Review: Northcross Triple Wood Irish Whiskey
Northcross Triple Wood Irish Whiskey is produced at Great Northern Distillery in Dundalk, County Louth Ireland. The Great Northern Distillery was established 2013 when John Teeling acquired a former brewery used to brew Harp Lager. He converted it to a distillery. The original brewery was built in 1896. John Teeling’s history with Irish Whiskey started in 1971 when he was a student at Harvard and wrote a paper on the decline of Irish Whiskey going from 2000 distilleries in the 18th century, to 28 large distilleries by the end of the 19th century, to one by the middle of the 20th century. In 1987 he acquired the former Ceimici Teoranta distillery and founded Cooley Distillery. He purchased the Kilbeggan distillery and used it to store his whiskey barrels while they matured. In 2007 the distillery and the Kilbeggan Irish whiskey brand was brought back to life. Cooley produced several brands of Irish Whiskey and sold cask stocks used to build others. He sold Cooley to Beam in 2012. His sons who ran the Cooley Distillery then built the Teeling Distillery and John Teeling established The Great Northern Distillery. Northcross Triple Wood is crafted from a blend of double and triple distilled whiskey distilled in copper pot stills. Each is matured in a combination of ex-bourbon barrels, Oloroso sherry casks, and virgin American oak. The whiskeys are blended and are non chill filtered before bottling. The aroma leads with wood, clove, malt, and herbal notes. Additional time brings out graham cracker, cacao, and grape. The sweet vanilla, citrus, and malt entry is soft and creamy. Honey and oak arrive building to a chocolate biscuit peak. It fades with orange and finishes with chocolate, sherry, orange peel, and oak.
Made in Dundalk County Louth, Ireland
43% Alcohol
Score: 91
Award: Gold Medal