Keeper's Heart 10-Year Irish Whiskey Review

 

Keeper’s Heart Whiskey was founded in 2019 by cousins Patrick and Michael O’Shaughnessy in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They acquired a 15,000-square-foot building they made into a whiskey destination, including the distilling operation with its copper pot stills, a restaurant, and a bar. They christened it as the O’Shaughnessy Distillery Co.  

 

The cousins then brought Master Distiller Brian Nation on board. He worked at Irish Distillers and was responsible for Jameson, Redbreast, and Midleton. Then, David Perkins, the founder of High West Distillery, joined to help marry Irish and American whiskey making. The goal was to create something unique that would put Minnesota, and in particular, Keeper’s Heart, on the whiskey map.

 

“Savor the company of loved ones with every sip of Keeper’s Heart whiskey, crafted to unlock the best of times. Founded by cousins Patrick & Michael O'Shaughnessy, the O'Shaughnessy family motto, "Fugit Hora" or "The Hour Flies," reminds us to cherish every moment spent with those closest to us. Whether it's a special occasion or a casual gathering, our whiskeys are the perfect addition to any celebration. So raise a glass and enjoy the fleeting moments - because before you know it, the hour flies.” – Keeper’s Heart Whiskey

 

Keeper’s Heart has six core offerings:  Irish + American, Irish + American 110 Proof, Irish + Bourbon, Irish + Bourbon Cask Strength, a 10-Year Single Malt Irish Whiskey, and a 21-Year Single Malt Irish Whiskey. It also offers single-barrel selections. Fun fact: 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’ll explore the 10-Year Single Malt Irish Whiskey. The malted barley mashbill was distilled in copper pot stills and aged for a decade in former Bourbon barrels. Once matured, it was transferred to Malaga wine casks.

 

What’s Malaga? That’s a fortified dessert wine made entirely in Malaga, Spain, from Pedro Ximénez and Moscatel grapes. Once very popular, Malaga fell out of favor in the 20^th century and only recently has enjoyed a resurgence.

 

While I’ve never tried Malaga, I am very familiar with Pedro Ximénez (PX) cask finishing for whiskeys, and in my experience, the results are usually delightful. I can count on one hand how many didn’t turn out well. My history with Moscatel finishing is far less, and I could only dig up one review (but the whiskey turned out great).

 

I’m looking forward to this #DrinkCurious opportunity, and I appreciate Keeper’s Heart providing me with a sample in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. Fingers crossed! 

 

• Whiskey Type: Irish Single Malt Whiskey
• Distiller: Great Northern Distillery
• Age: 10 years  
• Mashbill: 100% malted barley
• Cooperage: ex-Bourbon barrels, finished in Malaga wine casks   
• Alcohol Content: 43% ABV (86°)
• Price per 700mL: $74.99

 

Appearance: I poured Keeper’s Heart into my Glencairn glass to sip neat. There is no indication that the whiskey is naturally colored or non-chill-filtered, but it presented as liquid gold—a thick rim formed with evenly-spaced, fast, thick tears.

 

Nose: The aroma started fruity with lemon zest, apples, and apricots. I also smelled oak and blanched almonds. I discovered plums and raisins when I drew the air through my lips.

 

Palate: I encountered a soft, creamy mouthfeel. The front tasted of honey, apricots, and golden raisins. My mid-palate found almonds, pecans, and lemon oil. Flavors of malt, milk chocolate,  and oak spice hit the back of my palate.

 

Finish: While there was oak to give a bit of a spicy kick, most of what remained in my mouth and throat included apricots, golden raisins, honey, and lemon oil. The finish came in two waves, initially falling off at 0:58, then ramping up again before dying off at 1:38, making it medium-long in duration.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: I try never to judge anything on the first sip, but in the case of Keeper’s Heart 10-Year Single Malt Irish Whiskey, I made some pleasurable moan that caught Mrs. Whiskeyfellow’s attention. She asked, “That good?” I responded that it was only my first impression.

 

The second sip was even better because my reaction to the first was mainly based on the texture. The fruity notes exploded in my mouth, and the oak provided a weighted balance. The nuts seemed to form a fulcrum between the two.

 

I would be very interested in what this whiskey tastes like uncut. However, as it stands, this is a fabulous example of what Irish whiskey can be. The price is reasonable, and I have no qualms about crowning it with 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.