Once on the verge of disappearing, the rebirth of the Irish Whiskey industry has led to more distillers, producers and variants of Irish Whiskey hitting the global market. The extraordinary growth of market share followed the rise and fall of the industry over 700 years of turbulence, embargos, famine and Scotch competition. 2020 finally welcomes in the Irish Whiskey production rate of that in the early 20th Century – the heyday of the world’s most prestigious brown spirit.
Image: The Devil’s Keep
The Whiskey Renaissance has compelled distillers to pick up on where the Dublin whiskey masters left off. All around the world, Irish Whiskey has entered into its new era of prominence but none can be said to have paid such attention to detail and crafting process like The Devil’s Keep.
The Devil’s Keep
Taking premium craft whiskey to new heights in the 21st Century- but distilled in 1991- The Devil’s Keep is a rare release of just 333 bottles of triple distilled, triple oaked and uniquely luxurious single malt. We know The Devil can be tempting but at €10,000 a bottle, what are the distinguishing features of The Devil’s Keep which may be unbottleable elsewhere?
For a start, its bold but fitting name comes from the industry sentiment that a certain amount of whiskey is lost to the “Angel’s Share” during the distillery process. As this whiskey is aged in three different types of oak barrels, the wood absorbs the unpleasant notes in the spirit and imparts, in return, liquid of a unique flavour profile and a temptingly rich burgundy colour. The porous wood barrels through which the liquid passes, allows some of the whiskey to evaporate into the heavens above- a share for the Angels. The deep, dark and tempting coloured liquid left behind, is The Devil’s Keep.
Premium quality and exclusivity often come hand in hand. There is no infinite supply of The Devil’s Keep. Rather, the significance, presence and emotion bottled can only be created in small and controlled amounts – 333 bottles to be precise – in order to maximise quality. It is this notion of ‘quality over quantity’ that separates mass-distilled whiskies from The Devil’s Keep. Ownership of the exclusive and prestigious bottle, therefore, is part and parcel of the distinguishable features of The Devils keep.
Using Natural Elements
The process of making Whiskey appears to be a simple scientific procedure to create an infinitely complex and smooth drink. The reproductive nature of the key components of whiskey – water, fire and earth – are in no short supply. Yet the selective and cautious use of water, earth and fire in the distillation of The Devil’s Keep is more than mere science.
Water
Using the purest water to flow through Ireland’s hills, The Craft Irish Whiskey Company romanticises the notion of a 700-year journey of water from the skies to the distillery. After all, it was the Irish Monks of the early middle ages to coin the phrase ‘Uisce Beatha’ or ‘Water of Life’ – later anglicised to whiskey.
The distillation process of The Devil’s Keep involves adding water before maturation, as opposed to after, to absorb deeper and more complex flavours from the toasted staves of oak casts. The whiskey is cut down to 52% AVB when it goes into the barrel. Meaning, the water is in the barrel for 5-15 years allowing it to amalgamate with the whiskey and be flavoured by the wood.
Traditional whisky distillation sees water added to the matured spirit to dilute it to approximately 40-46% alcohol volume to go into the bottle. The Devil’s Keep uses water strategically to intensify while others dilute.
Earth
The Devil’s Keep is a product of the finest barley harvested from the Irish earth. Nurtured by fertile soils and gentle rains; Irish barley is the foundation of exceptional whiskey and the heart of The Devil’s Keep.
Quality of wood is key to producing the most premium Irish Whiskey. The company uses ultra-premium bourbon barrels from the U.S. as they dry their staves for longer to caramelize the lignin for the vanilla flavour.
Fire
The Devil’s Keep is undeniably about the rich, deep and exquisite sweetness of toasted caramels, lingering honey, tawny port and stave toasted accents. These, amongst oak flavours, are forged in fire. Direct firing in distillation can create more complex and deeper notes in whiskey.
Creating a Sensory Experience
The Devil’s Keep is more than spirit for your Old Fashioned cocktail, nor is it to be knocked back in light conversation. Rather the €10,000 Irish Whiskey has accommodated to the fact that our enjoyment of whiskey goes far beyond sensations on the tongue. We’ve developed an increasing appreciation of how drinking is a multi-sensory experience– encompassing our taste, sight, sound, smell and touch.
Seeing The Devil’s Keep
Likely to be the first of our senses to come into play, long before you set your eyes on the deep mahogany brown colour of The Devil’s Keep, comes the exquisite shimmer of firelight on brass as you unlock the Devil’s Chest. Unhinge the three-compartment case to unleash, arguably, the most stunning Irish Whiskey ever released.
By simply observing whiskey, you can tell a lot about it by its colour. Freshly distilled whiskey is clear and it darkens with age in the barrel. Notice the deep tones in the 1991 Devil’s Keep. Whiskey legs also form when you swirl it in a glass. Identify the drips of whiskey that pull back to the glass- thicker whiskies have fewer legs but form a coating around the glass. Thanks to The Devil’s Keep high alcohol content, indulgers can expect to see more legs that fall slower.
Listen to The Devil’s Keep
What we hear when pouring a dram is part of the whiskey experience. The setting around us may enhance or detract from the overall sensory experience. The harmonics of crystal, obsidian, water and whiskey helps to create the Devil’s Keep’s exclusive and luxurious moment of decadence.
Nose The Devil’s Keep
The human nose has over five million olfactory receptors and while there are only four primary taste receptors – sweet, sour, salty and bitter – the nose allows you to experience 32 primary aromas. A whiskey’s aroma will derive from its production and age.
The Devil’s Keep has captured The Angels Share, which is apparent as the whiskey evaporates over time. Breathe in the aged oak and creamy vanilla by slowly bringing the glass up to your face, allowing it to sweep under your nose. To release more aromas in the Devil’s Keep, add a splash of water to your glass.
Touch The Devil’s Keep
The case, its hinges, aged oak, the warm fiery bottle; are all essential to truly taking pleasure in The Devil’s Keep. Those fortunate enough to own a bottle are invited to caress the texture of aged oak and lustrous calfskin – a case worthy of the treasures it contains, and reach for the bottle.
Carefully pour a drop or two into the palm of your hand and rub the small amount between your hands. Experienced whiskey drinkers will be able to cover their nose with the palms of their hands and inhale the aromatics to determine the essence of the cask it came from.
Taste The Devil’s Keep
You’ve engaged your sense of sight, smell, touch and even listened to the sound of The Devil’s Keep. The privileged few who get to wet their lips with this exclusive €10,000 Irish Whiskey are graced with exquisite vanillas, toasted caramels and lingering honey that play across the palette.
(Syndicated press content)
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