Writers' Tears Red Head Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Writers' Tears · Walsh Whiskey Distillery (sourced/blended)
Walsh Whiskey's Red Head bottling showcases what oloroso sherry casks can do to well-made Irish single malt. It's richer and more contemplative than the standard Copper Pot expression, with a shifting interplay between fruit and spice that keeps you reaching for the glass. Non-chill filtered at 46%, it holds up well to a few drops of water.
Nose
Opens with dried fruit — figs and raisins — layered over honeyed malt. A warm baking spice note carries clove and a hint of cocoa, with a pleasant earthy undercurrent.
Palate
Creamy and medium-full, with caramel and dried fruit dominating early before clove spice and dark chocolate emerge. There's a woody depth from the sherry cask influence that gives the palate real structure.
Finish
Medium-long, with lingering cocoa and dried fruit slowly giving way to a warm, slightly earthy oak note.
- Distillation
- Triple distilled
- Maturation
- Matured in ex-bourbon casks, finished in oloroso sherry butts
- Single Pot Still
- No
- Chill-Filtered
- Non-chill filtered
Cocktail Suggestion
Dublin Cobbler — 2 oz Writers' Tears Red Head · 0.5 oz ruby port · 0.5 oz fresh orange juice · 0.25 oz simple syrup · Shake with ice, strain into a wine glass filled with crushed ice, garnish with seasonal berries and a mint sprig.
Food Pairing
The whiskey's dried fruit and cocoa notes dovetail naturally with a rich chocolate torte, while the sherry cask influence bridges beautifully to a warm fig compote on the side.
Walsh Whiskey created the Writers' Tears range to honor Ireland's literary tradition, and the Red Head expression takes its name from a character in the works of Oscar Wilde, finished exclusively in Spanish oloroso sherry butts.
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