Walsh Whiskey releases limited-edition The Irishman Founder’s Reserve – Caribbean Cask

Walsh Whiskey Distillery has released the second expression in its limited-edition The Irishman Founder’s Reserve Cask Series.

The super-premium Irishman Founder’s Reserve – Caribbean Cask Finish is a rare vatting of single pot still and single malt whiskeys, finished for six months in Chairman’s Reserve Rum casks from the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia.

Sláinte. Walsh Whiskey Distillery Commercial Director John Kelly presents the limited-edition The Irishman Founder’s Reserve – Caribbean Cask Finish.

The release is limited to 12 casks, with 380 bottles per cask. Each bottle is individually numbered and signed by Walsh Whiskey Founder Bernard Walsh. The new expression is available in seven markets: Ireland (including Dublin Airport), USA, Canada, Russia, Germany, France and The Netherlands.

Bottles can also be purchased by visitors to Walsh Whiskey Distillery at Royal Oak in Ireland.

In recent years, Walsh said he had sourced casks to finish his whiskeys from a range of countries including Spain, France, China, Kentucky and Italy. The Irishman Founder’s Reserve – Caribbean Cask Finish began in 2014 when he visited Saint Lucia. Walsh chose 12 oak casks from rum producer St Lucia Distillers. Walsh aged them in St Lucia Distillers’ Chairman’s Reserve Rum for two years from 2015 before the casks were transported to Ireland in the autumn of 2017 and used to finish a batch of The Irishman Founder’s Reserve.

The new release is limited to 12 casks, 380 bottles per cask, and is available in seven countries.

Walsh Whiskey Distillery Commercial Director John Kelly said: “St Lucia Distillers, who produce Chairman’s Reserve Rum, are renowned as a prestigious operation first established and run by the Barnard family for almost 90 years.

“Bernard was confident that he would be able to select from a high-quality stock of well-cared for casks imbued with a classical rum flavour. This Caribbean Cask Finish release will complement our highly successful The Irishman Founder’s Reserve – Marsala Cask finishes of 2017. We hope the lucky few who secure bottles will enjoy this unique whiskey which is characterised by tropical fruits and spices.”

The Irishman Founder’s Reserve – Caribbean Cask Finish is triple distilled and natural non-chill filtered. With a 46% ABV, the whiskey offers aromas of rum, apricots and summer fruits. Tastes include tropical fruits and spices, with a finish of fig, banana and oak spices.

Earlier this year Walsh Whiskey revealed the 2018 vintage of Writers’ Tears Cask Strength whiskey and The Irishman scooped four awards at the London Spirits Competition.

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