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Tyrconnell Single Malt Irish Whiskey

Price

$39.99/750ML (taxes included)

Bought at

Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation

This Whisky is Cooley Distillery's plain, straightforward single malt Irish Whisky. Cooley Distillery is currently, as far as I know, the only independent distillery in Ireland, most of the other distilleries being part of the Irish Distillery Group, which, ultimately, is controlled by Pernod, and the others being owned by various conglomerates who probably couldn't whistle an Irish tune to save their lives. Since I have mentioned this fact, I would like to use up a few lines of this review to point out that this phenomenon is in no way limited to Whisky or Ireland, but is happening all over the world for anything ranging from beverages to music: our folklore and identity are being parted out to the highest bidders of this world, people who often know or care little about it. It may be that they will choose to maintain the traditions and standards that came to be embodied by their new product line, but it's also just as possible that they will not, and that, some day, a day that I hope will never come, we shall be drinking Irish Whiskey that was carefully crafted by Chinese Women out in the lost beyond. So, next time you savour a German beer, some Irish Whiskey, or some Swiss Chocolate, have a look at the label, and, if, as I assure you might be the case, it turns out to be owned by some Italian Bigshot, a French Winemaker, or an American Confectionery, please pause and wonder whether what you're consuming really is still the real thing, or whether its quality has degraded.

But back to Cooley and Tyrconnell… This Whisky is very typical of Irish malts, with much fruitiness, both in the smell and in the taste: pears, peaches and bananas, in short, most of the fruits which are at once sweet and refreshing are present. The body is light, even lighter than most Irish, and might even be overly so, but it is rescued by the bitterness of the oak, which comes in towards the back of the mouth in order to balance out the sweetness and lend some weight to the taste. The aftertaste is also very interesting, as it leaves a lingering taste of black licorice, almost reminiscent of scorched wood. Cooley's tasting notes talk of persistent maltiness, but i thought the malt, although perceptible, especially in the nose, rather discrete. I really enjoy this Whisky, its taste has much depth and is rich in nuances; however, it is slightly lighter than what I enjoy in a Whisky, even an Irish, and hence I can tend to drink it faster than it deserves. In fact, I opened this bottle when my mother came to visit me and was quite horrified about an hour later to realise that, between three of us, we had gone through the whole bottle, but for the drop on which this review is based. For that reason, I would be curious to taste a more mature version of this Whisky--- say fifteen years--- I think the experience might be on another level altogether then. In any case, if you're looking for a good single malt Irish and would like to support a small, independent distillery at the same time, then Tyrconnell is possibly your only choice, but it is a god one.

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Stolichnaya Vodka

Price

$25.26/750ML (taxes included)

Bought at

Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation

This lady is and has been a fixture at parties and in cocktail-mixing bars for many years, and has come to symbolise Russian Vodka to most westerners. It is usually the vodka chosen by people wise enough not to buy the Smirnoffs and Absoluts of this world who nevertheless do not know much about vodka and possibly don't even drink it straight, as it ought to be drunk if one wishes to taste it at all. For this reason, one might be inclined to think of it as a mainstream beverage of little interest, which would be a misjudgement. Stolichnaya Vodka, or Stoli, as it is affectionately called, is light in taste and has remarkably little edge for a wheat vodka; it sports a nice clean smell, overlaid with grain (what a surprise) and a slight pepperiness. The taste is light and non-threatening, as mentioned earlier, but nevertheless leaves the drinker with a pleasantly memorable impression. It is somewhat sweeter than other Vodkas of the same type (such as Finlandia, for instance), which can at times make it seem just a tad heavier. On the whole, Stoli is a pleasant, reliable, and widely available vodka which one should definitely not turn away; on the other hand, its popularity can sometimes cause it to be priced slightly higher than it is truly worth, and it may be that some more obscure brand will be just as good and less expensive. In that category, I strongly recommend Moskovskaya Vodka, which is exported from Russia by the same export group, has similar characteristics, minus the sweetness (which is for me a plus), and is usually a few dollars cheaper. Sadly, it does not seem to be available in Halifax at the moment; but upon my next trip to Montreal, I will certainly review it in greater details here.

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