Thought peat was all about Islay? Think (or perhaps that should be 'drink') again. All Islay fans owe it to themselves to check out Connemara from the splendid Cooley distillery. Web-Exclusive Price!
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Honey and lemon, green grapes, skin cream/lotion. Very fresh on the nose. The peat is in there, but it is all so perfumed, estery, and free of the associations that often appear with peat smoke that it could go unnoticed. Apple crumble, margarine, and a touch of animal hide.
Okay, well the smoke will not go unnoticed on the palate, but it is so clean, and surrounded by floral sweetness, that to compare it to a Scottish whisky would not quite be fair (to either). Peated barley at the heart of the flavours, grassy, and increasingly drying. Oak and almonds.
SUMMARY:
A unique peated whiskey experience. Very drinkable, even quaff-able, with sweetness, and an interesting summer weeds type of presence. And plenty of peat, but don't expect a peat beast; this is driving-through-the-country window-seat-peat.
[These tasting notes are reproduced from drwhisky.blogspot.com]
Producer's Tasting Notes
Colour: Lightly golden
Nose: Smokey peatiness balanced by heather floralness with hints of honey and oak.
Taste: Silky smooth with a honey sweet start, followed by more complex aromas of malt and fruit giving way to the intensifying full bodied peat. A well-balanced yet complex taste with vanilla oak notes.
Finish: A long and glorious finish with golden honey notes and deep peat spreading across the mouth and palate. Hints of chocolate vanilla and oak leave a mouth-watering taste!
Serving Suggestions: Connemara can be enjoyed neat or with a little water to release the bouquet.
Customer Reviews:
i was introduced to peaty islay whiskies 20 years ago by a friend who cherished lagavulin, although i favour laphroaig. i have a bottle from each of the operating islay distilleries...plus a bottle of connemara, which IMHO stands its ground very well. i'm irish by birth and i also have a bottle of 10yo bush on the go, but connemara is an acceptable, affordable and readily available peaty malt (very few islays make it across the water).
- Joe Crow, 14th Dec '11
Great peat and taste is not too strong fabulous !
- JJF, 3rd Dec '11
this is the one and only irish peated whiskey,there's only one 1 non multi national company and this is from the country that invented the bloody stuff hope to see many more irish peated whiskeys
- bobby, 20th Oct '11
I decided to try this one for a change from my regular Islay and was pleasently surprised. Don't get me wrong, Connemara is no Islay but nor does it claim to be. This whiskey stands alone for what it is, a good and sound example of a peated Irish single malt. Does it change my preference for a good Islay dram? No. But I definately would buy this again. For me... 7.5/10.
- Jim, 18th Oct '11
This whisky has a sweet and inviting nose with peat hints. The body is sweet, smooth, peaty and mouth-coating. The pleasant finish fades away quite quickly.The flavour seems like a hybrid of the classic Irish whisky taste: very smooth, sweet, floral and with a waxy mouth feel and the aggressive peatyness of Islay, both of which I like. While the result is interesting, I do not think it compares well to the best Irish or Islay whiskies.
- Danny Hughes, 24th Apr '11
Disappointed - found this rather medicinal - not a patch on the Islay
- Keith Appleyard, 9th Mar '11
I have never tasted anything quite like this before. Potent sweet and yes peaty like the smell of Ireland down the country. Introduced by Mr John Cochrane who found it in a specialist shop in Dublin. Will definitely invest in a bottle.
- Aidan O'Rourke, 19th Feb '11
Bit too much thin and light first bite for myself. Peaty kick back is nice but I'm missing the more thick and plentiful first taste. Each on his own way.
- Jukka, Finland, 19th Jan '11
This is a treat for Islay man like me. Nice, warm, smooth peat palate. Amazing nose and long peaty, mineral finish. Siiiilent kille'r :)
- Mikko, 14th Aug '10
The only whiskey I've tasted in 55 yrs of tasting that might lead me to dependence.
- Donald Holliday, 3rd Mar '10
A must to everyone who loves peated whiskies from Islay. It really changed my belief that good peated whisky can be found on Scotland only.
- Povilas Safranauskas, 17th Dec '09
A very nice smooth whiskey that is not too powerfull. To the 'why not just buy an Islay?' comment. I can only suggest that if a person finds the Islay whiskies too peaty or smoky this is the perfect answer. The smoke is just on the edge of an otherwise smooth whiskey, and it doesn't over power afterwards, like some of the Islay's do. If you want a smooth Irish whiskey with a pleasant, light smoky flavour that doesn't over stay its welcome, this is a good one to try.
- anonymous, 18th Nov '09
I was introduced to this incredible whiskey when in Dublin recently. Just at the edge of it's nose is the scent of peat smoke in the Irish air I so keenly recall from 40 years ago. A deep, smooth taste. Thank you!
- Hugh Barrett, 9th Oct '09
I bought 2 bottles of this at Gatwick Airport. Its probably the finest Single Malt i have tasted! Trying hard to find a supplier in Wales.
- Neale Walker, 30th Sep '09
Very nice whiskey, smooth and very flavoursome.
- anonymous, 15th Sep '09
I got this whiskey as a present, and it is one of the nicest I have ever tasted. I love scotch, but this is something else. I will be drinking this again
- John P Kane (Falkirk), 5th Jun '09
I have never tasted any whiskey that would compare with ( Connemara Peated Single Malt ) Now I must get the twelve year old; The reports are so high that it has got to be YES
- Leo P> Boyle, 16th Apr '09
Very good peat in the nose and in the taste also, not too strong, smooth and sweet. Finish longlasting peatness.
- jr, finland, 18th Oct '08
This is a gift whiskey for 'people with Irish roots.' Why not just buy an Islay?
- anonymous, 19th Jul '08
I love the flavor of the peat!
- anonymous, 28th Dec '06
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