This unique blend of New and Old World whiskies is the brainchild of Keeper’s Heart founder David Perkins, who also founded High West Distillery, and his master distiller and blender, Brian Nation, who previously was head distiller at Midleton Distillery and worked on Jameson and Redbreast Irish whiskies. Keeper’s Heart is produced at their O’Shaughnessy Distilling Co. in Minnesota. Though their base distillates are presently sourced, the distillery is moving toward distilling and releasing their own whiskies in the near future.
Keeper’s Heart Irish + Bourbon Cask Strength Whiskey is a blend of two Irish whiskies sourced from Ireland Great Northern Distilling and one (formerly) MGP (Ross & Squibb Distillery) sourced bourbon: 41% Irish whiskies and 59% bourbon. The two Irish whiskies are a pot still made from 50/50 malted and unmalted barley and a 90% corn and 10% malted barley grain whisky. The bourbon has a mash bill of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley. The pot still and Irish grain whiskies are aged over four years in refill American White Oak ex-bourbon barrels. The bourbon is aged over four years as well. The finished blended whisky is bottled at 118 proof (59% ABV).
I experimented with drops of water using my crystal Glencairn pipette and prefer this whisky without water because water mutes a lot of the flavors.
COLOR: Dark Gold/Amber
NOSE: The aroma profile isn’t nearly as multifaceted or unique as the palate – the bourbon dominates with usual notes of caramel/dark brown sugar, butterscotch (like Werther’s Original candies), vanilla, oak/barrel char & barrel spice, hints of dark cherries & cherry skins, some malted barley notes in the background, & a lot of ethanol from the high proof.
PALATE: Unlike the nose, the flavors pop & bring a lot more uniqueness led by caramelized brown sugar/caramel & creamy butterscotch mixed with dark vanilla, robust baking & pot spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, cloves), & black pepper followed by prominent oak/barrel char, dark cherries & cherry skins, dried nuts, dry & crumbly shortbread cookies, a tobacco note, honeyed malt, a grassy/herbal note, baking & pot spices, citrus (orange) peel, & malted barley at the finish. It is with the robust pot spices on the nose & palate where the Irish whisky influence is strongest.
FINISH: 7-8 seconds – Finishes on a bittersweet note, starting off sweet & then transitioning to bittersweet chocolate with a healthy dose of baking & pot spices, black pepper, creamy caramel, vanilla, & more dark chocolate.
MOUTHFEEL: Very good – Creamy/oily/buttery
VALUE: Unique & delicious cask strength blended whisky that highlights both Irish & American whisky profiles at a great price point
ALWAYS ON SHELF/BUY AGAIN? Yes.
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