Clonakilty Jack's Abby & Catoctin whiskies

 Following my recent Clonakilty review - today I'll be talking about their Clonakilty Jack's Abby and Catoctin Collaboration whiskies.

Clonakilty Jack's Abby Brewing Collaboration was scheduled to be released in March 2022; as a result of Jack's Abby sending 4 barrels that aged their Framinghammer Coffee Baltic Porter to the distillery head distiller, Paul Corbett who used to finish their award-winning whiskies, which were bottled at 52% abv.

Colour: Pale gold

Nose: Gentle on initial nosing a little more spice upfront, more then expected, not overpowering, floral after a while giving way to those meaty robust porter hops; just enough to keep you interested.

Palate: That spiciness is there from the start, like on nosing, pleasant and welcoming; dark chocolate, with some nutty notes mid palate.

Finish: Medium/Long, sweet and creamy, vanilla ice-cream, a little more oak, with a lingering spice all the way towards the end.

Catoctin Creek Collaboration - Finished in a rye quarter cask from Catoctin Creek, VA - bottled at 62% abv.

Colour: Pale gold

Nose: Gentle on initial nosing, greeted with sweet honey notes, a little citrus.  Was a little reminiscent of my days working in a library, back end a little dry - old leather bound books, saw dust, dotted with those oaky vanilla notes with  lite touches of ginger.

Palate: Sweet and creamy, not too hot - giving way to that rye cask influence, ginger snaps and a little warm spicy hot toddy.

Finish: Long warm drying spiciness, creamy latte finish at the very end.

Two different expressions, one finished in a porter cask the other in a rye quarter cask.  Both equally pleasant and enjoyable, but for me the Jack's Abbey edges the Catoctin.  That's not to say I didn't enjoy it; it's just I find it to be a little more interesting on the nose and palate.

 Slàinte mhath!