Reviewing Keeper’s Heart Irish + Bourbon Cask Strength Blend:
Keeper’s Heart introduced their signature Irish + Bourbon Whiskey blend at Cask Strength in June 2023. The blend aimed to marry the sweetness of bourbon with the earthy spices of Irish pot still and the delicate butterscotch notes of Irish grain whiskey, to deliver a powerful and truly unique taste experience.
In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, Bourbon Lens sat down with this unique blend that blends two Irish Whiskeys with an All-American Bourbon Whiskey. We thank O’Shaughnessy Distilling Company for the opportunity to try this blend and catch up with the distillery since their appearance way back in Episode 153 of the podcast in 2021. Sláinte!!
Fast Facts about Irish + Bourbon Cask Strength:
- Style: A Blend of Irish Whiskeys (Triple Pot Still and Grain) and Bourbon Whiskey
- Blend: Detailed in chart below.
- Proof: 118 (59% ABV)
- Age: all components over 4 years old
- Price: $50 / 700 mL
Bourbon Lens Tasting Notes and Impressions:
- Nose: Sweet gingerbread and Bischoff cookies, vanilla cake, and orchard fruit/apples.
- Palate: punchy with a nice amount of black pepper spice, followed by a lingering sweetness of shortbread and vanilla cookies and apples.
- Finish: the lingering sweetness is a nice compliment to a fun and layered whiskey.
- Impressions: I tasted this in a blind lineup of 4 cask strength bourbons. As I expected, I was able to identify it but for good reason. The shortbread cookie and apple notes that I find and love in a lot of Irish Whiskies were definitely present. However, they were amplified thanks to the new charred oak aged bourbon that also brought a nice punch of spice. Offering this at cask strength is a great value at $50. Keeper’s Heart would be a great way to introduce Irish Whiskey fans to bourbon or, conversely, allow a diehard bourbon drinker to branch out.
Irish + Bourbon Cask Strength Blend Components:
| GRAIN SOURCE | LIQUID ORIGIN | MATURATION | |
|---|---|---|---|
| TRIPLE DISTILLED POT STILL WHISKEY | Malted & Unmalted Barley | Ireland | Aged Over 4 Years in Refill American Bourbon Barrels |
| GRAIN WHISKEY | Maize/Malt | Ireland | Aged Over 4 Years in Refill American Bourbon Barrels |
| BOURBON | 75% Corn, 21% Rye, 4% Malted Barley | US | Aged Over 4 Years in Virgin Oak Barrels |
About Keeper’s Heart Whiskey
Keeper’s Heart, from the O’Shaughnessy Distilling Co, is the first whiskey to bring together the very best of Irish and American distilling traditions to deliver a truly unique style of whiskey.
The distillery is founded by cousins and lifelong friends, Patrick and Michael O’Shaughnessy and helmed by world-renowned Master Distiller Brian Nation formerly of Jameson, Redbreast and Midleton whiskeys. Their state-of-the-art distillery in Minneapolis is designed to produce world-class whiskeys and serve as a source of pride for the community. The magic of whiskey-making begins with their three giant copper pot stills, where they make American Whiskey, in the traditional Irish triple distillation style.
Keeper’s Heart offers a unique membership program, Cask Society, which provides whiskey fans with the opportunity to purchase a one-of-a-kind barrel. Follow along on their journey @KeepersHeartWhiskey.
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