Irish tasting with Larkfire

@Larkfire Water have been running a series of tastings with invites going out to those subscribed to their newsletter, I was lucky enough to be selected to the last one a tasting in The Irish Snug!

We got to try 3 Irish whiskies: @BushmillsUK10yo, @TullamoreDEW 12yo and @Redbreast_US 12yo - first neat and then with a little Larkfire Water.

Larkfire have been around since 2018, canning their wild water from the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. Their pure soft water untainted by minerals, is very different from tap water and when mixed with whisky there is what they call a pure harmony:

"An alchemy of sorts. Two unique liquids combining to improve and aid the enjoyment of whisky. But whilst some waters dilute or mask the flavour, Larkfire penetrates the heart of the whisky to unlock its hidden complexities."

Their water is drawn from sources owned by The Stornoway Trust, Scotland’s oldest community landlord, gifted by Lord Leverhulme and created by Deed of Trust in 1923. Its role is the stewardship of a 69,000-acre estate which is home to almost 11,000 people. 

The samples arrived and an invite to a zoom session.

After an intro from Mitch Bechard, Seamus Lowry from Bushmills took us through a tasting of their 10yo, then John Quinn from Tullamore DEW told us about their 12yo and finally Gerard Garland from Irish Distillers took us through a tasting of their Redbreast 12yo.

My brief thoughts: 

Bushmills 10yo

Nose: orchard fruit - pears, apples, apricots, mint leaves, milk chocolate, icing sugar

Palate: super smooth arrival, a little peppery spice. orchard fruit have been stewed, cored, filled with dried fruit and had syrup poured over the top. some milk chocolate notes - nice! 

Bushmills 10yo with Larkfire

Nose: chocolate and fruit notes are enhanced, a hint of smoke maybe?

Palate: enhances the sweetness, syrup turns to honey, fruit turns dry - apricots and kiwi?

Tullamore DEW 12yo

Nose: Marzipan notes - icing sugar and almonds, dried fruit, lemon zest and a lovely peppery spice

Palate: smooth fruity arrival - tropical even, with a peppery spice bite - pears, strawberry, dried pineapple. Very drying icing sugar notes, vanilla, a hint of coconut and milk chocolate - Bounty?

Tullamore DEW 12yo with Larkfire

Nose: brings out the almond notes and fruit, again a hint of smoke and a more milk chocolate

Palate: tropical notes brought to the fore, like the nose the milk chocolate notes are enhanced - lovely!

Redbreast 12yo

Nose: Strawberry jam, musty old bookshop, vanilla custard. Peppery spice, dried fruit, figs and a little dark chocolate.

Palate: Thick creamy arrival, a little sweet orchard fruit. Some strawberry jam notes and there is a little drying vanilla with a gentle peppery spice.

Redbreast 12yo with Larkfire

Nose: brings out a little fruit, some honey and vanilla notes

Palate: brings some sweetness and adds to the spice notes.

Many thanks to the distilleries for the samples and Larkfire for their water and for organising a great tasting. You can read their write-up here!

Seamus, John & Gerard