"The whiskey is vivid, but delicate with seamless depth."
Glendalough Mizunara-Finished Irish Whiskey
BOTTLE DETAILS- DISTILLER: Glendalough Distillery
- MASH BILL: 100% malted barley
- AGE: 7 years
- YEAR: 2022
- PROOF: 92 Proof (46% ABV)
- MSRP: $99
PAUL'S REVIEW
SHARE WITH: Anyone who you just shared a meal with—this is essentially a lovely, complex dessert.
WORTH THE PRICE: Honestly, my first reaction was sticker-shock. After tasting it, I take it all back and think this is quite fair.
BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST Given the price, I’d suggest bar first, but if this is within your comfort zone, you’ll probably end up with a bottle.
OVERALL: I had never had anything from Glendalough prior to being sent this review sample. After tasting this, and because it did not disappoint, I will certainly seek out their other offerings to get a better sense of their product line.
With that said, though, this was one of the more complicated, enjoyable drams I’ve tasted this year. Without tasting anything else from Glendalough, I don’t know how much to attribute to the Mizunara finishing versus how much to attribute to their own distillate and the American Oak aging where it spent most of its time.
Despite mentioning my surprise over a 7-year single-malt, I have no trouble endorsing the contents of the bottle. If you’re comfortable with the price of entry, get it. If not, find it at a bar, I would highly suggest enjoying it with (or as) dessert. The flavors are all a bit on the sweet end, but in a way I really enjoyed. I was sad to see the sample bottle empty and I will be searching out more from Glendalough in the future!
BRAND TASTING NOTES
A self-made whiskey drinker, Paul’s journey began with Bourbon: America’s National Spirit. Over a decade later, his shelves now contain whiskies from Canada, Ireland, Scotland, India, and Japan. A life-long educator, what Paul appreciates most about this community is the regular opportunities he has both to teach and to learn while enjoying a drink with new and old friends!
Read Paul's full profile.
About the Author
Concise and honest review. Following your good advice, I think I would like to try a bar-taste first. A very decent Irish whiskey – Jameson, Tullamore Dew or Bushmills, pale pricewise, in comparison to Glendalough. But if it appeals extraordinarily, I fully agree with you, ‘quite fair’. Thanks for the great information!