4th June, 2015 by Amy Hopkins

Irish Distillers claims to have created the first single pot still Irish whiskey to be finished in Bordeaux wine casks, called Green Spot Château Léoville Barton.

The Irish whiskey arm of French drinks group Pernod Ricard sourced the casks from Château Léoville Barton, based in the Saint Julien appellation in Bordeaux.

Green Spot Château Léoville Barton has first been matured in a mix of ex-Oloroso Sherry, ex-Bourbon and new American oak barrels before being transferred into the ex-Bordeaux wine casks to age for between 12 and 24 months.

Created at Irish Distillers’ Midelton Distillery, the expression is said to have a flavour of oak and spice combined with vanilla sweetness, orchard fruits and barley grains.

“Maturing Green Spot in the Château Léoville Barton wine casks provided a fascinating assortment of floral and wood characteristics on the nose and palate, which give way to a long, spicy finish reminiscent of the terroir in France and Ireland,” said Kevin O’Gorman, master of maturation at the Midleton Distillery.

“I hope whiskey fans enjoy this latest addition to our growing Single Pot Still family and join us in toasting this new whiskey resulting from of our shared Irish heritage.”

Bottled at 46% abv, Green Spot Château Léoville Barton is available from June in five markets, including Ireland, UK and France, at an RRP of US$65.00.

In February this year, Midelton Distillery unveiled its first Irish whiskey finished in Irish virgin oak as part of its Midleton single pot still range.