Roe & Co Blended Irish Whiskey

Product of: Ireland (Eire)

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Launched 31st January 2017, Roe & Co is a blend of Irish malt and grain whiskies aged in ex-bourbon casks, the majority first-fill casks.

Starting work on the project in December 2014, Diageo’s Master Blenders, Caroline Martin and Dr Jim Beveridge trialled over 100 prototype blends made using whiskies sourced from third-party suppliers before arriving at the blend that is now Roe & Co. A high proportion of first-fill casks is used to give “notes of creamy vanilla balanced with its hints of fruit and soft spice and a remarkable depth for such an elegant and refined whiskey.” From the outset, this whiskey was blended with a view to its being used in cocktails.

Roe & Co is named in honour of George Roe, the once world-famous 19th century whiskey maker whose George Roe and Co. Distillery extended over 17 acres on Thomas Street in Dublin and was once Ireland's largest distillery. Diageo plan to convert the historic former Guinness Power House on Dublin’s Thomas Street, a stones throw away from George Roe's site, to build a new distillery, St. James’s Gate Distillery, that in the future will supply some of the whiskey used in this blend.

Roe & Co is non-chill filtered but does have caramel colouring.

Review and Tasting

Sampled on 31/01/2017

Appearance:

Clear, deep golden amber.

Aroma:

Pungent and honeyed with lavender, golden syrup, vanilla, peach and white pepper. Water amplifies golden syrup and vanilla.

Taste:

Honeyed with newly sawn oak, subtle peach and lavender. Then comes the spice – plenty of it with ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon spice and white pepper spice. Water brings out more sweet honeyed notes with caramel and golden syrup and reveals desiccated coconut.

Aftertaste:

Long finish with white pepper, cinnamon and vanilla oak. With water the finish is dry and spicy – surprisingly so considering the relatively rich palate.

Overall:

Honeyed and bourbon-like with enlivening spice. Its richness makes this whiskey quaffable while its spiciness adds balance and sets you up for the next sip. The 45% high alc./vol. is softened by this whiskey’s vanilla richness.