Skellig Six18 Distillery 2024 Ruby Port Finish
Nose
Irritatingly spicy is an understatement - this thing actually smells like pea protein! You know, those vegan mince substitutes from the supermarket. There are cloves, hazelnuts and mushrooms! As if someone had poured a forest hike in autumn into a bottle. Milk chocolate and roses are added to give the whole thing an almost surreal flavour.
Taste
The spicy notes from the nose continue and the meaty element is still there. There is also a cereal base that reminds us that we are actually dealing with an Irish whiskey here.
But the highlight is the herbs. Massive, intense herbal notes that flood the entire palate. It's like walking through a herb garden. Nutty tones and a warming quality round off the whole thing.
Finish
The finish is long and spicy, with a slight bitterness that fits perfectly. Earthy notes come through - probably from the port finish - and there is a hint of chocolate at the end.
Thoughts
This Skellig Six18 is definitely not for everyone. It's exciting, not quite simple and very complex. If you're looking for a standard Irish whisky that's nice and smooth and pleasing, then this isn't for you. Despite all the crazy flavours - or perhaps because of them - this whisky is the first from the Skellig Six18 Distillery that is really fun. It shows courage, creativity and a willingness to take risks that I see far too rarely in the whisky world.
Rating: 82/100 - Excellent (Marcel: 82 | Sascha: 82)
Value for Money: 3/5 - Ok
FAQ: The Most Common Questions
❓ Does the whisky really smell like vegan mince?
👉 The combination of spicy notes and the pea protein flavour is really there. It sounds crazy, but that's part of the charm. After 10 minutes in the glass, the whole thing develops into something much more complex and interesting - so don't give up just yet!
❓ Can the Ruby Port finish even be tasted with such wild flavours?
👉 The port finish is even decisive for the balance. It adds sweetness and depth, which softens the intense herbal and spicy flavours. Without the port finish, this whisky would probably be too aggressive.
❓ Why is a 6-year-old whisky so complex and intense?
👉 On the one hand, this is due to the high alcohol strength of 58.70% vol. which concentrates all the flavours. Secondly, Skellig Six18 seems to use very active barrels, which release a lot of flavour. Plus: the Irish climate ensures intensive maturation.