NV J.J. Corry 27yo, The Chosen (52%)

Today’s release of ‘The Chosen’ from Irish Whiskey Bonders J.J. Corry will go down as a landmark release for J.J. Corry and aged Irish whiskey. It’s a sign of the burgeoning confidence in the Irish whiskey market which is experiencing exceptional growth and renewed prestige, resurrecting it’s glory days - when Irish was King. This welcome addition is J.J. Corry’s finest bottle to date, a single cask of 27-year aged single malt: ‘The Chosen’ was selected as the ultimate expression of Irish Single Malt Whiskey. Tasting is believing and along with its maturity and rarity this liquid’s appeal is intrinsically linked to the immense flavour achieved through the hand-crafted rearing of the visionary Louise McGuane. We are lucky enough to be among the privileged few who have had the opportunity to taste it and it is very special indeed. The Chosen 27-year-old Single Malt Irish Whiskey is exceptional. Selected at the peak of its maturation and having evolved for 27 years undisturbed and bottled at cask strength, the flavour profile is mind blowing. As I rave in my tasting note, with this cask J.J. Corry have chosen one of the best whiskies I’ve had the fortune to taste. There are only 100 bottles in existence and the entire production is fully allocated so the excitement around this release will be even more heightened by its extremely limited availability. This is dark as hell and delivers a real ‘wow’ on the nose. Dried mango, polished teak and oak, toffee, caramel, roasting chestnuts on an open fire then a rancio edge. There is a lot of oak and sherry extraction, plenty of age and experience here, there’s no hiding that – I’m sure I’ve been here before and at first makes me think the palate might be a touch overdone… but it blows me away and is the exact opposite. The vibrancy of youth, a typhoon of tropical fruit, pineapples, roasted peaches, mango, flambeed banana. It is medium bodied but so full in flavour, and it’s youthful but it’s not. Wise beyond its years perhaps? Delicate but powerful as the tropical fruit power gives way to hints of engine oil, incense and wood fire smoke. There is the detail and the swagger, the youthfulness and the experience that keeps on going. A long finish and a final wisp of smoke – before you go back to the glass for more. It’s a remarkable spirit – familiar yet different and comforting but also a little edgy. The Chosen? J.J. Corry have here chosen one of the best whiskies I’ve had the fortune to taste. Absolutely fascinating stuff.