West Cork Barrel Proof 12 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey
West Cork · West Cork Distillers
West Cork's barrel proof 12 Year Old is a serious statement from a distillery still fighting for recognition among Ireland's more storied names. The sherry cask influence is beautifully integrated, and the higher proof carries the flavors with conviction. This is a bottle that argues for Cork as more than a footnote in Irish whiskey.
Nose
Intense dried fruit — raisin and fig — with a wave of dark honey and toasted almond. Sherry influence is unmistakable, bringing notes of clove and leather. There's a pleasant woodiness and a hint of orange marmalade behind it all.
Palate
Full-bodied and assertive at barrel proof, with rich caramel, cocoa, and dried apricot. Clove spice and earthy undertones provide complexity, while a buttery texture keeps it approachable despite the strength. Water opens up a floral rosewater note.
Finish
Long and warming, with lingering cocoa, dried fruit, and a dry woody spice that slowly resolves into vanilla.
- Mash Bill
- 100% Malted Barley
- Distillation
- Triple distilled in copper pot stills
- Maturation
- Aged 12 years in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks
- Single Pot Still
- No
- Chill-Filtered
- Non-chill filtered
Food Pairing
A dense dark chocolate torte sprinkled with Maldon sea salt mirrors the whiskey's cocoa and dried fruit notes while the salt amplifies its caramel sweetness and tempers the barrel proof heat.
Founded in 2003 by three friends in the harbor town of Skibbereen, West Cork Distillers grew from a converted warehouse into one of Ireland's largest independent whiskey producers, quietly building a catalog of well-aged malts.
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