Distillery: Sliabh Liag Distillers
Region: Carrick, Co Donegal, Ireland
Aging: No Age Statement
ABV: 46%
Proof: 92
Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley (35% Peated)
Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
MSRP Price: $40
Appearance: Light Honey
Silkie Irish Whiskey Tasting Notes
Nose: Honey, peat, smoke, sweet fruits, pear, apple
Palate: Peat and smoke start off the sip and is followed up by a nice balance of light fruits – apple, citrus, and candied apricot rounded out with a tiny bit of pepper spice
Finish: Medium finish that leaves you with a nice balance of peat and smokiness that leaves a buttery fruit finish with a lingering pepper spice
Is Silkie Irish Whiskey an Approachable Whiskey?
Silkie Irish Whiskey is a very approachable pour. It has a nice bit of peat and smokiness to it in a way that is very inviting to both beginner and experienced whiskey drinkers alike.
Is Silkie Irish Whiskey Complex?
Silkie Irish Whiskey has a few layers of flavor complexity.
It has a clear peat and smoke flavor to it that you will get on the nose and on the palate.
But then it takes a twist into the fruit side where you are met with nice pear, citrus, and apple flavors that really add a nice amount of sweetness that you’ll traditionally find in an Irish Whiskey.
It finishes out with a nice buttery finish due to the non-chill filtering which keeps many of the oils in the alcohol. This results in a nice mouthfeel that I don’t often get in the mid to lower-tier Irish whiskey.
What are Silkie Irish Whiskey’s strongest attributes/flavors?
My favorite attribute of Silkie Irish Whiskey is that I love the sweetness of the Irish Whiskey paired with a bit of peat and smoke. It really reminds me of one of my favorite peat Scotches called “The Big Peat“.
Oftentimes, peat can overwhelm a whiskey and turns a lot of people off.
Whiskeys like this and Big Peat are perfect options to introduce people to peat which has a nice balance of sweetness paired with the peat to create a nice blend of flavors.
*Note: I still love big and bold peaty Scotches, but I’ve been to many parties where you open the bottle and half the crowd just turns and asks you where that smell is coming from.
I also like their marketing. The logo on the bottle is of a mermaid siren and the label has the description:
“The Silkies of the Donegal coast are mythical shapeshifters who shed their sealskin coats to become irresistibly enchanting sea maidens with long dark hair, deep soulful eyes, and beautiful voices.
The Dark Silkie Irish Whiskey is inspired by these legends and is made to be savoured by the warm glow of a turf fire, where stories are told, and legends are born. The comforting smoky aroma of the Dark Silkie Whiskey balances the sweeter notes of pear, apple, and ginger.”
Is Silkie Irish Whiskey a go-to whiskey?
Silkie Irish Whiskey is new in my area (Pennsylvania) and it is a pretty solid go-to.
It’s very easy to drink, has very little heat to it, and is a great balance of sweet and peat smokiness.
I could see myself sipping on this bottle pretty regularly.
Is Silkie Irish Whiskey priced accurately to its quality?
At $40, I think Silkie Irish Whiskey is a great deal. I picked this bottle up because it came in a gift pack that included the bottle, 4 metal shot glasses, and a nice leather case for the shot glasses. I will most certainly use this little shot glass kit on my next camping trip.
Usually, we just end up passing the whiskey flask around or pouring our whiskey out into crappy plastic cups, so this will be an excellent addition to sharing whiskey around the campfire.
Conclusion for Silkie Irish Whiskey
I’m quite impressed with this bottle and am very glad it came in a gift pack to entice me to purchase and sample this one to review for you all. If you are a fan of peat, I’d recommend giving this bottle a try.
And if you don’t know if you like peat or not, this bottle will give you a nice introduction without blasting out your taste buds.
Let Us Know What You Think
I hope you enjoyed this tasting experience with me.
If you decide to give this bottle a shot, please let me know on social media via Reddit, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
Thanks for reading and cheers!
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