ralfy review 967 Extras - An Irish perspective on Irish Whiskey.

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . thanks Laurie 😊👍

[@killowendistilleryltd4823]

Thanks for mentioning us on here Ralfy. We have been listening for years and appreciate it

[@chuckletourneau5542]

Both you and Laurie handled that "teaching moment" with good grace. It's lovely to see polite discourse on social media... I was afraid it was a thing of the past.

[@pfalzgraf7527]

1st: It is always good to remember that written criticism tends to come across harsher than it is meant to. (both for the writer as well as the reader) 2nd It is always easier to be polite when you generally like the guy you criticize! I have made it my rule to remain silent if I just find the people or the channel objectionable in general. I just don't watch it (anymore). Criminal stuff getts reported, of course. Criticism, to me, is only valuable when it is constructive - and to be that, it needs some competence (on whatever the topic is). If I can't put my thumb on what problem I have, I let it go. This is, in my opinion and experience, the best way to handle conversation on YT.

[@killowendistilleryltd4823]

5% oat rye and wheat make a massive favour change. Enzymes actually come from the barley content. Teeling the father owns ‘Great Northern distillery’ (the giant supplier) it's in north louth Teeling distillery is owned by his sons. It's in Dublin city centre. Thanks for referencing the poor minority in society also. You're a gentleman ❤️🥃

[@WhiskeyNovice]

Single Pot Still if one distillery Ralfy. Same as Single Malt. If not "Single", then it's pot still. Laurie is bang on here. Nice one Laurie.

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

Ralfy, the 5% of the other grains is not for the needed enzymes to convert starch in unmalted barley. You can get enzymes from malted barley. In order to convert the starch in unmalted barley it has to be Gelatinized with increased temperatures. Also, a single pot still Irish Whiskey is not from a single pot still but a single distillery’s pot still(s).

[@timthewhiskynut477]

Well said.

[@robfut9954]

Confusing use of the word “single” isn’t it… I always assumed it meant malt.

[@murphythemullet]

Great video Ralfy, I'd just like to clarify further, the 'single' in single pot still refers to the whiskey coming from a single distillery, not necessarily a single still. So basically what makes it different from an Irish or Scotch single malt is the grain bill. As we're on the subject of the grain bill, sure the technical file states that 'other grains' can make up no more than 5% of the bill; however, it has been argued that some historical recipes had much higher proportions of other grains, and that the 5% number reflects Midleton's monopoly at the time the file was put together, and protects their interests. It's interesting to note that it was a tax on malted grains that drove the use of unmalted grains in both whiskey and beer in Ireland, leading to much loved styles that are still popular today.

[@WhiskeyNovice]

And yes...there is a Gold Spot Ralfy. The Mitchells were bonders like Gilbeys who were releasing Redbreast (Skylark and Yellow Hammer back in the day). Irish Distillers bought the Redbreast name in the late 20th Century. It has been produced in Midleton Distillery since.

[@thewhiskybothy]

whiskeychatspodcast.libsyn.com/

[@dram_kruzhok]

I'm not a lawyer, but really terms like "single" and "malt", "grain", "pot still" are legally defined terms. And "single" is separate, distinct and standalone from the rest of them. It simply means "single distillery". I had American friends over for a tasting and they asked me if there's a "double malt". Well, it's easy to see how this nomenclature is confusing in more than one language, especially in context of "double" or "triple" distillation. it's nuts! Single distillery, that's all, both in UK and in Ireland. That's why "single grain scotch whisky" doesn't mean "made from a single type of grain", but rather grain whisky from a "single distillery". They are made from whatever grains are cheaper and some malt has to be used to convert the starches (but I learned that from Ralfy, of course). The legal term "malt whisky" in itself means "100% malt whisk(e)y". So there's really no need to specify that it's "pure". Not allowed to use the adjective "malt" in any other kind of whisk(e)y, whether it's a blend or a mash bill type. Irish Pot Still Whiskey is neither a blend, nor a single malt. It is precisely what it is - pot still grain whiskey. I'd call it a proto-bourbon, too. I always say that the Irish 1) invented whisky in its malt form, then 2) invented grain whiskey (to dodge taxes - that's the "pot still whiskey" in question), then invented "blended whiskey" (column still invented by an Irishman, even though widely adopted by Scottish distillers first) and then invented bourbon, too, indirectly, since bourbon is pretty much just like pot still Irish whiskey in principle, with regional and technical nuances. And, of course, it was the Americans of Scottish and Irish descent that were behind American whiskey, which became rye and bourbon. Among others, of course. Happy drams, malt mates :)

[@JocksRu]

‘Coopering is so so important and if you want to pay for it, get rid of half the marketing team’ Hear Hear Ralfy! Spot on as ever and couldn’t agree more.

[@blablaogist]

A recent german discounter perspective on Irish Whiskey: Ballimore IPA Cask Finish from ALDI. Great for low budgets, uncoloured, unchillfiltered (says so on the label), 43% ABV. Little young, but the IPA adds great fruity notes and for 15 bucks you can't go all that wrong ;)

[@DileepB]

There is a Gold Spot that was released last year to celebrate 135 anniversary of Mitchell's distillery.

[@paddyduffy5967]

Good to see the bloopers cleared up so thanks to you and Laurie.

[@thewey]

I absolutely Love Knappogue Castle 14 and 16. Add a drop of water to the 14 and the flavors explode in your mouth with a marvelous finish. The 16 is best neat and has a deep rich complexity of taste bud sensations. You'll promptly forget anything made in America when you try these two.

[@powerslave7884]

Hello Ralfy, As a bourbon enthusiast in the states, but also a huge fan of Irish and scotch the last few years, I’ve been had more than once especially w Irish due to bottlers being non transparent. It hurts them as I’ve passed on many occasions due to the feeling of getting burned again. Give me the age, mash bill, and distiller! I’m more likely to buy just knowing where and what, not so much age… love your reviews, thanks

[@pfalzgraf7527]

The Irish distillers I know (that seem to be different ones than you know (?)) are quite happy to tell you (even on the label) that the whiskey they bring out before their own is mature, is a "sourced" whiskey. Oftentimes they are not allowed to say where the whisky is sourced! But most of it comes from the GND, as the letter said. I am glad this correction came to you! I was a bit astonished when you made those statements. And I am glad that my hope for someone more qualified than me getting in touch with you actually manifested! The problem about Irish Whiskey is that some rules are quite different from Scottish regulations about Whisky. As a regular geeky sipper of both, I need to really keep those compartments of knowledge pretty separate in my mind. Feels like I'm a miraculously multy-malt-munching mind manager 🤣

[@spiced32]

Ralfy is the man, likes to try and give his opinion on a wide range of whiskeys and even rum etc. I find it frustrating how some people think there is only Scotch. 🥃🥃

[@woodwirewhiskey]

Thanks Ralfy as a USA citizen with a Irish/Scottish heritage, I'm very interested in both stiles of whisk(e)y. As they say the more you know!

[@farshadp6114]

Greeting Mr Ralfy, very informative as always, learned a lot about Irish whiskey, it was very good since I started drinking Irish ones a lot. Take care

[@WhiskeyLore]

Thanks for reading Laurie's note, he's great and the Irish whiskey story is really developing. By the way, Baoilleach is basically pronounced BOY-lee-AUCK - it is a great small distillery in the spirit of Killowen but in Donegal rather than Northern Ireland. Cheers!

[@faithful360]

Fercullen 18, amazing Irish single malt- had it in Dublin at Bankers, absolute gem, keep up the great work Ralphy!!

[@ARGONUAT]

Donald Rance in Canada is another great reference on Irish whiskey.

[@Bkesal14]

That Redbreast 15 is an outrageously good dram.

[@ivanshipy1966]

Great video again ....just wondering will you be reviewing an Irish Whiskey for St Patricks day ...please say YES 😉🇮🇪🇮🇪

[@jtf2dan]

Sad to hear about Cooley's being out of production, but good to know. Also that Knappogue's is Bushmills. Well informed is well armed I always say!

[@WhiskeyNovice]

Cooley aren't out of production. It was just taken over by Beam Suntory. Still going strong. John Teeling sold it and Kilbeggan to BS and then bought Great Northern. It just happens that, instead of Cooley (BS) selling off loads of spirit or aged spirit...it's now Great Northern Distillery who do that.

[@geerakkers2060]

Keep in mind that the Knappoque from now is not the same anymore then that is was 5 years ago.

[@ronprichard6145]

New Zealand whisky remains largely a mystery to me as it tends to come in 500ml bottles with a big price tag. A clip on the TV news last night showed one local distillery using some casks of native woods rather than oak. Interesting. Similar to what some cacacha distillers are doing in Brazil.

[@irishwhiskeylover]

There still seems to be some confusion about the terminology of Pot Still Whiskey, as you say it is not blended whiskey "from an Irish perspective". I would argue it should not be considered a blended whiskey from a general perspective but rather be accepted as its own category. It is neither a Single Malt, as the mashbill does also contain unmalted barley nor is it a blend as there is no blending going on (except blending different casks of course). Many people tend to think that Whiskeys made of malted barley are blended with Whiskey made of unnmalted barley - but that is not the case with pot still whiskey. Both malted and unmalted barley are distilled together in a pot still. You can then either bottle it as single pot still whiskey (if from one distillery) or blend it with grain whiskey as a Blended Irish Whiskey (e.g. Powers Gold Label, Jameson Original). If you also add single malt it is a triple blended Irish Whiskey (e.g. Tullamore Dew Original, The Busker Triple Blend). But not all Irish Blended Whiskeys contain pot still whiskey but rather malt whiskey (e.g. Bushmills Original, Standard Kilbeggan). I hope this clarifies it a bit more. The fact that there are 3 base style whiskeys instead of just malt and grain make Irish Whiskey very interesting in my opinion.

[@geerakkers2060]

Read the book from Fionnán O'Connor. It's called A glass apart. Goes about Irish Songle Pot Still whiskey.

[@NoJobNoBoat]

Happy to report some better bottles have been sneaking into my area of late...and of course into my loving arms! Bottoms up from Sunny Florida Ralphy.

[@sandrofazzolari8833]

Thanks to you both! Cheers 🥃👏S.

[@Andy_Holbrook332]

Great episode. I just wish Irish distillers were more transparent. Transparency equals trust. Trust is the basis of brand loyalty. The only exception is Waterford who are geekily transparent (bruichladdich on steroids I always think).

[@whompbiscuits8930]

Great stuff from Laurie, this clears some things up but honestly the whole "from an Irish perspective" threw me off. If there's a silver lining in the "pot still" semantics, it's that if it doesn't say Malt on it, it's a mixture of malted & unmalted barley (and the 5% oats/rye/wheat) in one pot (presumably copper). On sourcing, American bourbons are notorious for this. MGP (Midwest Grain Products) of Indiana is a major industrial supplier of spirits for other distilleries, both new and old. It's an old joke here in the states that if you get a bottle of whiskey and on the back it just says "distilled in Indiana", it's likely from MGP. I wish there was more transparency as well, but it's clear to me the more we hear that word being bandied out by companies, what we actually get more of is opacity. But indeed, Irish whiskey is getting incredibly expensive here. Quickly to the point of obscene.

[@goranjovanovic1832]

I like The Dublin Liberties Copper Alley, it is 10 years old

[@DaireSheehan]

I believe the ratio for single pot still is set to change to allow up to 30% other grains.

[@bobi-gr]

hi, can you add subtitles, thanks, for enriching us in the vast world of whisky! cheers 😉

[@ColonelBummleigh]

S'happening Ral. Hope you're well Sir,I forgot wahnat I was about to say. Well done the Irish chaps - very tasty malts I wish I had more hands so I can give Four thumbs up! Exciting times.

[@mincey808]

If you can get your hands on Gold Spot - do. Pricey given the age statement (9 years old) but worth it!

[@peatbull3426]

Not worth! Double overpriced is never worth. 🤷‍♂️🥂🙋🏻‍♂️

[@sav7568]

Good luck with that one. Gold Spot sold out months ago. There will be another release and you can rely on it being priced over 100 euro. OUCH !

[@mincey808]

@@sav7568 few bars in Belfast have it on their shelves so I have a few glasses occasionally. Can find it online at the moment but don't have that amount of spare cash... 👀 🤣

[@sav7568]

@@mincey808 The next release will be priced around 120 euro in Ireland. I don't know Belfast prices.

[@mincey808]

@@sav7568 very similar! About £110 on a couple uk sites.

[@superkeiler]

Best Malt Mention 😂

[@andrewblatherwick8758]

Hi Ralfy. Just been musings about Whisky from the British Isles and wondered if there has ever been a distillery on the Isle of Man? I would have thought that the climate would be similar to Scotland or Ireland. Is there a logistics problem with getting barley over there? It would be interesting to get your perspective on this as a Manx resident.

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . everything very small scale locally.

[@ironmantran]

THIS, explains a lot of our Canadian cultural root of that wooshy-washy confusion of our "RYE" ! -- but not a rye at all, just the flavour(s) and can be 100% corn - or 9.09% of alien spirit of ANY sort : Superman's tears, Klingon's sweat or even lucifer's blood...

[@bobbybrooks4826]

There's nothing wrong with blended whisky or blended anything..THE PROBLEM IS THAT EACH PERSON,or each person' with good taste prefers the blend that THEY CREATE!!!

[@1981stonemonkey]

8:03, 8:29 Ralfy, could you please spell out unpronounceable distillery names so we can look them up ourselves..? >>> F.e. this "beolaich" (or something) distillery: is it perhaps Connacht disitillery near Belleek?

[@adrianquinlan3989]

Very informative and educational.

[@alsullivan4322]

As sy simms said" an educated consumer makes the best customer"

[@jamiecompton8116]

There is a Gold Spot. It’s a 9 year old limited edition.

[@NickVolk]

There are tons of irish whiskeys on shelves in Moscow these days, hundreds of irish whiskeys,(even Picky Blinders🤣 so it ain't easy to figure them out and get what's goog and what's bad unless you've bought them((( My biggest disappointment of the year was Teeling Small Batch aged in rum casks, so I'm now afraid to buy smth. unknown.

[@VagaBohn]

It’s hard for me to stop calling my dog and cat malt mates.

[@peatbull3426]

Only if them Stop to drink whisky 😅🥂🙋🏻‍♂️

[@MrPsiman]

it's time for Ralfy to spend some of that Patreon money on some Killowen. LOL !!!

[@ian4675]

There is a gold spot whiskey. I believe it's a 9 year old.

[@barryhamilton7845]

Scottish whisky will always be number 1.

[@peatbull3426]

Never cant go wrong 💪😁👍🥂🙋🏻‍♂️

[@groberti]

if you like intense flavors than no questions there for sure :) Irish could be great if they'd do only double distillation + min 46%, non chill filtered, natural color, age statement.. For now Teeling is my fav Irish distillery because it is nearly there.

[@peatbull3426]

@@groberti funny im just on hols now and bought Blackpitts on Airport yesterday because not good choice of scotch and is good occasion to try something different. But there is disappointment. This whisky is in Craft presentation has nice nose but palate is rather flat bit harsh. Not recommend and think £50 is a waste of money. Should get Powers John Lane same price. Next time. 👍😁🥂🙋🏻‍♂️

[@groberti]

@@peatbull3426 Have you tried adding 1-2 drops of water to it? Maybe it'll open up. If not, let it oxidise in the bottle for 2-3 weeks an try it again :)

[@peatbull3426]

@@groberti im not a fan to add water in general even 60%+ but i will try to make some kind of test. Im just one week on hols so need to empty bottle before get back home. Maybe dova sample 200ml and move it to regular bottle at home and wait few weeks for oxidation. 👍😁🥂🙋🏻‍♂️

[@robingreen9086]

Awesome

[@scottyblog]

****There is a Gold Spot. It’s fantastic. And it has arrived to the States as of late 2022.

[@peatbull3426]

Sorry but only PRICE is fantastic. 🤷‍♂️🥂🙋🏻‍♂️

[@groberti]

@@peatbull3426 that's usually the case for most Irish whiskey, overpriced sadly

[@robfut9954]

I’m sorry, but if it has “other grains” it is a blended whisky in my mind personally. Mixed mash whisky is definitely in a different category in my mind than single grain whiskies. Mixed mash bills are fine, but I see no reason to hide the fact. There’s no shame in it, just state what the mash is IMO so buyers can see how each whisky differs.

[@cathalcleary2980]

Ralphy please do blue spot my fav

[@Friendofsquirrel]

Laphroaig will always be #1

[@peatbull3426]

Maybe use to be but now 🤷‍♂️ as a fan and lover of Laphi have to say: Distillery which have No one expression in Craft Presentation can't be nr 1. Sorry. Bunna & Laddie are nr 1. Amen. 😁🥂🙋🏻‍♂️