West Cork Distillers in Ontario

[Pudge72]

Hi all,

I noticed these two listings here at the LCBO. Can anybody shed some light on these bottles for me? Thanks in advance!!

McFadden Spirit Drink (odd name...and strangely, but to their credit as I don't think they are required to mention it, it seems that "caramel colorant" is shown directly on the label)
http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/searchResults.do?ITEM_NAME=west+cork&ITEM_NUMBER=&language=EN

Also from the same distillery (seemingly) is West Cork Original Irish Whiskey. It is not officially listed yet, but being advertised, so I can't include a link. The photo I see shows a 700 mL bottle at 40% abv. It trumpets a 'dual wood process', seemingly referring to bourbon and Irish oak. It is marked as 'coming soon' with no listing price showing. The McFadden is selling for $50, same as Jameson Select Reserve...as further reference, Black Bush is $38 and Redbreast 12 is $62.

[DavidH]

Also from the same distillery (seemingly) is West Cork Original Irish Whiskey.

I noticed that on the West Cork website only this week. The description sounds very much like whiskey but one of the graphics there calls it a "spirit drink" and a "fusion of whiskey & malt" which is something they have done with other products, ie. soak malted barley in the spirit to add flavour. Worth a try anyway. I've had a small taste of Lough Hyne and Kennedy and liked them well enough to want to give it a proper sampling.

[Raven]

Also from the same distillery (seemingly) is West Cork Original Irish Whiskey.

I noticed that on the West Cork website only this week. The description sounds very much like whiskey but one of the graphics there calls it a "spirit drink" and a "fusion of whiskey & malt" which is something they have done with other products, ie. soak malted barley in the spirit to add flavour. Worth a try anyway. I've had a small taste of Lough Hyne and Kennedy and liked them well enough to want to give it a proper sampling.

The thread on McFadden Irish Whiskey should be read in conjunction with this thread
as it is very relevant to the debate

[Pudge72]

Also from the same distillery (seemingly) is West Cork Original Irish Whiskey.

I noticed that on the West Cork website only this week. The description sounds very much like whiskey but one of the graphics there calls it a "spirit drink" and a "fusion of whiskey & malt" which is something they have done with other products, ie. soak malted barley in the spirit to add flavour. Worth a try anyway. I've had a small taste of Lough Hyne and Kennedy and liked them well enough to want to give it a proper sampling.

The thread on McFadden Irish Whiskey should be read in conjunction with this thread
as it is very relevant to the debate

Yikes! Thanks for noting the other discussion thread...I was originally only looking at the West Cork Original, but then the McFadden popped up as well on the LCBO website. I will likely be steering clear of both for the foreseeable future. I'd rather go with Bushmills BB and Redbreast 12 any day of the week.

[Good Whiskey Hunting]

Yikes! Thanks for noting the other discussion thread...I was originally only looking at the West Cork Original, but then the McFadden popped up as well on the LCBO website. I will likely be steering clear of both for the foreseeable future. I'd rather go with Bushmills BB and Redbreast 12 any day of the week.

Good thinking. At $50 a bottle it's not a patch on the Black Bush.

The Rebdreast at $62 seems good value. It's over €60 in most places here.

[Pudge72]

The BB and RB12 will be repeat buys, along with Writer's Tears @ $52, at some point. Ideally, I would love to get to Binny's to get Bushmills 21 (US $120) and Powers John's Lane 12 (US $65), though I have no idea when that will actually occur.