McConnell's - Blended Irish Whisky 5 Years Old Olorosso Sherry Cask Finish (750ml)

McConnell’s Sherry Cask Finish is aged for 5 years in 1st fill select Bourbon barrels. It is then finished in the finest Oloroso Sherry Casks which bring out rich aromas of dried figs, dark chocolate and lingering spice.

Nose: Dried figs and currants followed by Christmas spices such as nutmeg and cinnamon, dark chocolate, and a hint of fresh leather.

Taste: Demerara sugar, dark ripe cherries and black raspberry followed by bitter dark chocolate shavings and rich red apples.

Finish: Lingering oak notes, with a hint of leather and subtle clove spice.

ABV: 46%

It all started in 1776, when the McConnell family of Belfast began selling their whisky to the public. It quickly became one of the most sought-after spirits in Ireland, and to keep up with demand, the McConnells built a distillery: a sprawling, buzzing compound on the banks of the River Lagan. The next 154 years would be spent dedicated to a single pursuit: producing the finest whisky in all of Ireland. Many whisky drinkers believed that they achieved their goal, making McConnell’s the most famous Irish whisky of the time.

But what about that “e “? Back in the 1900’s, adding the “e” was a way for Irelands distillers to differentiate themselves, however McConnell’s, already an iconic brand with 125 years of production, decided to keep with tradition – no “e” in whisky, Slainte!

Concentrated caramel leads the nose and palate. Hints of dark chocolate and espresso balance it out, finishing with cayenne pepper tingle. This is a five-year-old whiskey finished in oloroso sherry casks. Kara Newman, 3/1/2023
 

McConnell's was born in 1776 and went dark in the early 1900s following a distillery fire and the advent of Prohibition. In 2020, the brand was resurrected. What's in the bottle is a five-year-old blended whiskey, showing honey and coconut aromas. The palate offers golden raisin, red apple and vanilla, leading into a clove and pepper finish punctuated by a final cigar smoke exhale. Yes, the label says “whisky” without the “e,” defying Irish whiskey convention. Kara Newman, 3/1/2023.

Best Value
McConnell's aims to restore distilling to Belfast one day, and this second release helps to support the cause. There's red grape, cherry, black currant, red apple, fig, aniseed, fresh mint, and herbal aromas. Though the texture on the initial sip feels light, it fills out nicely as it works up impressive sherry notes, whipping up the spices and showing off raisin, bramble, black cherry, clove, and ginger spices. (12,000 bottles). Jonny McCormick, Fall 2022.