Keeper's Heart Irish + Bourbon Whiskey Review

 

Blended whiskeys can be a ton of fun. I hold a deep respect for good blenders. They take several things and create something remarkable from them. The trick is mapping out the journey to get to the desired result. That assumes the blender isn’t simply taking mediocre whiskeys and attempting to salvage them.

 

It isn’t uncommon to create Scotches, Irish whiskeys, or American whiskeys from blends. What is less so is taking whiskeys from various countries and blending them. Such is the case with Keeper’s Heart Whiskey by O’Shaughnessy Distilling of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Its Master Distiller, Brian Nation, is formerly of the famed Midleton Distillery of Ireland.

 

“Several years ago cousins Patrick and Michael O’Shaughnessy, along with Michael’s father Gerry, were sharing a bottle of whiskey. It was the end of a long and joyous day at an O’Shaughnessy family reunion, where hundreds of relatives traveled from around the world to spend time together. They were reflecting on the importance of family; on how to make sure future generations stayed connected; and on the legacy they wanted to leave.

 

As conversation went deeper into the night and more whiskey was poured, they had a realization: the answer was in the glass. It was at that point they set out to create a whiskey that celebrated their Irish-American heritage, that built a way for friends and family to connect today and left a legacy for future generations.” – Keeper’s Heart Whiskey

 

Keeper’s Heart has five core offerings:  Irish + American, Irish + American 110 Proof, Irish + Bourbon, Irish + Bourbon Cask Strength, and a 10-Year Single Malt Irish Whiskey. It also offers single-barrel selections. If you’re like me and wondering what the difference is between Irish + American and Irish + Bourbon, the first is blended with American Rye.

 

Today, we will dive deep into the Irish + Bourbon Cask Strength whiskey. It is a blend of three whiskeys:

 

• Triple-distilled Pot Still, made from 50% malted and 50% unmalted barley, aged over four years in former Bourbon casks and distilled by Great Northern Distilling
• Single Grain, made from 90% corn and 10% malted  barley, aged over four years in former Bourbon casks, and distilled by Great Northern Distilling
• Bourbon, distilled by MGP from a mash of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley in new, charred oak casks

 

Irish + Bourbon Cask Strength is packaged at 59% ABV (118°), and a 700ml has a suggested price of $49.99.

 

Before I #DrinkCurious, I must thank Keeper’s Heart for giving me a sample of this whiskey in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. Let’s get to that, shall we?

 

Appearance: I poured this whiskey into my Glencairn glass to sip neat. The liquid was a brilliant yellow-golden color. A fragile, jagged rim formed, then shed a curtain of thick, slow tears.

 

Nose: There were extensive notes of caramel and vanilla on the nose. Beneath those, I found lemon peel, peaches, and figs. Just as I thought that was all it had to offer, the slightest rye was included. I drew the air through my lips and encountered lemon curd.

 

Palate: The whiskey’s texture was thin and oily, introducing my palate to lemon oil, honey, and corn. The middle possessed flavors of almonds, peaches, and tobacco. I tasted clove, bold oak spice, and cocoa on the back.  

 

Finish: Long and warm; the finish lasted 1:58. It featured lemon peel, honey, peaches, clove, and oak spice. As everything began falling off, a cocoa wave hit my tongue.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Most folks associate Irish whiskey with delicate notes and mouthfeel. I’m unsure if the high proof, the Bourbon content, or a combination canceled what’s expected. The Irish + American Whiskey blend commanded attention, offering many fruits and spices. It drank at its stated proof; nothing was hidden.

 

For only a drawing of Ulysses Grant, this is one heck of a fascinating whiskey. The more I sipped on it, the more complex it became. I’m thrilled to have this in my whiskey library, and I believe you will be, too. It snags 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.