Thirsty Thursday: Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey

This week on Thirsty Thursday we travel to the Kilbeggan distillery on the River Brosna in Kilbeggan, County Westmeath, Ireland. Kilbeggan Irish whiskey has a long history at the old distillery, 250 years in fact. Over the years the Kilbeggan brand has changed ownership and remained dormant until 2007 when production recommenced on the 250th anniversary of the old distillery.

Irish whiskey has several criteria that it must meet in order to be called “Irish whiskey”. First the spirit must be produced on the island of Ireland. Second it must be distilled to an alcohol by volume of less than 94.8%. Third, the spirit must be aged for at least three years in wooden casks and if the spirit is a blend of two or more distilleries it must be referred to as a “blended whiskey.”

In comparison, Irish whiskeys tend to be less sweet than their Scottish counterparts, which have prominent honey flavor.

Nose:

The nose is very light on this blend and the only thing we could detect was a light caramel smell and some mild fruit notes.

Tasting:

The first sip gives you a taste of apple followed by light caramel and a mild lingering sweetness that fades quickly into the finish. This is a surprising whiskey, especially at its price point and the more you drink the more it grows on you. While it’s not complex, it is a nice every day whiskey that could easily be used in an Irish cocktail.

Finish:

The finish on this particular brand is fairly long, it leaves you with a light and delicate aftertaste with a caramel background. The more you sip on this whiskey the more the residual flavor builds into a nice long aftertaste.

Overall, Kilbeggan is a lighter Irish whiskey when compared to others we’ve tried. It can be enjoyed in a variety of cocktails or on the rocks. Our tasters gave it an average rating of 66/100. One taster described it as a “breakfast whiskey” and we couldn’t agree more. It would make for a perfect spiked coffee on the weekend or on a chilly day. Don’t miss the cocktail idea below. For more information about Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey please visit kilbegganwhiskey.com $24

*Disclosure: A sample bottle of Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey was provided for review purposes. Brash received no compensation for this review.

KILBEGGAN® IRISH BREAKFAST SHOT

INGREDIENTS:
- ½ part Kilbeggan® Irish Whiskey
- ½ part DeKuyper® Buttershots® Liqueur
- 1 part Orange Juice
- 1 slice of Bacon

METHOD: Enjoy the Kilbeggan® Irish Whiskey and DeKuyper® Buttershots® Liqueur followed immediately by the orange juice. Finish with a slice of bacon.