Barr an Uisce Wicklow Rare Small Batch Blended Irish Whiskey
Barr an Uisce · Undisclosed (sourced, bottled by Barr an Uisce, County Wicklow)
Barr an Uisce's Wicklow Rare exemplifies the 'Bitter Yields Beauty' theme perfectly—its initial austerity rewards patience with layered sweetness and floral complexity. It's a quietly sophisticated Irish blend that punches well above its modest price point, offering nuance typically reserved for single pot stills.
Nose
An initial wave of green apple peel and lemon zest gives way to a bracing herbal quality—think fresh thyme and dandelion greens. Beneath that, gentle honeycomb sweetness and a whisper of toasted grain anchor the aromatics.
Palate
The palate opens with a surprising tannic, almost bitter edge of grapefruit pith and walnut skin before yielding to warm barley sugar, baked pear, and a thread of white pepper spice. There's a creamy mouthfeel that softens the bitterness into something elegantly structured, with dried chamomile and orange marmalade emerging mid-palate.
Finish
Medium length, resolving into gentle oak tannin, a flicker of dark honey, and lingering citrus rind bitterness that recalls the nose's herbal character.
- Mash Bill
- Blend of malted barley single malt and grain whiskey
- Distillation
- Blended Whiskey
- Maturation
- Aged in a combination of first-fill bourbon barrels and Oloroso sherry butts
- Chill-Filtered
- Yes
Cocktail Suggestion
Wicklow Peel — 2 oz Barr an Uisce Wicklow Rare · 0.75 oz Aperol · 0.5 oz fresh lemon juice · 0.25 oz honey syrup · Shake with ice, strain into a coupe, garnish with a grapefruit twist
Food Pairing
A salad of radicchio, endive, and watercress dressed in a walnut oil vinaigrette, topped with shaved Coolea (an Irish Gouda-style cheese) and candied walnuts. The whiskey's honeyed sweetness tames the greens' bitterness while its citrus notes harmonize with the nutty, caramelized cheese.
Named after the Irish for 'top of the water,' Barr an Uisce draws inspiration from the wild Wicklow hills where peat bogs and heather-covered granite give way to gentle river valleys—a landscape where beauty emerges from unyielding terrain.
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