Connemara 'Turf Mór' Heavily Peated

[TheWhiskeyBro]

In a further exciting development, Cooley will be releasing their first 'heavily' peated whiskey called Connemara 'Turf Mor' (big peat in English!)

It will be a further addition to their 'Limited Edition Small Batch Collection' series.

It comes in a very 'fetching' metal tin. I love the imagery on the packaging.

See a picture here....

http://moodiereport.com/document.php?c_ ... c_id=25040

[John]

Now we're talking
J.

[DavidH]

And the Irish Whiskey Society has an all-peat tasting coming up in October. Fate, I'd call that

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

Yes really looking forward to getting my hands on that ...

I often found that some of the single casks were often lacking in smoke and peat for my tastes in comparison to the Cadenheads bottlings maybe this is the expression that I have been waiting for.

[JohnM]

I think it's coming out after Whisky Live, which is early Sept, I think. I think it's the Glasgow one?

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

Actually does anybody know the ABV of this???? 40 or 46 % hope it the latter like the Sherry finish small batch.

However if there is enough peat evident 40% may suffice

[DavidH]

Sure looks like 46% in the photo.

[PureDrop]

I hope there's a síneadh fada on the "Mór" !

[John]

I was thinking the same thing Michael!! It would be right and proper - as well as making it distinctly Irish

[DavidH]

And one on the Túrf too, just for kicks.

I'll edit the thread title. For anyone who needs a fada on a Windows machine, just hold the Alt Gr key while typing the vowel.

[TheWhiskeyBro]

Thanks for the tip, I will use it from now on, buíochas, maith an fear!

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

Sure looks like 46% in the photo.

Fair play to your eyesight as I still can't make it out ...

And the síneadh fada ...

... let's see if we can spot it ...



... yes I think I can spot in on the tin anyway

[DavidH]

Sure looks like 46% in the photo.

Fair play to your eyesight as I still can't make it out ...

I used the browser zoom on the page. The 70cl and 46% become reasonably clear.

[TheWhiskeyBro]

Yes it is making it's debut at Whisky Live Glasgow on the 11th September 2010

[TheWhiskeyBro]

Cooley confirm Connemara 'Turf Mór' will be available to the UK, Benelux, Germany and Ireland.

http://www.moodiereport.com/document.ph ... c_id=25253

[TheWhiskeyBro]

Somehow I missed this snippet, but on their facebook page Cooley have disclosed the peating level of this their new offering and the fact it will be cask strength,

Islay fans brace yourselves.

"This is the first peek of the newest release from the Connemara Small Batch Collection - Turf Mor. Over 50ppm and at cask strength a true phenolic experience. Being officially released in November."

I'm no expert on scotch but a 50 ppm (parts per million) whiskey is well above most distillery bottlings even from Islay. Can anyone share where this lies in the scale of super peated whiskies. I'd welcome additions to the list below, but on initial inspection I think I will have to taste the Turf Mór head to head with the Ardbeg 10.

Heavily Peated
Lagavulin is in the range 25-30ppm
Laphroaig is typically 35ppm
Bruichladdich Port Charlotte (PC Series) c. 40 ppm
Ardbeg c. 50ppm+
Benriach Curiositas c. 55ppm
Benromach Peat Smoke c. 55ppm

Super Peated Whiskies
Ardbeg Supernova c. 100ppm
Octomore I c. 131ppm
Octomore II c. 167ppm
Octomore III c. 152ppm

[DavidH]

I think we have known this for a long time. During a shortage of peated malt a few years ago Cooley had to buy 58ppm malt and blend it back to 20ppm to make Connemara. They brewed up some of the neat 58ppm stuff on the side to make this Turf Mór we are about to see.

[TheWhiskeyBro]

Yes David you are absolutely spot on but the peating level of the malted barley and the peating level of the matured spirit can be quiet different.

That's why confirmation of 50ppm is exciting. I expect the whiskey will be quiet young.

In relation to peating I think the standard Connemara is around 20ppm whereas the Connemara 12 is much lower.

Finally an early reaction on Facebook from someone who has tasted it is "The Turf Mor is superb and spectacularly smooth."

My tastebuds are whetted...

[DavidH]

I'll bet you they are quoting the peating level of the barley here. It's a mighty coincidence that it has the same value otherwise.

[TheWhiskeyBro]

You could be correct, but who knows 58ppm and over 50ppm could easily be referring to the same thing.

[DavidH]

You could be correct, but who knows 58ppm and over 50ppm could easily be referring to the same thing.

Isn't that what I said?

[TheWhiskeyBro]

Sorry a double something or other there (negative marks for grammar/sentence formulation )

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

The peating levels is on the Malt ... I don't think they can anylise PPM on the actual product ... there is also a theory that it really does not matter how heavily you peat a malt past a certian point as to whether it is going to make any difference or not. Have to go ... will continue this later ...

[JohnM]

There's also other ways to carry more of the ppm all the way to the spirit - in Ardbeg, I think, they leave more of the husk or return husk to the wash. A lot of the ppm is lost during milling, so this brings some of it back.

[IainB]

I'm not entirely sure you could objectively judge how "peaty" something is going to taste by ppm anyway. The peat is just one of many flavour elements- one of the strongest sure - but still only one. You'd need to judge the relative presence of all the other distinctive elements to assess this. I suggest it might be easier to buy a bottle and taste it.