Lambay is a partnership between the Baring family, which owns Lambay Island on Ireland’s east coast near Dublin, and Cognac’s Camus family. This Irish single malt starts out at West Cork Distillers in County Cork, and is finished in French Oak Cognac casks from Camus. Unlike the Lambay Small Batch, though, the Cognac casks for this expression are taken to a small maturation warehouse on Lambay Island to be exposed to the maritime elements.

The nose is malty with notes of allspice, honey, straw, and butterscotch. The finish has a nice spiciness with allspice, cracked peppercorns, and clove balanced by sweeter notes of butterscotch and honey. The finish is very long with nice spices that last and last, along with a good underlying sweetness. A few drops of water will help this whiskey open up nicely with even more flavors. (March, 2018)