Two things that might be appropriate in the month of St. Patrick’s Day—Michael Collins and Irish Whiskey. Put them together and you have Michael Collins Irish Whiskey. Michael Collins, a heroic figure in Irish history, signed the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921, which made Ireland an independent country for the first time in over 700 years. Michael Collins was a visionary who realized that Ireland was poised for greatness. He understood the importance of retaining culture and heritage but knew that as an independent country, Ireland could flourish.
Nearly a century after his death, Ireland has become the prosperous, economically successful country that Michael Collins envisioned. As a tribute to his efforts, Michael Collins Irish Whiskeys celebrate a new age in Ireland and in Irish Whiskey.
The blended whiskeys are aged for a minimum of four to more than twelve years in small bourbon seasoned casks to ensure a rich, smooth taste-- clean and full, delicately balanced between honey sweet and citrus flavors, with a fresh oak finish.
The Single Malt, matured in specially selected oak casks for a minimum of eight to over twelve years, is well-rounded and complex with a rich maltiness. The long finish has a hint of chocolate and a wonderfully settled smoky flavor from the peat that lingers on the palate.
In a fine single malt scotch whiskey, the Color is what you notice first. Even from across the room you can see the burnished gold of the Ardmore Traditional Cask Scotch gleaming in the cut crystal glass. Next to consider is the Nose. The aroma is full-bodied and smooth with underlying complexity of the Highland peated malt—earth but not overpowering. The taste fulfills the promise of the other senses. Full-rich flavors fill the mouth with a creamy peat tang and a kiss of the softness of vanilla….full, succulent and long. The Traditional Cask Scotch from the Highlands of Scotland is lovingly created by the Ardmore Distillery in the Highlands of Scotland. Ardmore has been distilling the finest highland malt whisky since 1898.
Visit their site for a journey back in time and into a present that respects the proven methods of the past. “We insist that all Ardmore expressions use the aromatic smoke from natural, highland peat fires to dry our barley. We are now the only Highland distillery that insists on fully peating our standard malt and we will never change. The fermentation vessels we use are crafted from Oregon pine. It is true that they are more labour intensive but they impart a flavour that stainless steel vessels (now widely used) can never give.”
“Our traditional methods also extend to maturation. Traditional cask is double fermented first in the usual oak casks but then a second time in much smaller hand crafted “Quarter Casks” they were common a hundred years ago but have been largely ignored due to their high cost of construction. This intense secondary maturation gives the deeper smother flavour our whisky is renowned for.” http://www.ardmorewhisky.com/en/index.aspx Ardmore has won many Gold medals, including one double gold medal, three gold medals, one silver medal and a best-in-class (at the prestigious IWSC).
And Ardmore is giving back. They sponsor the RSPB (The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) efforts to reintroduce the East Coast Sea Eagle, helping to finance a project that will release 15 wild, Norwegian Sea Eagles back into a natural habitat which they inhabited until persecuted to extinction in the 1800’s. The White-Tailed Sea Eagle is Europe’s largest bird of prey. http://www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/projects/eastscotlandeagles/index.asp
These singular single malt Scotch Whiskys have a taste that is complex and multi-layered. Enjoy the warmth and flavor, but do so conscientiously. Always drink, and serve drinks, responsibly.
