Review: Lost Irish Whiskey
Review: Lost Irish Whiskey
Lost Irish burst on the scene a few years ago as the brain child of whiskey expert and writer Tim Herlihy, who figured he could do something a little different in what has long been the relatively sleepy yet growing category of Irish whiskey. The idea: “modernize the category and offer whiskey that travels beyond the borders of Ireland, using casks sourced from six continents, to reflect the unmatched exploration of the Irish people and their wandering spirit.”
Three styles of spirit — grain whiskey, malt whiskey, and single pot still, all triple distilled — go into seven cask types — South African brandy casks, Japanese mizunara oak, Spanish sherry casks, U.S. bourbon casks, Caribbean rum barrels, Australian tawny Port casks, and Colombian rum casks, though there are no age statements involved. Talk about modern and complex. If you think Irish whiskey is boring, if nothing else the making-of story behind Lost Irish will perk you up.
The whiskey itself pours a pale gold, with a nose that is immediately but only moderately more woody than a typical Irish expression. Aromatics of fresh oak, leathery sherry, and anise abut ample granary characteristics, a strong core of malt running through the experience. There’s a hint of fruit about the whiskey, but it remains elusive on the nose.
The palate quickly sweetens up: Classic honey and nutty nougat offer a light sugariness to top off more toasty cereal notes, crisping up with a brown sugar crumble as it sits on the tongue for a bit. The sherry influence comes back into clearer focus as the finish builds, touched with notes of incense, imbuing the whiskey with an exotic, Eastern quality. Cracker-crisp and clean as things conclude, with just a hint of lingering umami that evokes the mizunara influence.
It’s a versatile Irish that is definitely a lot of fun to sip straight and mix with — all for a wholly reasonable price.
80 proof.
A- / $28 / lostirish.com [BUY IT NOW FROM CASKERS] [BUY IT NOW FROM RESERVEBAR]
Lost Irish Whiskey
$28
