Review #622 - Thomond Gate Chateau Kirwan Cask Finish

Written By Me, My Wife & Whisky

Thomond Gate is a relatively new Irish whisky brand which is currently sourcing whisky from other distilleries. They hope to build their own distillery in time in the city of Limerick, a task that would see the resurrection of an old brand - there was a Thomond Gate distillery that operated from 1809 to 1919, but it closed due to a combination of grain rationing during World War I and the American Prohibition, which removed the distillery's largest export market.

The whisky in this bottle is in the style of single pot still, and it was sourced from Great Northern distillery. After starting in American oak, presumably ex-bourbon barrels, the spirit was transferred into Margaux (a type of Bordeaux) wine casks from Chateau Kirwan; these were French oak casks, which could add a nice tannic kick. The age of the whisky isn't denoted on the label, but we know this was in the American oak for 3 years, after which it spent at least 21 months in the French wine casks; therefore, the aging is 4 years or potentially just over 5 years in total.

This bottle comes from single cask PS-002, which yielded 300 bottles at a cask strength of 59.26% ABV.

Thomond Gate Chateau Kirwan Cask Finish

Ireland - Single Pot Still

Price: USD 137 (2025)

Age Statement: NAS

Strength: 59.26% ABV

Cask Makeup: Ex-bourbon, finished in a Chateau Kirwan French oak Margaux wine cask

Details: Not chill filtered, no color added; cask PS-002, bottled 2023; 300 bottles

Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 2 times over 2 months from a sample. Tasted in a nosing glass each time, rested 15+ minutes

Nose: Very fruity and wine-forward: peach, nectarine, ripe pears and green melon. There's some golden apple and kiwi - it's a bit tropical, a real fruit bomb. Soft fragrant floral notes and icing sugar arrive, and a strong guava scent builds with time.

Palate: Tons of fruit again - stone fruit and citrus, grapefruit, golden apple, orange. It's quite juicy, but we also get a backbone of malty grain, and there's a peppery oak influence. It's a bit young and spirity as well; overall, it leans toward the sweet side of things. The mouthfeel is medium-thick, and there's a nice oily element to this palate.

Finish: Hay and honey, sugary pears - a light, sweet complexion continues into the finish. It's warming and cozy with the strength, and the oak influence is still soft; oats and hints of bubblegum and slate linger. It's a medium-long finish.

Final Note: A young and spritely whisky - absolutely packed with fruit flavor from both the wine and the spirit, and there are still some youthful spirit notes here with that age and strength. That high strength does add a little bit of heat, but overall, it seems nicely refined; it is a sweet whisky, too.

Value is a little below average for these Thomond Gate single casks, though - they're quite expensive, especially for their age.

Our Average Rating: 6.8 / 10

In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.

Value Rating: 5.31

About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.

Me, My Wife & Whisky
Next

Review #621 - Isle of Raasay Dun Cana