Celtic Whiskey Shop has introduced its own Whiskey line, The Celt Irish Whiskey, and launched its first offering “An Chéad Bhlás” or “First Taste.” The goal of the line is to release top-of-the-line Whiskey at affordable prices.
The popular Dublin shop and online Whiskey emporium’s new label is drawn from casks of whiskey purchased from nearly all the new distilleries in Ireland. These casks have been set aside and are “slowly maturing for future single cask or small batch release.” Unusually, for Celtic Whiskey, the brand is limiting the product info on the whiskey as it isn’t “looking for comparisons with the distilleries that distilled them.”
The Celt Irish Whiskey An Chead Bhlás is a non-age statement single malt, finished in Sherry casks from an unnamed Irish distillery. Bottled at 46% ABV, the nose features aromas of Honeycomb crisp, salted caramel, dates, golden syrup, maple syrup, red apples, and raisins. The palate is sweet, saline, and spicy with flavors of salted crackers, roasted and salted nuts, toffees, dates, sultanas, and maple syrup. The finish lingers with a Sherry character.
“Our goal with The Celt is to release what we consider are excellent, tasty whiskeys at affordable prices,” stated Founder and Managing Director of the Celtic Whiskey brand, Ally Alpine. “Unusually, for Celtic Whiskey, we are limiting the product info on the whiskey as we aren’t looking for comparisons with the distilleries that distilled them. We would like them to be enjoyed & shared for their quality rather than having any collectible value.”
The Celt Irish Whiskey An Chéad Bhlás is priced at €75 ($87 USD), and can be purchased through the Celtic Whiskey Shop web store or at it Dawson Street location in Dublin, Ireland.
This is not the first time the Whiskey shop has offered its own Whiskies, and, in fact, the brand has a long history of creating and releasing its own expressions.