whiskey.

The Irishman Founder's Reserve is available at Vinmonopolet in Norway at NOK 465 (895601), and at Systembolaget in Sweden at SEK 371 (84901).

Nose (21/25): There is a lot of candy on the nose! Very fruity as well. Quite light and enjoyable.

Taste (22/25): Nice! More candy. A mix of different sweet fruits together with some sweet white pepper. Full and rich.

Finish (22/25): In the end there was still the white pepper and the fruitiness. It was full and rich, but also quite light.

Balance (21/25): This was a very good balanced whiskey. The fruit, the candy and the white pepper made a good combination. And I have to admit that this was a very complex and rich whiskey to be bottled at 40 ABV. I usually prefer higher ABV, but this one was really nice.

Score 86/100

- Tone