Ransom The Emerald 1865 Straight American Whiskey (700ml)

This is Ransom's reproduction 'traditional Irish Whiskey' based on an old mash bill recorded by a British excise agent in 1865. It's composed of 67% Malted Two-Row Barley (including a percentage of Crystal Malt), 7% Unmalted Six- Row Barley, 15% Rye and 12% Oats with maturation taking place over three years in French and American Oak. Very limited shipment.

Tasting note: Brilliant bright amber / gold. Delicate scents of old drawers, cedar and dried herb give way to sweeter notes of light caramel and vanilla malt. Returning several minutes later adds an orchard fruit edge to the bouquet. Intriguing on the palate too, with a lean, dry, elegant delivery opening with gently bitter fruitiness followed by ovaltine, pepper and oak. Light, peppery, ovaltine-malt aftertaste. Deceptively complex and difficult to pin down. A one-off. Less than 1500 bottles produced.43.5% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews...Made from an Irish whiskey recipe from 1865 (“dug up” by David Wondrich), with malt, raw barley, rye malt, and rolled oats, distilled in an alembic pot still. Amber with a distinct red/pink cast to it. Very fruity nose—greengage plum, mulberry, sweet orange—with creamy vanilla. Tastes of sweet cereal with a firm bitter keel; the fruit returns as an echo in the finish. A very craft beer-like whiskey; challenging, interesting, unexpected. A bit brash, but worth investigating.85 points
- www.maltadvocate.com (Fall 2014) Reviewed by: Lew Bryson