Triple Dog Irish Whiskey Review & Tasting Notes

 

It is difficult to dislike Irish whiskey. That’s not to suggest some that are anything beyond rotgut, but the nature of Irish whiskey is inviting. The triple distillation tends to remove anything harsh, thus allowing for a smooth, easy drinking experience.

 

At one point in time, Irish whiskey was the most popular spirit in the world until the late 19^th century. Almost 60% of the whiskey in the world came from Ireland! It fell into decline due to a combination of corrupted distillery owners, gross mismanagement, and punitive tariffs imposed by the Irish government, with the final nail in the coffin being Prohibition. What was once 88 legal distilleries fell to only two in a mere 60 years, and those (Bushmills and Old Midleton) were owned by Irish Distillers.

 

Irish whiskey has experienced a resurgence, bringing it from the edge of extinction in 2010 to at least 40 distilleries today, with even more on the way.

 

Irish whiskey is broken down into four categories: Single Pot Still, made from a blend of malted and unmalted barley in copper pot stills from a single distillery; Single Malt, made from all malted barley in a copper pot still at a single distillery; Grain Whiskey, made in a Coffey (or column) still from a variety of grains; and Blended Whiskey, a combination of any of the above.

 

Today, we’ll explore Triple Dog Irish Whiskey.   

 

Dan O’Shevlin is a whiskey enthusiast who studied biochemistry. His backstory is a group of whiskey-drinking friends in a small Dublin pub engaged in a debate about how to make Irish whiskey more appealing to newer generations of whiskey drinkers. Things got heated, and O’Shevlin was triple dog dared to make it happen. Not one to back down from a challenge, he created Triple Dog Dare Irish Whiskey.

 

“For centuries, Irish master distillers have dared each other to create the best whiskey in the world. We took the most serious ones of all: the ‘Triple Dog Dare.’ This is the result, an Irish spirit that will surprise and delight, with crème brulee notes and a defined citrus finish, a unique proprietary blend that’s sure to impress – from the old guard to the next generation of Irish whiskey lovers.” – O’Shevlin Spirits LLC

 

Triple Dog Irish Whiskey is made from an undisclosed grain content O'Shevlin claims is based upon his grandfather’s 1916 formula. It is triple-distilled using both pot and column stills, then aged at least four years in French oak casks. It is sourced from Great Northern Distillery in Dundalk. Triple Dog is non-chill filtered and packaged at 40% ABV (80°), and a 750ml bottle has a suggested price of $39.99. It is only distributed to a few states, but you can also purchase it online from its website.

 

I don’t talk much about packaging, but I want to point out something fun regarding Triple Dog: it bears a studded dog collar on the bottle’s neck.

 

 

And, as we all know, packaging is excellent at getting your attention. Still, it doesn’t do anything to improve the whiskey inside the bottle. We’ll #DrinkCurious in a moment. First, I must thank O’Shevlin Spirits for providing me with a sample in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review.   

 

Appearance: I poured this whiskey into my Glencairn glass and sipped it neat. The liquid was brassy and formed a wide rim. It took a bit until thick tears rolled back into the pool.

 

Nose: I smelled stewed pears and apples, caramel, vanilla, and honey. Drawing the air into my mouth brought more apples and pears.

 

Palate: An incredibly creamy texture rolled across my tongue. The front of my palate encountered honey, vanilla, and charred oak on the front of my palate. Then came nutmeg, torched caramel, and light cinnamon. The back tasted of fresh leather, orange peel, and sugar cookies.

 

Finish: Medium in duration, the finish consisted of more leather, sugar cookies, caramel, and orange zest. At 40% ABV, you don’t expect much burn, and Triple Dog Dare doesn’t disappoint.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: I came across various notes that could equal crème brulee, but they didn’t exist together. As everyone’s palate is slightly different, that could explain why I didn’t find it on my own. I’m also glad I didn’t consider the brand’s notes while conducting my tasting experience. Regardless, Triple Dog is an off-profile Irish whiskey. While it is a blended Irish, the malt notes were more accessible than the grain. One might be fooled into thinking this is a malt whiskey.

 

Because it is so off-profile, I initially thought this whiskey was just strange. Yet, the more I sipped it, the more it grew on me. By the time I finished my glass, I poured a second.

 

While many 80-proofers are about $10.00 or so less than what Triple Dog costs, they are bland in comparison. For $40.00, it is a fun venture into what Irish whiskey can be. I’d be interested in tasting this at a higher proof just to experience its taste. However, at its current incarnation, I’m happy to say it has earned my Bottle rating. Cheers!  

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you to do so responsibly.