The Still & The VineSchool of Wine & Spirits
Glendalough Double Barrel Single Grain Irish Whiskey
Irish WhiskeyIssue 104

Glendalough Double Barrel Single Grain Irish Whiskey

Glendalough · Glendalough Distillery

84 proofNASCounty Wicklow, Ireland
Glendalough's Double Barrel single grain challenges the assumption that grain whiskey is inherently less interesting than malt or pot still. The double maturation—first in bourbon barrels, then in oloroso sherry casks—adds layers that the grain base delivers with transparency. An excellent introduction to Irish grain whiskey.

Kit Aromas

Tasting Notes

Nose

Green cut grass and fresh pear open the nose, followed by creamy vanilla and a touch of coconut. A light honeyed sweetness rounds out a surprisingly complex introduction for a grain whiskey.

Palate

Light to medium body with buttery cereal and a burst of orchard fruit. The bourbon barrel finishing adds caramel warmth, while a floral note—faint rosewater—adds unexpected dimension. The grain base keeps things clean and approachable.

Finish

Short to medium, with vanilla and a lingering green freshness. Clean and crisp exit.

Specifications
Distillation
Column distilled
Maturation
Bourbon barrels, finished in oloroso sherry casks
Single Pot Still
No
Chill-Filtered
Chill filtered
Serve & Pair

Cocktail Suggestion

Wicklow Highball — 2 oz Glendalough Double Barrel · 4 oz chilled sparkling water · 0.5 oz honey syrup · Squeeze of lemon · Build over ice in highball glass, stir gently, garnish with lemon wheel.

Food Pairing

Smoked salmon on brown bread with dill cream

The Story

Five friends from Dublin founded Glendalough Distillery in 2011 in the Wicklow Mountains, drawing on wild botanicals and the region's monastic distilling heritage to craft spirits that reflect the rugged landscape of Ireland's Garden County.

Train These Aromas
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