I love nothing more than the history and tales that surround whiskey – from the grand tales of how Single Pot Still came to be, to the tales told by friends – and strangers alike – over a dram in the local. Any customer who has come across me on the shop floor has likely heard me emphatically proclaim “Whiskey is literally my favourite thing to talk about!” With that being said, when I was offered a chance to taste a collectable and quite highly sought-after whiskey, exclusive to ourselves in James J Fox, and then write about it (which is even better than talking about it, honestly), I positively jumped at the opportunity.
The Cooper Commemorative Edition truly embodies the stories and legacies which I adore. When John Nelly, the master Cooper, came to Kilbeggan in 1992, after 50 years' cooperage in his native Scotland, he set about offering apprenticeships and cask repair programmes. I would argue that John Nelly has made as indelible a mark on Irish whiskey, and that his legacy is woefully overlooked. Many people don’t even realise who this man was and just what he has brought to the world of whiskey, not least the Irish contingent.
John Neilly with his apprentices Darren Leonard (L) and Ian Leonard (R) in Nephin Cooperage
The Cooper Commemorative Edition is a 12-year-old Single Malt Scotch with a 5 Octave finish. Each of the five octaves, Rum, Sauterne, Tawny Port, Bourbon and American Oak, was hand made by John Nelly, from wood he sourced from other, larger barrels – for the less cask-minded among us, an Octave barrel is approx. 50l, the more you know!
You’d think, given the 5 Octaves of this particular bottling, that I’d have been prepared for the many varied flavours at play, but, as is always the way with my tasting style, I was taken somewhat by surprise – as I sat to taste this caramel-coloured dram, I was struck by the complexities at each turn. On the nose, there is a gorgeous medley of warm boiled sweeties (think apple drops, pear drops, and even those hard fruit drops your gran had in a big jar on the sideboard). Underpinning the warmth of the initial scent, there is a good amount of the hard sugar crust you’d find atop a crème brûlée, decadent vanilla and warming spice. There’s a lot going on, just in the nose alone!
On the palate, there is a wonderful warmth, flooding the tongue with deeply spiced oak – no doubt the re-charred American Oak cask. From that initial flavour hit, I got a glorious note of caramelised peach coupled with a dry, tingly spice and a smooth malt bringing us to a lingering finish with style and substance. In the final moments with The Cooper Commemorative Edition, I was delighted to note that the flavours linger quite a bit on my palate, making it a wonderful whiskey for a relaxing evening of reflection and thoughtful appreciation.
The Cooper Commemorative Edition is €250 (reduced to €200 at the time of publication) and available exclusively from James J Fox in-store and online.
Amy
Customer Advisor in James J. Fox Dublin
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The Montecristo Edmundo is one of Cuba’s finest cigars, named after the hero from the great novel The Count of Monte Cristo which was read from the lectern to the torcedores (cigar rollers) in the 1930s. The Edmundo was first produced in 2004 in the H. Upmann factory. Prior to the release of the Edmundo, Montecristo produced cigars that were traditionally thinner vitolas numbered 1-5. All Edmundos are totalmente a mano (fully handmade). They are constructed using only tripa larga (full leaves) from Vuelta Abajo, one of the finest tobacco growing regions in the world.
The Montecristo Edmundo is generously proportioned with a 52 ring gauge and is 135 mm (5 ⅜ inches) in length. The wrapper is oily and shiny, wonderfully constructed and feels substantial in your hand. It is Colorado in colour, topped with a flawlessly applied triple cap. The cigar feels well packed with no soft spots or knots. It is a personal go-to cigar for me and I keep them in quantity in my personal humidor.
First impressions yield the aromas of wood and cedar.
I personally favour a double V cut (also known as a crown cut) using my trusty Colibri V cutter, as I feel it improves the draw and overall enjoyment of the cigar. The cold draw gives a strong indication towards what we expect to follow, that is to say classic Montecristo earthiness and tangy bittersweet flavours.
The Edmundo has an effortless draw and flavours of wood, cedar and pepper abound in the first third. The smoke was thick and aromatic. It is not an intense cigar. As I move into the middle third, the cigar continues to develop in flavour and tastes earthier. The famous Montecristo blend begins to reveal itself; earthy, salty and bittersweet. The Montecristo burns with an appealing-looking snow white ash. The final third increases bitter flavours of strong espresso.
I would recommend the Edmundo for those preferring a heavier ring gauge, consistent, easy draw and medium body.
I paired the Montecristo Edmundo with a special tasting kit of Cuban rums. The rums were Ron Mulata, Ron Vigia, Edmundo Dantes and Santiago de Cuba. These rums have all been aged for between 15 to 20 years. I was excited to try these very special rums alongside the Montecristo Edmundo.
The Ron Mulata 15 Year Old is a rum distilled at the Heriberto Duquesne factory. It is aged in 180-litre oak casks. On first nosing, the Ron Mulata has aromas of butter, caramel and oak. On tasting, it is smooth and medium-bodied, with flavours of fruit and spices with a taste of pepper. The finish is light. Its medium body goes very well with the Montecristo Edmundo.
The Ron Vigia 18 Year Old from the Ron Vigia range. Its dark colour comes from the 18-year aging process. It is medium-bodied and provides the nose with honey, sweet molasses, tobacco leaf and cigar smoke. It tastes of vanilla, brown sugar and liquorice and finishes with sugar and dark chocolate. Interestingly, this rum was apparently named after Ernest Hemmingway who had a farm outside of Havana called La Finca Vigia (Lookout). It is the perfect rum to enjoy a cigar with a Montecristo Edmundo.
The Edmundo Dantes rum is also aged for 15 years, produced in Santiago de Cuba in small quantities of only 3,000 bottles per year. It is owned by the Montecristo cigar brand. This dark amber rum evokes the typical flavours of Cuban tobacco, coffee and spice. It is balanced and soft. The nose is filled with exotic fruits, caramel and vanilla. It tastes of tobacco, vanilla and sweet spice. The finish is long as the layers of caramel, fruits and tobacco fade away slowly. Another very enjoyable rum to pair with the Edmundo cigar.
Santiago de Cuba 20 Year Old has a very inviting nose of muscovado sugar, caramelised and roasted nuts, cigar leaves and wood. It tastes light, yielding flavours of vanilla and light tobacco. It finishes well with caramel and honey. This would be a special occasion rum in my opinion.
The tasting kit has given me the opportunity to taste some world-class rums, one of which can be very hard to find. They all pair excellently with a medium-bodied cigar such as the Montecristo Edmundo. As you’d expect from James J. Fox, the tasting kit is beautifully packaged and together with a cigar such as the Montecristo Edmundo makes a fantastic gift for the cigar and rum lover in your life.
Patrick
Customer Advisor in James J. Fox Dublin
If there's one thing Patrick is more passionate about than cigars, it'll be music. He's a talented saxophonist and, if you hear jazz playing on our shop floor, you can be sure that he's on the day's roster!
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James J. Fox Cigar Case Gift Set A set of cigar accessories from our own brand. It contains a Cigar Case, a Double-Blade Cigar Cutter, a Cigar Stand, and a Jet Lighter. Depending on your preference, you can order this set of accessories on its own, or include three Cuban cigars selected by us (Partagas Serie D No. 4, Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 2 and Romeo y Julieta Short Churchill). Price: €69 (accessories only) or €140 (with 3 cigars) View & order here > |
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Romeo y Julieta Cigar Sampler The Romeo y Julieta Sampler contains a selection of four RyJ cigars in a variety of vitolas. An excellent gift idea for any cigar enthusiast or an option to get introduced to the marque. Price: €91.50 View & order here > or View all cigar samplers > |
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Cohiba Gift Box Dad not into Cohibas? See similar boxes by Montecristo (€99.50) and Romeo y Julieta (€93)! |
Quai D'Orsay No. 50 This vitola will be familiar to those who smoked Partagas Serie D No. 5, though the Quai D'Orsay is definitely lighter and easier to smoke (Habanos classified it as light- to medium-bodied). Overall, a very good smoke that deserves to be tried. Price: €20.70 (single cigar) / €465 (25 cigars) View & order here > |
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Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 2 It is clean and crisp, a cigar we will recommend with confidence to smokers of any level. Its floral and fruity profile, along with the spicy touches, make it a great refreshing summer cigar, that would be the perfect match to a Chardonnay or a glass of Champagne. Price: €25.40 (single cigar) / €528 (25 cigars) View & order here > |
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Trinidad Media Luna A petit robusto with a medium blend and a smooth sweet leathery flavour, the Trinidad Media Luna has beautiful light brown wrappers and the signature "pig-tail" head that is characteristic to all Trinidad cigars. Price: €26.80 (single cigar) / €304 (12 cigars) View & order here > |
Bolivar Royal Corona The Royal Corona is one of the smoother cigars in the Bolivar marca, with balanced flavours of earth, wood, spices and coffee. A perfect match to a warm summer evening! Price: €24.50 (single cigar) / €544 (25 cigars) View & order here > |
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Partagás Serie D No. 4 A superb robusto, made by Partagas, the D No. 4 is the artillery of the brand! A beautiful stick, which comes with wrappers of all shades, that are all smooth and oily. Full bodied, with balanced flavours of wood and spice, the D4 is the delight of every serious cigar smoker. Price: €26.60 (single cigar) / €555 (25 cigars) View & order here > |
Colibri V-Cut Cigar Cutter, Black Carbon This excellent V-Cut cutter penetrates up to 7mm into the cap and has a spring-loaded release. It fits securely in hand and looks absolutely spectacular with its black carbon finish. Price: €69.95 View & order here > |
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Montecristo Triangular Cigar Ashtray (for 3 Cigars) An impressive porcelain cigar ashtray for 3 cigars, bearing the Montecristo logo. The triangular shape is a reference to the Montecristo logo and branding. Designed by Nelson Alfonso as official merchandise for Habanos S.A. Price: €99 View & order here > |
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Partagás Cigar Case (for 3 Cigars) A great-looking and sturdy cigar case with Partagas branding, with room for three cigars up to 54 ring gauge. Comes in an elegant gift box with a Partagas logo. Part of an official accessory line, licensed by Habanos S.A. Price: €99.50 View & order here > |
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Cohiba Behike MX Lighter & Cutter Set An attractive Lighter and Cutter set, made by Xikar under licence by Habanos S.A, this Cohiba Behike cutter & lighter set includes a classic Xi1 Xikar cutter and a single flame jet lighter branded with the Cohiba Behike colour theme. This set comes in an attractive gift box and is the perfect accessory for the cigar aficionado. Price: €170 View & order here > |
View all whiskey miniatures & gift sets >
Fercullen 14 Year Old Glass Gift Pack This gift set includes a 20cl bottle of Fercullen 14 year old, a single malt that has been expertly distilled by Noel Sweeney and has matured in bourbon barrels, along with a Powerscourt branded Glencairn whiskey tasting glass. Price: €38.50 View & order here > |
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Midleton Single Pot Still Miniature Set A brand new miniature set from Midleton that presents the whiskey drinker with the opportunity to sample the diverse flavour spectrum of Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey. This style is characterised by full, complex flavours and a wonderful creamy mouthfeel. Price: €39.95 View & order here > |
DWD Irish Whiskey A new Irish whiskey that has recreated the famous old brand once made at the old Jones' Road Distillery. This blended whiskey is comprised of five to ten year old whiskeys from three prominent Irish distilleries. Most ageing is done in first-fill bourbon casks. Price: €49.95 View & order here > |
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The Irishman Founder's Reserve – Glass Gift Set This special, gift edition of The Irishman Founder's Reserve contains a full-size 70cl bottle and a set of two whiskey glasses, packed in an attractive gift box, ready to be wrapped and given to that special someone! Price: €50 View & order here > |
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Fercullen 13 Year Old James J. Fox Single Cask The Fercullen 13 Year Old Single Cask is the result of our collaboration with Powerscourt Distillery and their first ever commercial single cask release. A single grain, distilled in 2006 by Noel Sweeney and aged entirely in ex-bourbon barrels for 13+ years, the Fercullen 13 Year Old Single Cask is bottled at a 57.1%. Price: €140 View & order here > |
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Teeling Renaissance Series 3 The Renaissance Series 3 consists of 18 Year Old Single Malt that was aged initially in ex-Bourbon barrels before being finished in high quality, ex-Muscat wine casks, imparting hints of fresh apricot and mango with fresh citrus and apple notes, and a delicate soft finish. Price: €150 View & order here > |
Ron Arecha Dorado The Arecha Rum Dorado was made from mild Cuban sugar cane and matured for three to five years after distillation in barrels made from Californian oak. This complex, amber-coloured rum has a very distinctive aromatic profile. Price: €35 View & order here > |
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Santiago de Cuba 12 Year Old The Santiago de Cuba 12 Year Old Extra Anejo is a complex dry and light rum, rumoured to have been Fidel Castro's favourite rum. Deep reddish brown in colour, with an unmistakable "Cuban" nose, the Santiago 12 year old is sweet with some spicy notes. A superb, light sipping rum. Price: €75 View & order here > |
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Ron Vigia 18 Year Old Ron Vigia 18 Year Old Gran Reserva is a Cuban rum from Bodega Vigia that has been aged for a minimum of 18 years in ex-bourbon casks. Ron Vigia takes its name from the residence of Ernest Hemingway in Havana, La Vinca Vigia. Only 4,500 bottles of the Vigia 18 Year Old are produced every year and it's not one of the Cuban rums you will stumble across very often. Price: €115 View & order here > |
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Havana Club 15 Year Old Gran Reserva A superior bottle in the Havana Club range, the 15-year-old Gran Reserva has been matured in old oak barrels and be easily considered a true classic Cuban rum. Price: €205 View & order here > |
Read on to find out more or, if you want to order right away, click here.
Inside the box, you'll find four whiskey samples (30ml each) with some of the rarest and most exclusive bottlings to bear the Fercullen label.
This single cask release is exclusive to our store, with only 246 bottles produced from one cask, hand-selected by Master Distiller Noel Sweeney. It's also the first ever commercial single cask release to come out of Powerscourt. The whiskey was distilled in 2006 and matured for 13+ years entirely in ex-bourbon barrels. Bottled at cask strength, it's a force to be reckoned with!
Nose: Notes of honey, complimented by zesty citrus fruit and sweet melon, rounded up by subtle hints of oak.
Palate: Sweet and rich vanilla, oak undertones, balanced by layers of orange peels and apricot.
Finish: Long and lively, lingering on the tongue with plum and oak spice.
Fercullen's premium malt expression, aged for 18+ years in bourbon barrels.
Nose: Honey, vanilla, sweet malty, spice, almonds, cinnamon, ripe fruits, rich cherries, plums and oak wood.
Palate: Smooth. Layer upon layer of sweet, creamy malt, vanilla, ripe fruits, syrupy caramel, cacao sweet spice and crisp oak.
Finish: Malty to start with a long lasting sweet spice of nutmeg and malt with a fruity finish.
A special edition, limited to 1,500 bottles. The Five Elements in its name refer to:
Nose: Boiled sweets, vanilla and honey, twist of lemon and sweet orchard ripe fruits, complimented by tropical fruits, layered over a duo of oak wood notes.
Palate: Burst of tangy fruit cocktail sweetness, with layers of smooth silky sweet malt, chocolate and Christmas cake.
Finish: Long lasting sweetness from ripe fruits and velvety texture.
Limited to 1,306 bottles and previously available only as Powerscourt's distillery exclusive, we're excited to be able to include this expression in our kit. Matured in fresh bourbon barrels for over 16 years and married with Malt whiskey finished in a Sicilian Marsala Wine Cask to absorb tropical fruit and nut tones. This is a truly amazing whiskey, a pleasure to drink.
Nose: Sweet vanilla and honey with a twist of lemon, malty, nutty walnuts and almonds, cinnamon, tropical fruits, pineapple, mango and banana.
Palate: Layer upon layer smooth silky sweet malty fruit and nut complexity delivers balanced taste.
Finish: Long lasting sweetness from ripe fruits and a slight nuttiness to finish.
At the time of ordering, you can also opt to include our recommended Cuban cigar as a pairing with the whiskey samples. For this kit, we've chosen Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 2 – one of our favourite robustos.
Its floral and fruity profile with hints of spice complement the Fercullen whiskey very well. As it's quite mild, you can easily enjoy it, even if you're not a seasoned cigar smoker.
Each box also contains a card with the tasting notes which you can use as reference during your sampling session.
Our friends in Powerscourt were also kind enough to drop off a few Fercullen hip flasks – they'll be included with the kits while stocks last, so don't wait or we may run out!
EDIT: The flasks are now all gone, and they'll no longer be included with the kits.
The Fercullen Tasting Kit is our limited offer for March 2021 – you can order it on this page (€45 for the whiskey-only version, or €70 when paired with the cigar). Don't miss this exclusive selection of amazing whiskey!
Although whiskey tasting may seem like a straight-forward idea, the devil's in the details. There's a number of little things you can do to make your experience better, so – if you haven't already – check our post about Nosing and Tasting Whiskey!
]]>At the end of the day, any glass that's comfortable for you to drink out of is the right choice. However, if you look at glasses designed for whiskey tasting, you'll notice a common theme – the bottom will be the widest part, becoming narrower towards the top. This type of a glass catches the aromas in the bell (or bottom) of the glass, focusing them up through the narrower top.
Examples of whiskey glasses
When tasting a whiskey there are five main areas to look at: The Colour, The Body, The Nose, The Palate and The Finish.
Hold the glass up to the natural background light. What does the colour tell you?
The colour can give you an indication of the age and wood finish, i.e., is it a dark amber colour indicating that it may have been matured in an ex-sherry barrel, or a pale light straw colour suggesting that it could have been matured in an ex-bourbon cask.
However, be careful as not all whiskey is its natural colour. Any assumptions made on the colour must be confirmed on the nose.
Swirl the whiskey around in the glass, coating the sides thoroughly. Wait, and watch the droplets form and run down the sides of the glass. These are known as The Legs.
If the legs are thin, run quickly, and there is a lot of them, it suggests that the body is light, that the spirit could be young, and that the alcohol content is normal (40-46% ABV).
If the legs form thick droplets, take a long time to start running, and there is very few of them, then it may be a heavy-bodied whiskey, it could be slightly older and the ABV is typically higher.
When nosing, try moving the glass or your head from side to side as one nostril will be more susceptible than the other. Also, try to keep your mouth ever so slightly open, this should help take in all the aromas.
Always ensure that you nose more than once. Your first nosing will be a rush of alcohol, while other characteristics will follow, unlocking more layers of the spirit.
Have a taste. Leave the spirit in your mouth for a few moments. What flavours jump out at you? Even though you are tasting, your nose is still doing a lot of the work. Sometimes, you will pick out characteristics on the palate that you were not immediately aware of on the nose, and vice versa.
Does the flavour last a long time? Or does it disappear very quickly? What mouthfeel does it add: is it syrupy, is it dense, or does it tingle your tongue? Overall, there is no right or wrong answers here, everyone’s palate is different.
If you use someone else's tasting notes, they may subconsciously steer you towards sensing particular things, but it's always a good idea to nose and taste prior to reading them. Once you've come to your own conclusions, try comparing them with the existing notes. Remember – two different people may sense entirely different things, so whether your impressions match the notes word for word, or they're entirely different, it's perfectly normal.
To enhance your experience, try adding a drop of water to your whiskey after your first nosing and tasting. A splash of water will lower the alcohol content, open the nose, and bring out some of the aromas and other characteristics on the palate. Although some whiskeys may benefit from this more than others, it's worth trying to get a slightly different perspective on the liquid.
We hope you'll find our tips useful – be sure to drop a comment below and let us know if they've worked out for you, or share your own sampling techniques!
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