Writers' Tears Double Oak
Writers' Tears · Walsh Whiskey Distillery (Royal Oak)
The Double Oak edition adds structural complexity to the Writers' Tears range without losing the elegance the brand is known for. The second maturation in American oak virgin casks introduces toast and spice while keeping the pot still character intact. A smart step up from the original.
Nose
Fresh-cut grass and honey greet first, followed by vanilla and a soft floral rosewater accent. There's an underlying nuttiness — hazelnut — that anchors the lighter top notes.
Palate
Silky entry with a surprising depth of caramel and orchard fruit. The double oak maturation brings a woody backbone that the single pot still component weaves through with buttery richness.
Finish
Medium-length with gentle clove spice, trailing honey, and a clean woody fade.
- Distillation
- Triple distilled in copper pot stills
- Maturation
- Initially matured in ex-bourbon casks, finished in American oak virgin casks
- Single Pot Still
- No
- Chill-Filtered
- Yes
Cocktail Suggestion
Ink & Oak — 2 oz Writers' Tears Double Oak · 0.75 oz sweet vermouth · 0.25 oz honey syrup · 2 dashes orange bitters · Stir with ice, strain into a rocks glass over a large cube, garnish with an orange twist.
Food Pairing
Honey-glazed salmon with roasted root vegetables
Blended by Bernard and Rosemary Walsh at the Royal Oak Distillery in Carlow, this expression honors Ireland's literary tradition with a double maturation in both bourbon and American oak virgin casks.
Be the first to comment.
Leave a comment
Kentucky Peerless Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey
Peerless
Kentucky Peerless represents what happens when a young distillery takes no shortcuts — sweet mash, no chill filtration, barrel proof. The result is a bourbon that's simultaneously bold and disciplined, with enough negative space between its flavors for each to land clearly.
Domaine de la Tournelle Arbois Poulsard de l'Uva Arbosiana 2021
Domaine de la Tournelle
A masterclass in restraint. Poulsard at its most transparent — a red wine that whispers rather than declares, defined as much by what's absent as by what remains.
Havana Club Selección de Maestros
Havana Club
A masterclass in editorial restraint. Where many premium rums crowd the glass with sweetness, Selección de Maestros trusts the silences — the negative space between notes is where its sophistication lives. Essential for drinkers who mistake Cuban rum for merely 'light.'
Capreolus Raspberry Eau de Vie Gin
Capreolus
Barrie Lancaster's eau de vie background shows in every sip — this is a gin that understands distillation as an act of capture, not construction. The space between the floral top notes and the woody juniper base is wide and elegant, each element articulated with rare clarity.
Dunville's Three Crowns Sherry Cask Irish Whiskey
Dunville's
A masterclass in editorial restraint — a sherried blend that trusts silence between flavors, proving that Irish whiskey's elegance often lives in what's left unsaid.
Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
Drumshanbo
A genuinely original pot still whiskey that expands what the category can mean. The unconventional inclusion of Irish-grown rice sounds gimmicky until you taste it — it adds a delicate floral lift to the classic pot still weight. Worth seeking out for anyone who thinks they know Irish whiskey.
Knappogue Castle 21 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Knappogue Castle
Twenty-one years in bourbon casks have given this whiskey remarkable depth without losing the clean Irish malt character. The extended aging adds woody complexity that never becomes overbearing. A meditative pour for those who appreciate old-age finesse.
Tullamore D.E.W. 12 Year Old Special Reserve
Tullamore D.E.W.
The 12-year-old expression demonstrates what patient triple distillation and careful cask management can achieve. It's a blend that punches above its price, balancing sherry richness with pot still character. The kind of Irish whiskey you reach for when you want complexity without drama.