Hyde Irish Whiskey is a new brand of Irish Single Malt. As you might guess from the fact that they start their company with a 10 year old single malt, they’ve not distilled this product but bought it.

The whiskey was matured for nine years in a bourbon cask and finished for a year in an Oloroso sherry cask. Where they bought the spirit is unclear but since it’s a single malt there aren’t many options.

The name ‘Hyde’ in combination with President’s Cask refers back to Douglas Hyde, Ireland’s first president who was anointed in 1938.

Conor Hyde was kind enough to send me a sample for reviewing, which I gladly accepted.

Sniff:
The nose is gentle and very malty, quite floral as well. Slightly straw like with a bit of dryness. Quite some flavors, oak, licorice, lots of malt. It has a certain green flavor and that typically Irish lightness. But still, with that malty notes it tastes a bit more like you’d expect from a Scotch.

Sip:
The palate is more fierce than expected, with some sharp spices and lots of sweet malt. A certain candy like sweetness as well with flowers and some perfume. Pepper, malt and oak.

Swallow:
The finish is very consistent with the palate and quite long. There’s a certain licorice and mint flavor. Some oak with a slight bitter note.

I find it a quite ballsy move to release this kind of whiskey as your first release. It’s a more ‘traditional’ flavor than is currently all the hype for Irish single malts. More malty, more sweet and less fresh and crisp than its contemporaries, this is a very interesting and unique dram.

I like the complexity, I like that the sherry cask hasn’t overpowered the whiskey. The only thing I might complain about is that it might be a tad too sweet. But even so, I find it a hugely interesting dram and, to be honest, it’s a lot better than I expected.

There’s 5000 numbered bottles of this limited edition whiskey, but I haven’t seen prices yet.

Hyde 10 years old Single Malt, President’s Cask, 46%.

Thanks to the guys at Hyde Whiskey and Hibernia Distillers for sending this sample.