The Still & The VineSchool of Wine & Spirits
Writers' Tears Double Oak
Irish WhiskeyIssue 47

Writers' Tears Double Oak

Writers' Tears · Walsh Whiskey Distillery (Royal Oak)

80 proofNASCarlow, Ireland
The Double Oak edition adds structural complexity to the Writers' Tears range without losing the elegance the brand is known for. The second maturation in American oak virgin casks introduces toast and spice while keeping the pot still character intact. A smart step up from the original.

Kit Aromas

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh-cut grass and honey greet first, followed by vanilla and a soft floral rosewater accent. There's an underlying nuttiness — hazelnut — that anchors the lighter top notes.

Palate

Silky entry with a surprising depth of caramel and orchard fruit. The double oak maturation brings a woody backbone that the single pot still component weaves through with buttery richness.

Finish

Medium-length with gentle clove spice, trailing honey, and a clean woody fade.

Specifications
Distillation
Triple distilled in copper pot stills
Maturation
Initially matured in ex-bourbon casks, finished in American oak virgin casks
Single Pot Still
No
Chill-Filtered
Yes
Serve & Pair

Cocktail Suggestion

Ink & Oak — 2 oz Writers' Tears Double Oak · 0.75 oz sweet vermouth · 0.25 oz honey syrup · 2 dashes orange bitters · Stir with ice, strain into a rocks glass over a large cube, garnish with an orange twist.

Food Pairing

Honey-glazed salmon with roasted root vegetables

The Story

Blended by Bernard and Rosemary Walsh at the Royal Oak Distillery in Carlow, this expression honors Ireland's literary tradition with a double maturation in both bourbon and American oak virgin casks.

Train These Aromas
Comments

Be the first to comment.

Leave a comment

0 / 4,000

First-time comments are reviewed before appearing. Be kind, be specific, no spam.

More from Walsh Whiskey Distillery (Royal Oak)
More Irish Whiskey Reviews
Kilbeggan Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Peated
Irish Whiskey

Kilbeggan Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Peated

Kilbeggan

This bottling from one of Ireland's oldest distilleries proves that peat need not be an Islay monopoly. The flame here is Irish turf — softer, earthier, more herbaceous than Scottish peat — and it plays beautifully against the pot still's inherent oiliness. An underrated expression that deserves wider attention.

86 proof
Waterford Sheestown Edition 8.1 Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Irish Whiskey

Waterford Sheestown Edition 8.1 Single Malt Irish Whiskey

Waterford

Waterford's single farm origin concept makes the barrel's influence a controlled variable, letting the barley itself speak. This Sheestown edition shows how terroir and restrained oak maturation can produce a whiskey of elegant precision. It's intellectual without being austere.

100 proof
Midleton Dair Ghaelach Bluebell Forest Tree No. 4
Irish Whiskey

Midleton Dair Ghaelach Bluebell Forest Tree No. 4

Midleton

Midleton's Dair Ghaelach series is a masterclass in how maturation vessel transforms spirit. Tree No. 4 from Bluebell Forest showcases the furnace-like intensity of virgin Irish oak tamed by the decades-long patience of pot still maturation. At cask strength, it's a riveting study in heat shaped by time—bold, complex, and unmistakably Irish.

114.2 proof
Teeling Blackpitts Peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Irish Whiskey

Teeling Blackpitts Peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey

Teeling

Teeling's Blackpitts is a reminder that Irish whiskey and peat were once inseparable. The triple-distilled spirit softens the smoke into something nuanced and approachable. Named after the area of Dublin where malt was historically dried over peat fires, this is a history lesson in a glass.

92 proof