Irish Whiskey Tasting

Kentucky vs Ireland: Which Single Malt Wins? 

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Join Wayne and Rebecca on Your Bourbon Journey for a special transatlantic single malt tasting featuring two sister distilleries under the Alltech umbrella: Pearse Lyons Distillery in Dublin, Ireland, and Town Branch Distillery in Lexington, Kentucky!

Both whiskeys share a 100% malted barley mash bill and maturation in ex-bourbon barrels, but their aging environments and regional styles offer two completely distinct experiences across the Atlantic.

First, we pour the Pearse 12-Year-Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey (Founder’s Choice) at 86 proof ($69.99 SRP), matured in former Town Branch bourbon barrels. Expect vibrant green apple, bright orchard fruit, and classic Irish malt character.

Then, we crack open an ultra-rare unicorn: the Town Branch 16 Year Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Single Malt Whiskey (Archive Series, Volume 2) at 100 proof ($399.99 SRP). Distilled in 2009 and bottled in 2025, this single-barrel release (Bottle #38 of 57) currently stands as the oldest Bottled-in-Bond American Single Malt Whiskey released to date. It even comes with a minted collector’s coin granting lifetime tours and tastings at Town Branch!

How does Irish maritime aging compare to 16 hot Kentucky summers? Is the $400 archive release worth the hype? Pour yourself a dram and join us to find out!

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Pearse 12-Year-Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey – Founder’s Choice

  • Classification: Single Malt Irish Whiskey
  • Company: Alltech
  • Distillery: Pearse Lyons Distillery (Dublin 8, Ireland; early stock sourced from Bushmills)
  • Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
  • Age: 12 Years (in ex-bourbon barrels)
  • Proof: 86 Proof (43% ABV)
  • SRP: $69.99
  • Released: Core / Ongoing Small Batch (Batch 2019-B5750)
  • Other: Non-Chill Filtered, Natural Color; matured in former Town Branch Bourbon barrels.
  • Purchased: 07/04/2026 for $69.99 at Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co.

Town Branch 16 Year Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Single Malt Whiskey (Archive Series, Volume 2)

  • Classification: Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Single Malt Whiskey (American Single Malt)
  • Company: Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. (Alltech)
  • Distillery: Town Branch Distillery (Lexington, KY – DSP-KY-15004)
  • Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley (Double Pot Distilled)
  • Age: 16 Years (Distilled/Filled: July 15, 2009 [Lot 09G15] | Bottled: October 27, 2025)
  • Proof: 100 Proof (50% ABV – Bottled-in-Bond)
  • SRP: $399.99
  • Released: October 2025 (Ultra-limited single barrel yield; Bottle No. 38 of 57 from Serial No. 223)
  • Other: Non-Chill Filtered; matured in ex-bourbon barrels; includes a minted Collector’s Coin granting the holder complimentary lifetime tours and tastings at Town Branch Distillery; stands as the oldest Bottled-in-Bond American Single Malt Whiskey released to date.
  • Purchased: 07/04/2026 for $399.99 at Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co.

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NOTE: The spirits in this review were purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.

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The Final Pour: Flaviar Whiskey Advent Calendar Day 24 Surprise

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🥃 The Grand Finale! Flaviar 2025 Whiskey Advent Calendar Reveal (Days 22-24)

The flight has reached its final destination! Join Wayne and Rebecca for the Grand Finale of the 2025 FlaviAIR journey. In this episode, we’re landing in Dublin, Louisville, and a surprise stop in France to wrap up the ultimate whiskey countdown.

From a “toad-ally” unique Irish whiskey to Bob Dylan’s artistic bourbon blend, and a stunning Cognac “curveball,” we’re finishing this 24-day voyage with a triumphant pour. Stick around for our final thoughts on the entire Flaviar experience!

In this video, we review: 

🍀 Day 22: Natterjack Irish Whiskey – A triple-distilled blend aged in ex-bourbon and Virgin American Oak. Does the 80% corn mash bill make it taste more like a bourbon than an Irish? 

🎸 Day 23: Heaven’s Door Revelation Double Barrel – Bob Dylan’s co-created masterpiece. We break down the 100-proof complexity of this double-barreled blend of bourbons and rye. 

🇫🇷 Day 24: Martingale Rare Reserve Cognac – The Christmas Eve surprise! A “grape-to-glass” Cognac from the Fin Bois region that even non-Cognac drinkers will love.

Which of these final three was the “banger”? Watch to find out!

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Disclaimer: We are not sponsored by Flaviar for this review. We purchased the calendar ourselves and offer our honest opinion. Please drink responsibly.

#Flaviar #WhiskeyAdventCalendar #WhiskeyReview #Flaviar2025 #IrishWhiskey #Bourbon #HeavensDoor #BobDylanWhiskey #NatterjackWhiskey #MartingaleCognac #WhiskeyTasting #AdventCalendar2025 #SpiritsReview #ChristmasToast #bourbonjourney 

Tasting the 2025 Flaviar Advent: Days 19, 20, and 21 Ranked

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🥃 Transatlantic Whiskey Flight: Flaviar Advent Calendar Days 19-21 Reveal!

Buckle up, whiskey lovers! ✈️ We are boarding Flaviar Airlines for Episode 7 of our 2025 Whiskey Advent Calendar journey. Today, we’re taking a high-stakes transatlantic flight to taste three distinct spirits from Dublin, Los Angeles, and Seattle.

In this episode, Wayne and Rebecca dive into a “Triple Threat” lineup, pitting traditional Irish smoothness against bold West Coast innovation. Will the mythical Finvara cast a spell on us? Can the newcomer Lodestar balance high-rye bourbon with single malt? And does Woodinville’s Port Finish live up to the hype?

We’re breaking down the nose, the palate, and the finish for each dram to let you know which ones are “must-buys” and which ones might be a “skip.”

Featured Whiskeys Today:

  1. Finvara The King’s Gambit (Day 19) – A triple-distilled Irish classic aged in Bourbon and Sherry casks.
  2. Lodestar American Whiskey (Day 20) – A 2024 newcomer from LA blending High-Rye Bourbon and American Single Malt.
  3. Woodinville Straight Bourbon Port Finish (Day 21) – A Washington powerhouse finished in Portuguese Ruby Port pipes.

Subscribe for the Final Leg! Don’t miss the conclusion of our 24-day flight.

Enjoyed the flight? Drop a comment below: Which of these three would you reach for first—the Irish, the LA Blend, or the Port Finish? 🥃👇

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Disclaimer: We are not sponsored by Flaviar for this review. We purchased the calendar ourselves and offer our honest opinion. Please drink responsibly.

#WhiskeyAdvent #Flaviar #WhiskeyReview #BourbonJourney #IrishWhiskey #WoodinvilleWhiskey #LodestarWhiskey #FinvaraWhiskey #WhiskeyTasting #AdventCalendar2025 #BourbonLover #CraftWhiskey #PortFinishBourbon #WhiskeyAirlines #DrinkResponsibly

Three Unique Irish Whiskeys for St. Patrick’s Day

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In this edition of tastings from our whiskey library, we proudly showcase three Irish Whiskeys to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and our Five Year Wedding Anniversary. This tasting features two Irish Whiskeys we’ve enjoyed before – Ha’Penny and Red Breast 12 – along with a new addition that we’ve recently acquired – Red Breast 12 Cask Strength. We will kick things off with the Ha’Penny by Pearse Lyons Distillery. Next up are the outstanding Red Breast 12 Year offerings: one is the classic 80 proof, while the other boasts a robust cask strength at 114.4 proof-our first experience with this remarkable cask strength version. For each whiskey, we will meticulously examine the appearance, revel in the aromas, savor the taste profile, and comment on the finish. We’ve even discovered one that we’re affectionately dubbing a “Bourbon Drinker’s Irish Whiskey.” So, pour yourself a glass of Irish Whiskey, get comfortable, and sip along with us. Cheers!

ABOUT THESE BOTTLES

Ha’Penny Irish Whiskey

  • Classification: Irish Whiskey
  • Company: Lexington Brewing and Distilling Company
  • Distillery: Pearse Lyons Distillery in Dublin, Ireland
  • Mash Bill: 62% Grain (A blend of Sherry Butt Grain and Double Charred Barrel Grain), 38% Malt (A blend of Port Pipe finished Malt and First fill Bourbon Barrel Malt).
  • Age: Non-age statement (NAS) blend of 4–10-year-old whiskies from four types of barrels… Bourbon, Port, Sherry and Double Charred.
  • Proof: 86
  • Purchased: 04/14/23 for $34.99 at Town Branch Distillery

Red Brest 12 Year Irish Whiskey

  • Classification: Irish Whiskey
  • Type: Pot Still Irish Whiskey; Denotes it was made from malted and un-malted barley and distilled only in a pot still.
  • Distillation: Triple Distilled
  • Company: Pernod Ricard
  • Distillery: Midleton Distillery
  • Mash Bill: 100% Malted and Unmalted Barley
  • Age: 12 Years
  • Proof: 80
  • Purchased: 03/11/23 for $73.99 at Beverage Barn, Henderson KY

Red Brest 12 Year Cask Strength Irish Whiskey

  • Classification: Irish Whiskey
  • Type: Pot Still Irish Whiskey; Denotes it was made from malted and un-malted barley and distilled only in a pot still.
  • Distillation: Triple Distilled
  • Company: Pernod Ricard
  • Distillery: Midleton Distillery
  • Mash Bill: 100% Malted and Unmalted Barley
  • Cask: Mixture of ex-bourbon barrels and ex-Oloroso Sherry Casks
  • Age: 12 Years
  • Proof: 114.4
  • Purchased: 03/08/25 for $$199.99 at High Spirits, Evansville IN

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ABOUT IRISH WHISKEY

Irish whiskey is made from a high grain mash of barley, wheat, and corn. The exact quantities of each grain depend on the type of whiskey. The most common primary grain is barley.  The barley and be malted, un-malted, or a combination of each. The Irish Whiskey Act of 1980 defines the basic requirements for Irish whiskey. The act protects Irish whiskey by statute law and provides regulations and labeling for the spirit. The requirements include: produced and aged in Ireland; made from cereal grains that are fermented with yeast; distilled no higher than 94.8% ABV (proof of 189.6); aged in wooden casks for a minimum of three years; free of added substances with the exception of water and caramel coloring; bottled at a minimum ABV of 40% (proof of 80). For more information, please read Irish Whiskey.

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NOTE: The spirits in this review were purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.