The Whisk(e)y Vault - Episode 70 - Connemara Single Malt Irish Whiskey

An episode of The Whisk(e)y Vault hosted at Whisky Marketing School in Austin, TX.
Today we talk about Connemara Single Malt Irish Whiskey from the Kilbeggan Distillery.
You can watch Nick Offerman drink Lagavulin by the fire here: • Nick Offerman's 'Yule ...

[@kappaklaus2671]

I love how this video started as a simple Connemara taste test and then rapidly spiraled out of control into alchemy for drunks

[@a.davidgriffin9248]

FACT'S

[@oracleoftruth]

Guys 100km east of Dublin is Wales.... It's west of Dublin.

[@norgae8676]

lol yep, and about 10km from Tullamore, not 100km.

[@wasabista1613]

Also, the potato famine happened in the 1840s, not the turn of the 20th century.

[@davidclaassen6977]

Close enough...

[@austinwitham109]

Just got this looking for something i haven't had before. Immediately fell in love with the balance of sweet and peat. Definitely in my top 5

[@davidrahn9903]

This is my new favorite show on youtube. I will tell all my friends and even some of my enemies. Thank you Whisk(e)y Wizard and slightly less drunk friend.

[@WhiskeyVault]

Thank you!

[@dborismusic]

This is one of the best whiskys i ever tried in my life! only after half bottle i realized this. It is a work of art!

[@thebeerdedone7568]

Hahaha, Rex totally reached for a dram of Lagavulin and played it off nicely. You guys continue to crack me up.

[@badasspuppy]

This Connemara is amazing. It completely opened my mind to try more Irish stuff.

[@robby102938]

and it's dirt-cheap for it's quality!

[@badasspuppy]

@@robby102938 Damn, you made me remember this. Now I want to buy a new bottle :D

[@robby102938]

@@badasspuppy Nice. I just signed up for a subscription for it on Amazon lol.

[@DannyRobbo88]

Yeah. I got a bottle of Connemara off a ferry coming back from France. Lovely stuff if you like your peat

[@kuzan1337]

i don't know why, but Connemara has some amazing salty notes that i love. I am becoming more and more fond of it each day, and place it somewhere between Lagavulin and Laphroeig on my list (in terms of peated choices).

[@edalvesinMT]

You guys are very talented and a lot of fun! This community seems to trend this way!

[@Hoi4o]

Oh man, I absolutely LOVE Connemara and Kilbeggan! Damn good whiskeys! If they weren't alcoholic drinks, I could literally drink them ALL the time.

[@tobelieve627]

Don’t give them ideas... lol

[@spykerf1545]

Yes, the blending "until we get it" needs to be a weekly thing. Love it.

[@nexusthane9342]

I recently decided to do a deep dive into Irish whiskey, so after perusing the vault for its Irish highlights I selected several that piqued my interests. I've got to say Connemara (yes I like Scotch) and Green Spot will forevermore be staples. Thanks Guys

[@gman5986]

You guys are hilarious and I truly enjoy your videos while I am drinking and experiencing whiskeys of all kinds!.....cheer to you!!

[@joeyyoshizumi]

As I work I watch your videos. Looking for the perfect whiskey and like listening to your tasting to see if that is something that I should pick up. Thank you!

[@ambientdjs2938]

Dig your experiments! While I'm not a huge fan of peated whiskey, I am enjoying a dram of Connemara this lazy Saturday afternoon.

[@tomasprazdny4271]

One of the best drams for that value to me. There is almost no smoke, but lot of a peat, some sweet and sour tastes as well. Complex, but still kind of light and easily useable.

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

September 23,2029 - sipping on Connemara as I watch this and comparing notes. I went whiskey hunting the other day and found a bottle of the Cask a Strength (57.7% abv). Killer whiskies that will give Islay a run for its money.

[@Larce89]

You're from the future?

[@seancbrophy]

Master level moochery this episode Rex.

[@claytongreen7827]

Just had this last night, it’s not bad. It didn’t wow me but it is nice. Simple and clean. I’ll try it in a few weeks to see if changes to me.

[@michaeldalton1874]

This is my favorite whiskey

[@carlitoclassico]

Is original or 12 yr better? I couldn't locate any in stores near me so I'm trying to order some from ReserveBar

[@carlitoclassico]

Idk why but after watching all the videos, this is stuck in my mind to try

[@aczep6706]

Awesome show guys! I was watching this show while brushing my teeth before bed...I think I'm going to mix me up some Lagavulan tooth paste. A nice welcome to slumber. Cheers boys, keep up the great work! Andreas

[@WhiskeyVault]

mmmmm. Lagavulin toothpaste. new product market.

[@eoinoconnell185]

I received this as a present some years ago. Very impressive.

[@howlinmad03]

This is my favorite irish whiskey. And yeah, I do like scotch. It definitely does have the lighter character of irish with the peat but I feel like they work well together. Interestingly, the flavor I kept getting was slate. Like I'm licking a rock. But it was a good rock.

[@ericrivera5811]

Lol so do crack heads, jk

[@RonanMurphy08]

Love that description.

[@terr256]

Got this as a gift from my friend. I finally tasted it yesterday. It was very good! I do like Redbreast 12 more

[@jamespawelek-lacey1778]

Tried this stuff while at a bar trying whiskeys in Ireland and only bought another of this one so it certainly intrigued me. I get what you guys are saying about it almost being unmarried because that thought crossed my mind too. Personally I just think that’s down to not normally associating those two contrasting flavour profiles with each other but you’re going to have to send me a full bottle for me to truly make my mind up. 😝

[@PSNeko]

It really is something special in the irish category:) It tastes like a burnt woodstick with buiscuits xD

[@robby102938]

it totally does!

[@trentt4618]

I had a bottle of this put behind the counter for my self at my wedding

[@Mr.M1STER]

Guys, it might say "Kilbeggan distillery" on the front of the Connemara but it is distilled and bottled in the Cooley Distillery, Dundalk, County Louth.

[@WhiskeyVault]

yes, thank you!

[@jewilso111]

I thank you’re half right. From what Ive read Conemara and several other flagship brands continue to be distilled at Cooley, but I believe all aging, bottling, and distribution has been moved to the John Locke cooperage and distillery in Co. Killbegan. As the parent company, blender, bottler, and distributor, their name goes on the bottle…. Regardless of where they sourced the juice. The debate continues…

[@Mr.M1STER]

@@jewilso111 The box the whiskey comes in says "Distilled and bottled" in the Cooley distillery so that is what I am basing my information off. I'm also not sure what you mean by Co. Killbegan? If you mean county then you're wrong.

[@choicebarrelscrotes2732]

I accidentally turned on captions just in time to hear you ask if it would be a heavy, oily peat or a "light island penis" and laughed for about 30 seconds because I'm 9.

[@WhiskeyVault]

I'm laughing now just reading this.

[@weeverob]

anything to drink more. check back tomorrow

[@vredehuman5242]

Eager to try this, because I'm a peat-head but I can't find it anywhere in South Africa.

[@WhiskeyVault]

We referenced Tobermory as the added whisky, but it was Ledaig we added. It's made at the Tobermory Distillery, but the peated expression

[@1218Draco]

Whiskey Vault, this whiskey ... I think was on BuzzFeed ... yeah, International Liqueurs 2! They said it tasted like burnt bacon with the burnt part scraped off

[@boaz08]

I feel like this whiskey has changed a lot over time. I've bought it a few days ago and it tasted so incredibly ashy, when I love Laphroaig. It also tasted very sharp, maybe because it was young? Mixed 1/3th with the other 2/3ths Jura Rum Cask (the other bottle I bought that day) it kinda tasted like a sweeter and quite basic Laphroaig 10, which wasn't too bad.

[@unclemikiesworld]

Now this right here was the drunken shenanigans that I signed up for

[@carlitoclassico]

I couldn't find this anywhere locally, but I used your code and ordered the 12 yr off of ReserveBar. 😎👍

[@JarosawKovacs]

I tried out Canamara first time and You what? First time in my nous I feel tutty furty bubble gum, and supprise supprise the same on tasting. I love this Whisky I love Irish Whisky 😉 regards from Poland

[@ericnix5034]

10:15 the idea of Blendageddon is upon us🤩

[@dubltap7216]

Connemara is very close to Highland Park 12 scotch for me. HP 12 being a little more complex. Love them both.

[@nickn753]

I blind taste tested this against a bowmore 12, and it was almost impossible to tell them apart.

[@ghostreverie]

Seems as though Daniel gets more generous with the whisky the drunker he gets.

[@BradfordStokes]

This is the best!

[@Broteese]

Saw "How to Drink" taste this one, and orderet a bottle five minutes later. Now her for some second source input😎

[@Isheian]

Connemara, the whiskey I didn’t really like but killed the bottle in one night....

[@tobelieve627]

It’s good. It takes a while to get there.

[@billmorash3322]

I've been screaming ARDBEG 10 since you mentioned adding peat.

[@flyingirish31]

There were 3 distilleries that survived the US depression and Prohibition (the potato famine didn’t have an effect on distilleries. Those were Cork Distilleries Company in Midleton that produced Paddy’s, Powers Distillery and Jameson Distillery both in Dublin. As Northern Ireland was different country by 1921, the Bushmills Antrim Distillery doesn’t count and even it close briefly in 30s. Of the 3 remaining, they decided in 1966 to merge and move operations to the CDC Old Midleton grounds in Midleton forming Irish Distillers LTD. they built a brand new state of the art Distillery next the Old Midleton Distillery. They called it the Nee Midleton distillery, wanting to be as original as possible ;). Tullamore DEW claims to have remained running but did not produce any whiskey for distribution beyond Offaly for decades.

[@jewilso111]

Irish Whiskey is not separated by North & Republic... it is just Irish Whiskey, and Bushmills certainly counts. And Jameson in Dublin shifted to Middelton the same time as Cork Distillers in the early 20th century, leaving two in Ireland, Middleton in the Republic and Bushmills in the North.

[@jewilso111]

Never heard of Bushmills closing or ceasing production in the 30s though they did have to rebuild in the 1880s due to a fire. If they did as you say, then Daniel would be right about there only being one distiller: Irish Distilllers in Middelton. Though, when Irish Distillers bought Bushmills in the 60’s they always kept two separate distilleries.

[@flyingirish31]

First it’s Midleton. Not Middleton. You can try to argue they shouldn’t be two different countries but they are. And therefore if a distillery wasn’t located in Ireland, it isn’t a distillery in Ireland. And IDs distilled very little Bushmills out of the Antrim distillery. Most of it came from Midleton save a few special edition labels like what they ran at the Old Bow Street distillery for Jameson in Dublin. Meant for gift shops. When Bushmills was sold off that changed some but a great deal is still toll produced at Midleton.

[@jewilso111]

The legal definition of Irish Whiskey includes that it be made on the “Island of Ireland,” not The Republic nor any other such distinction. Irish Whiskey can be made in either country: Northern Ireland included. Therefore, Bushmills counts, even if they weren’t producing as much as Midleton at the time.

[@42gilligan]

I have been on the hunt for this cuz my brother in law and I love irish whiskey and he also loves scotch. Having terrible luck finding it...

[@capitaldd3693]

Great episode. Have you guys reviewed the green label Kilbeggan ....? Wondering how it compares to the red label. Is it a good entry level Irish....?

[@macbrian1703]

Connemara, there is no substitute.

[@canadianwhiskysmith6453]

So Connemara is sort of Irish doing Scotch, and Auchentoshan is sort of Scotch doing Irish. I feel like this episode could have used some Auchentoshan as a contrast 😉

[@WhiskeyVault]

That never occurred to me! Love the idea of it.

[@scottkashuba3476]

If the Frankenwhisk(e)y is a success, will you mix up some Japanese malts and call it Godzilla(whisk(e)y)?

[@WhiskeyVault]

Pure genius.

[@timfoote6919]

Michtrers American Whiskey......Micheters Bourbon......this is my next exploration!

[@totalmoron7012]

Just picked up the Connemara can't wait to try it! Daniel would you pick up a bottle of Laphroaig lore for $125 or would you pass on it? I hope you are enjoying you vacation man!!!

[@kobinaireland4058]

100km east of dublin is in the sea :D

[@eoinfenton3416]

The idea that Scotch has a monopoly on peat is a pain. Ask any Irish child that grew up in the countryside and their childhood summer was spent in the bog turning and footing turf for their fires. So many Irish houses heated by peat fires so it should be fairly synonymous with our national drink.

[@choonghuh]

just got this on a heavy discount. kinda thinking i should have just bought a Ardbeg 10 instead :p but its a fine whiskey

[@breandankerin2885]

Hey guys, Daniel, your pronounciation of connemara is right, but kilbeggan, isnt kil-bay-gen, but phonetically, kill beg in. Also, Dublin is in the east coast, kilbeggan is more Midlands in offaly

[@WhiskeyVault]

Thank you!

[@nickparilac372]

can't wait to try my own Jeff(Geoff)

[@beamerball666]

My only problem with connemara is how quickly I need to buy a new bottle

[@williamsmith1741]

My only drinking problem is an empty glass.

[@montanamike53]

Welcome to the Drunken Chemists channel! ^.^

[@specteractual1]

I'm not a fan of peat and picked this up for my friend at Christmas thinking I would drink some too. he was very happy I unfortunately was not.

[@WhiskeyVault]

Ahh, the things we do for friends.

[@Sierubino]

Hey guys, remember when you used to have to ask people to comment more? haha Trying the Connemara 12 year watching this and want to know what you think about it vs this one, Rex...MOOCH IT

[@danmusiceasy]

What I like about Connemara is that its box makes for a great practice drum, kind of like a Darbuka. Otherwise, I don't remember liking it even remotely as much as Laphroaig Quarter Cask, which is the only other peated whiskey that I tasted, which I found incredibly complex compared to this one. Connemara was ok, but pretty uninteresting to me.

[@buffkonradin]

For a 3 year old blended with a nine it’s pretty good

[@richwever2756]

You have assisted me on my whiskey journey for years now. I tried Connemara this past weekend and had to search for your review of it. It is the first whiskey (and I do like some Scotch whisky) that is so atrocious I simply must pour it down the drain or find SOMEONE who will enjoy it. The smell was okay, but the taste punches you in the face with mercurochrome/first aid kit/turpentine. Do you think you'll ever re-review it? Did I get a bad bottle?

[@WhiskeyVault]

No, that's pretty much it :-) I could totally get why it wouldn't be your thing. it's a bit shiny and brittle for a smoky whiskey.I enjoy it, but it's not for everyone.

[@rhize797]

They do use islay peated barley.

[@dumpeeplarfunny]

There's a big difference between peated Irish and peated Scotch, just like there's a different between unpeated Irish and unpeated Scotch.

[@jerrycoggin9434]

How do I get a gig like that?

[@roberts.8430]

I just bought a bottle of this, I've always had Jameson, never experimented with other stuff. Connemara is really smooth, but the peat is throwing me off...I'm a couple drinks into this bottle and I'm not sure if I like it. It's definitely not bad, just a huge pattern interrupt from Jameson. Guess I'll see what I think after I kill the bottle (not in one sitting).

[@jewilso111]

If you like Jameson, try some more of Middelton’s products: Redbreast 12 or Green Spot are classics and are a big upgrade IMO.

[@roberts.8430]

@@jewilso111 Its so funny that you responded to this a year later and to reflect on my own comment. So I still drink Jameson at times but I've become a huge fan of Ardbeg 10 and Laphroaig 10...which makes me think I should retry Connemara. Cheers buddy👍🏻And I have tried green spot but none of the others.

[@dmitrys.4741]

@@roberts.8430 So, have you retried Connomara? I love both Ardbeg and Laphroaig 10 and never tried Connomara. I'm about to buy another bottle in this price range, so ... Play it safe and get Laphroaig, or explore unexplored and try Connomara? What would you do?

[@roberts.8430]

@@dmitrys.4741 LOL, WOW! I completely forgot about Connomara, and I believe the peat threw me way out of my comfort zone. But I'm pretty sure this was before that fateful night when Ardbeg 10 mystified me and then converted me to scotch. Thank you for your comment, I'm going to buy another bottle and see how I take to it. Haha, this was not on my radar at all😁

[@matthewreedy4731]

Next purchase

[@jukkahillo1969]

All that mixing my friends you just cannot do

[@WhiskeyNovice]

I'm sure someone else has said it...but this is Cooley distillery product.

[@jewilso111]

Daniel gets his Irish Whiskey facts twisted sometimes, but not this time: Cooley acquired Kilbegan years ago and shifted many of its products to their distillery. It says Kilbegan right on the bottle. Now, both, Cooley and Kilbegan are owned by Beam Suntory.

[@WhiskeyNovice]

@@jewilso111 don't believe all you read on Irish whiskey bottles. Yes they are owned by Beam Suntory but Cooley are still behind Connemara. Even if you Google "who makes Connemara Whiskey?" The answer comes back Cooley. I found this great explanation of the history. Apologies for the length of it. Despite the name, there is no distillery in the Connemara region. Instead, the whiskey is produced at Cooley distillery in County Louth. When Irish Distillers Ltd bought Bushmills in 1973, it brought every distillery in the country under the same umbrella. Lamenting the lack of competition, and therefore innovation, John Teeling, with deep ancestral roots in the industry himself, decided that he would do something about it. In 1987, Teeling purchased an industrial alcohol plant on the Cooley peninsula and converted it to produce whiskey. He set about buying the rights to long lost brands like Tyrconnell, Lockes and Kilbeggan and even went so far as to snap up the silent Lockes Distillery, the oldest of its kind in the country. With both plants operating under the Kilbeggan Distilling Company and Teeling’s reputation growing, it wasn’t long before the corporations came calling. In 2012, Beam Inc. paid an impressive $95 million for the business. John Teeling himself used the money to create the Great Northern Distillery in Dundalk, whilst his sons Jack and Stephen used stock from Cooley, acquired in the sale, to launch their own Teeling range.

[@speedrakk]

when all esle fails . grab the ardbeg.

[@WhiskeyVault]

Words of wisdom.

[@dariobalado4054]

Recently became a whisk(e)y fan. It's my second bottle of Laphroaig and I have just started Connamara. I know I'll fall in love with Ardbeg, therefore I'm keeping it away for now :) PD: It seems I only like peats but Redbreast is my favourite Irish by far!

[@oghippie4978]

My name is Jeff 👍

[@JimmyLeg]

Isn't it(Connemara) made at Cooley not Kilbeggan?

[@WhiskeyVault]

I know that Kilbeggan owns Kilbeggan and Cooley. I'm thought Cooley is the one producing Connemara, but I could be wrong. Either way the parent company is still Kilbeggan

[@matthewreedy4731]

Yes

[@deusifer30]

Peat geekery…I approve…

[@aaronvannatta9329]

Dang maybe it's just an old video but Daniel really seemed almost drunk here, to me at least

[@mjardeen]

Holy hell, that beeping at the end was painful -- dial it back

[@chacehawkins4708]

Says "you don't need to watch this video cause these guys are weird as hell" and grows the largest whiskey channel on youtube. How? Reasons?

[@rinaavirap005]

The Modern Rogue!!!

[@WhiskeyVault]

Yes!

[@justanotherparatrooper7098]

My cat was just sick on the carpet, I don’t think it’s feline well.

[@yalksen]

Why?

[@KatiePhongh]

I hope that the Irish Whiskey resurgence leads to lots of new flavors profiles and styles. I only say this because Ireland has such vague laws about what is legally Irish Whiskey. In the absence of such restrictions perhaps some creativity might emerge.

[@WhiskeyVault]

Yeah, I am hoping the same thing. Luckily it looks like the smaller craft distillers are really working on the art form. Teeling is proof of what's possible. So is Walsh. One can only hope!

[@Clonmel86]

You'd would of hop'd but know most new distilleries are producing for supermarket own brands. Midleton is the only distillery coming out with new quality whiskey.

[@lorcandunne796]

a 100 km east of dublin is wales mate you mean west

[@WhiskeyVault]

YES. That's exactly what I meant.

[@lorcandunne796]

sorry for teasing :)

[@MyBoomStick1]

Half of the labels we see being produced by MGP is definitely unromantic but that doesn’t mean MGP can’t produce incredible whiskey

[@Quit-Your-Life]

So, this video is 5 years old, but you said to comment and a great friend of mine is gifting me a bottle of Connemara in the very near future, so I'm thrilled to know I'm gonna dig it. Also... Devon Forgea... How did my name come up in that conversation? Sláinte.

[@robotzombie3546]

I guess I'll pass on the connemara. What's a best Irish that's not from Jameson dist?

[@WhiskeyVault]

We really love Green Spot

[@robotzombie3546]

Whiskey Vault green spot is made in the Jameson distillery. I'm looking for something outside the Jameson distillery

[@WhiskeyVault]

Ahh, so you're avoiding all Midleton. So that wipes about about 60% of the brands :-) Try anything from Teeling or Walsh

[@Local.Hammer82]

I found two sample bottle of cannama at a yard sale for one dollar swear

[@Local.Hammer82]

One was a 12 year

[@ColmM36]

"The Irish Potato Famine of the Early 1900's" Wow. Just wow

[@WhiskeyVault]

yeah, when the wrong thing pops into my head and we say it on camera, we always keep mistakes.

[@ColmM36]

Well, cudos for the authenticity! Slainte

[@thegoalie5233]

"100km east of dublin" Uhm, east of Dublin is the sea, and then Wales.

[@charleywaynehinkle6358]

will wheaton?

[@ChewieOnTwoWheels]

I think this episode helped me realise how and why Americans butcher the pernunciation of Irish names. They over emphasise the vowels. Connemara is "con-eh-marah" not "'cone-eh-marah" Kilbeggan is "kill-beg-en" not "kill-bay-gan" If in doubt just say the word in the laziest free flowing way possible. Without emphasis. 😆

[@TheMahagoni]

Correctionnnnnnnnnnnnn- the ONLY peated Irish whiskey. If you know of a single peated Irish whiskey outside this one correct me. Bi-ti-dubs, I don't know if I'm over-commenting and it's lame and tacky at this point so if it is really tell me.

[@WhiskeyVault]

Yes. I know of a few who said they were working on them, but none that are released. Good whisky! And really? You think Rex and I are going to be able to tell you when something is tacky or lame? Pot and kettle, my friend. pot and kettle.

[@TheMahagoni]

haha gotcha thanks. Though I'm still confused a tad, you made it sound at the beginning of the video like it's great then you guys said it incohesive (spelling error really?) and a good whiskey as a cover band but not as the real thing lollllll. and that it feels like boring irish whiskey (kilbeggan) mixed with peat. Non of these things are offensive per se but it doesn't make it sound like great whiskey. good whiskey yes okay, but you said Ballantines is good whiskey my friend...and I'm not a whiskey snob I'll drink Rebel yell if you got it, but imho B-tines is oral cancer. Damn that sounds harsh. Sorry. Point is I'm confused about whenever you think a whiskey is okay, good, great or awesome and I'd like clarification whenever you got the time :)

[@WhiskeyVault]

HA! Yeah, I like this one. flat out. But comparatively, not as much as scotch.

[@TheMahagoni]

Okay okay............ but! how about in comparison with Irish whiskeys? the good ones that is course' like Green Spot, Teeling, redbreast etc. Would you say it's as good as those (or better) in complexity, level of amazement and so forth?

[@Fidasaind]

So Jeff doesn't feel married in your mouth, Daniel?

[@benjamincarter6095]

Love isles, love redbreast, not a fan of this whiskey.