My recent stint with Ireland’s Sextant had prompted me to continue my run with yet another Irish malt. Fortunately, during my run around the aisles at my local Dan’s, a shimmer of light bounced of this rather bold, somewhat macho yet minimalist bottling that stood comfortably amongst its more popular Irish peers like the Bushmills, Jamesons, and Teeling expressions.

The Pearse is a bit of an unknown, taking its name from founder Dr. Pearse Lyons. And there’s good reason too, the distillery was founded not so long ago, in 2017. Located in Dublin’s Liberties neighbourhood, the building was once an 18th-century church only to be restored and renovated to fulfil its new purpose. The distillery is home to two copper pot stills, acquired from Kentucky in the year 2011. The stills were later personalised, given names – Mighty Molly and Little Lizzie, in memory of Lyon’s distant relatives.

The distillery tries to keep everything footed closely to home. The Lyon’s have their own farm, a 120 hectare plot used to grow barley. Add to that their own yeast culture, Alltech Yeast to help ferment their mash and the bourbon barrels they procure from their sister distillery at Town Branch in Lexington.

The Pearse Founder’s Choice is mad eof 100% malted barley and matured exclusively in ex- Bourbon Casks for a minimum of 12 years, before being vatted to achieve the desired flavour profile and then bottled.

ABV : 40%

Eye 😐 Natural Colour, Non Chill Filtered

Nose : Vanilla and custard, malt biscuits with some tropical nuances, hints of cantaloupe and green apples coupled with a pinch of white pepper, some mild medical notes, and pine.

Taste : Deep sweet notes of caramel, a drizzle of honey, infused with charred wood. Papaya interleaved with a light orange tang, raspberries and a wee bit of spice like that of allspice.

Finish : Medium to Long | Sweet vanilla with a whisper of spice and a mild orange zest, a bit of warmth is left on the palate.

First impressions, this Irish tuple brings with it an underlying warmth and a sweetness that is enveloping. It has a great, rounded mouthfeel; fairly complex for a 12 YO whisky with sufficient depth. What to me the Pearse represents, is a no strings attached encounter that is both pleasing and satisfying.

At AUD $90, let’s be honest, this isn’t really VFM, but is an Irish pot stilled whiskey that has aged well, all twelve years, taking with it all the bounty from its time in those ex-bourbon barrels. I see this as a great sipper; simply put, a non chalant whisky.

Preference : Does well neat or even with a splash of water.