Two new releases by The Whisky Mercenary will appear in shops around the 9th of May. One of them is a Braeval 1991, the other one this Cooley 1999. Usually something we’re quite fond of.
Cooley 13 yo 1999
(51,4%, The Whisky Mercenary 2013)
Nose: starts a bit fruitier and less peaty than I remember other sibling releases. Melon, citrus (tangerine), red berries. A hint of marshmallows, typical for Irish whiskies. Slightly more waxy than the others. Less peaty means less farmy in this case. Still some mineral / grassy undertones though.
Mouth: medium peat, with plenty of citrus again (lemon, pink grapefruit). A good dose of spices: pepper and ginger, accompanied by salty liquorice. Fades on soft bitter / herbal notes.
Finish: long, slightly zesty, with soft peat.
Compared to the official Connemara (peated Cooley) profile, these casks were probably too soft, too elegant if you like. But we love this balance of fruits and mellow peat. Too bad the farmy notes are a little less pronounced in this case. Around € 80.
Score: 89/100