Whisky: The Legendary Dark Silkie Irish Whiskey
Producer: Sliabh Liag Distillers
Distillery: Sourced
Whisky Type: Irish Blend
Age: NAS
Region: County Donegal, Ireland
ABV: 46%
Aged in Cask: ex-sherry, ex-bourbon, and Virgin oak
Price Range: $

Irish Whiskey peaked in the 19th century when Dublin distilleries created single malts and traditional Pot Still styles that accounted for more than 60% of global consumption. However, things started to change drastically by the late 1800s. After the end of prohibition (1933), sales of Irish Whiskey declined significantly, and Scotch Whisky emerged as the dominant style.

Today the Irish Whiskey renaissance is in full swing. According to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, 5.9 million cases were sold in the U.S. last year, representing a nearly 18% increase in 2021. In addition, Forbes magazine reported that today there are approximately forty distilleries in Ireland, with more in the construction phase. These numbers represent a significant jump considering only a handful of distilleries survived the collapse a century ago.

One distillery that has emerged in this revival phase is Sliabh Liag Distillers, an international drinks business based in Donegal County, Republic of Ireland. James and Moira Doherty founded the company in 2014 in the Sliabh Liag (pronounced “sleeve league”) peninsula in the northernmost county of Ireland to restore the distilling tradition of the area during the 19th century known for its rich, smoky and peated whiskies.

Ardara distillery, situated in the coastal town of Carrick, makes every step of the whiskey production process on-site, including the hand bottling. Since its operation did not start until 2021, the company sources most of the whiskies for the Silkie range from the Teeling Distillery and the Great Northern Distillery. Ardara distillery focuses on single malts and Pot Still styles, but they also make gin and vodka.

The Silkie Range

According to its founders, the range brings back the distinctive flavor of the Donegal area that existed 175 years ago. These are the whiskies from the core range:

• The Legendary Silkie. An Irish blend made with double-distilled and triple-distilled (peated and unpeated) single malts, grain (corn) whiskey aged in several types of barrels. The distillery’s first release was in 2016.
• The Legendary Midnight Silkie. A blended malt made from five triple distilled single malts (peated and un-peated) aged in multiple types of casks. The proportion of peated single malt is much higher in this version than in the Legendary Silkie.
• The Legendary Dark Silkie. See tasting notes.
• The Legendary Silkie Cask Series #1. A limited release whiskey aged in Rioja wine casks for six months and Ribera del Duero wine casks for five months.

In Celtic and Norse mythology, selkies are mythological beings similar to mermaids capable of changing from seal to human form by shedding their skin. Selkies are part of folktales and mythology of Scotland and the Northern Isles. Hence, a mermaid appears on every bottle.

Now the Tasting Notes for The Legendary Dark Silkie

An Irish blend made with a double-distilled single malt aged in ex-sherry casks (15%), a triple distilled single malt peated to 55ppm and aged in bourbon barrels (15%), and grain (corn) from a column still aged in Virgin Oak (70%)

The peated malt is reduced from 55ppm to 22ppm after distillation. Released in 2019 and bottled at 46% ABV. Non-chilled filtered and natural color. Here are the notes:

Nose: Aromas of chocolate, salt, apples, tobacco peat, and smoke.

Palate: A caramel and salty arrival developing into an apple, peat, and smoke. The peat and smoke are present but do not mask the other flavors. Everything here is in check. Love it!

Finish: A medium note of caramel and fruit with peat and smoke.

Conclusion: This Irish blend does a good job integrating apple, caramel, chocolate, and salt flavors with peat and smoke. All flavors are nicely balanced. The perfect example of a whiskey that would go under the radar in the USA unless you are a whiskey geek. An excellent value for only $44. Slainte!

Check this video from Sliabh Liag Distillers about the Distilling Heritage of Donegal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rrc4rfIDRuY

Score: 4/5 ⭐

Check more Irish whiskey reviews here.

Legend

$50 or less $
$51-$100 $$
$101-$150 $$$
$151 or more $$$$