Natterjack "The Mistake" Irish Whiskey Review

There are very few whiskeys that I’ll buy due to what’s written on the back label. With American whiskeys in particular, they’re mostly toad scat. Those that originate from other parts of the world are less common.

 

Speaking of toads, in Ireland, there is a species called the Natterjack (Epidalea calamita). Whereas most toads hop, the Natterjack walks. They’re about 2.5 inches in length and have a yellow dorsal stripe. The Natterjack’s call can be heard for two kilometers. Also, it is the only toad native to Ireland.

 

The Mistake, an Irish whiskey distilled for Natterjack Irish Whiskey, is the subject of today’s review. Natterjack offers a few expressions; they’re all distilled by Gortinore Distillers & Co., located in County Waterford. The distillery was founded in 2014 and purchased by Aidan Mehigan and John Green in 2022. 

 

Natterjack is distilled from a mash of 20% malted barley and 80% corn, first aged in vintage Bourbon barrels, then for a year-long finishing cycle in virgin, #4 charred oak barrels. However, in 2020, someone “forgot” about 46 barrels of whiskey going through that finishing cycle. Upon realizing the oopsie, they opted to let it finish twice as long.

 

“What started as an error became one of our most celebrated releases. We’ve always believed in pushing the boundaries of traditional Irish whiskey, and The Mistake truly embodies that philosophy. It’s a nod to our roots but with a bit of rebellion.”– Aidan Mehigan, Founder and CEO of Natterjack Irish Whiskey

 

Whenever I hear about things forgotten in whiskey warehouses, I instinctively do the Mr. Spock eyebrow thing. Distillers know exactly what they have at any given time because they must keep inventory for, amongst other reasons, tax purposes. Is it possible? Sure. Am I suspect? Yeah. At the end of the day, does it matter? No.

 

I purchased my bottle for $44.99 from Watertown Wine & Liquor Store in Watertown, Wisconsin. Let’s crack it open, #DrinkCurious, and smell and taste what The Mistake is all about.

 

• Whiskey Type: Blended Irish Whiskey
• Distiller: Gortinore Distillers & Co.
• Age: NAS
• Mashbill: 20% malted barley and 80% corn
• Cooperage: 3.5 years in former Bourbon barrels, then 2 years in new, #4-charred American oak barrels
• Alcohol Content: 46% ABV (92°)
• Price per 700mL: $44.99

 

Appearance: I used a Glencairn glass to examine this Irish whiskey neat. I was surprised that, after two years in heavily charred oak, it wasn’t darker than its yellow-gold color. Huge, fast tears fell from a relatively thinner rim.  

 

Nose: I ignored the whiskey for about 15 minutes before I embarked on the nosing adventure. The aroma included notes of rich toffee, molasses, cinnamon, vanilla, orange blossoms, and a hint of oak. I drew the air through my lips and encountered leather and barrel char.  

 

Palate: The Mistake’s mouthfeel was dense, creamy, and provided a shock of thick, charred oak. The second sip revealed flavors of bold vanilla, honey, and English toffee on the front of my palate. My mid-palate detected dry leather, a kiss of fennel, and lemon zest. I tasted clove, heavy barrel char, and dark molasses on the back.

 

Finish: Notes of very mild fennel, clove, old leather, heavy barrel char, molasses, lemon peel, and Bartlett pears stuck to my tongue like glue. The char grew in intensity as the finish lingered, as did the clove and leather. Everything suddenly fell off a cliff at 2:06, making for a very long duration.    

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: In all honesty, when I started nosing The Mistake, I thought perhaps I had a mislabeled bottle because there was hardly any oakiness to it. All doubts were erased once it touched my tongue.

 

The whiskey drank somewhat above its stated proof; I would have guessed at 100° or so. The Mistake grew on me after the third sip. My mind went from “this is weird” to “wow,” and suddenly, I couldn’t get enough of it. I poured myself a second glass (something I rarely do). For $45.00, I was entertained and captivated.

 

How have I never heard of Natterjack Irish Whiskey? The Mistake deserves every bit of 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.