Two Stacks "The Blender's Cut" Cask Strength Complex Blend Irish Whiskey Review & Tasting Notes

 

About this time last year, I discovered something purely on accident: Two Stacks Dram in a Can Irish Whiskey. It was sitting by the cash register, and I bought it with the full expectation it would be awful and I could pan it hard.

 

Silly me, it wound up being my Best Irish Whiskey of 2023!

 

For a dozen months, I’ve been trying to find a bottle from Two Stacks Whiskey Co. to taste what the brand offers. I searched in Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, and all over Wisconsin without avail. No one had even heard of it. Then, when I was chatting with a local store owner friend and asked if he had ever tried Two Stacks, he said, “Sure, I have a bottle on the shelf.” So, I bought it; I didn’t even care what expression it was, and that’s because I knew a bit of the brand’s background.

 

Two Stacks is a whiskey brand founded in 2020 by Shane McCarthy, Liam Brogan, and Donal McLynn as one of only a handful of independent bonding and blending facilities in Ireland.

 

“Our unique approach to working with some of Ireland's leading distilleries; selecting the finest spirit distilled across the Island allows us to create incredible expressions of whiskey never crafted nor tasted before. We continue to build our reputation on top of three key fundamentals and to help shape the future in Irish whiskey: Transparency, Creativity, and Innovation.” – Two Stacks

 

What I wound up purchasing is called The Blender’s Cut. Two Stacks describes this as a Cask Strength, Complex Blend. Because of the brand’s philosophy, we know exactly what’s in this Blended Irish Whiskey:

 

• 40% dark grain aged in virgin oak casks
• 40% light grain aged in Bourbon casks
• 8% Pot Still aged in Oloroso sherry butts
• 10% double malt aged in Bourbon casks
• 2% peated malt aged in Bourbon casks

 

The Blender’s Cut is non-chill filtered and naturally colored. It weighs a healthy 65% ABV (130°), and a 750ml bottle costs around $60.00. It carries no age statement. Incidentally, these are the same components as Dram in a Can, but at very different proofs.

 

This will be the highest-proofed Irish whiskey I’ve tasted to date. The soon-to-be former placeholder is Blue Spot, which was around 117°.

 

I’m simultaneously excited and hopeful that I won’t set myself up for disappointment. Let’s #DrinkCurious…

 

Appearance: I poured this bronze-colored whiskey into a Glencairn glass to sip neat. The microthin rim released thick, wavy tears that quickly fell back into the pool.

 

Nose: The aroma offered big smells of rich toffee, honey, chocolate, and nougat. I could have easily been sniffing a candy bar. I found malted milk when I opened my mouth and inhaled the vapor, making it more like a milkshake than a candy bar.   

 

Palate: The texture of this whiskey was full-bodied and creamy. While it warmed my mouth and throat, it was only that – warm. The front featured apples, pears, and apricots. I tasted cinnamon, toasted coconut, and roasted almonds as it moved to the mid-palate. The virgin oak had an opportunity to shine on the back, along with light smoke and honey.

 

Finish: The finish plodded around for several minutes. It didn’t come through like a wave; it slowly rumbled until eventually falling off. It left behind smoked oak, chocolate, cinnamon, coconut, and a kiss of caramel.  

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Sipping The Blender’s Cut was an experience. I didn’t just drink whiskey; I got lost in it. This Irish whiskey drank way under its stated 130°. I poured a second glass before I considered that part. Thankfully, I was home with no plans to leave. The Blender’s Cut is stupendous. I’m thrilled this is not a limited-edition whiskey and is affordable. Hopefully, you’ll have an easier time than me finding a Bottle for yourself. 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.