Description
Coosan Point
Coosan Point is near Athlone in Co Westmeath. It’s at the end of one of two peninsulas that guard the entrance to the Inner Lakes of Lough Ree- Wineport and Lakeshore Hotel, Glasson are in there.
The Annals relates the story of a raid on Clonmacnoise in 1155 by the people who lived in the Coosan area, when they carried off in their boats all the swine and hogs they could find. There used to be a ferry between Coosan Point and Killinure (the other peninsula) but in March1845, a ferry bringing people back from the market in Athlone capsized and 8 people were drowned. Today, it’s known for a busy boat marina and The Lough Ree Inn which is a busy spot in summer time.
The Whiskey:
16 yo Single Malt from Cooley. Non chill-filtered and natural colour.
Maturation
Lough Ree Distillery finished this straw-coloured whiskey in the ex Laphroaig cask for 3 ½ years, prior to it being disgorged and cut to 46% ABV for bottling.
Nose:
Dry peat smokiness to start, floral yet earthy- like walking through really dry scrubland in summer. There are notes of toffee and fresh ripe apple.
Taste:
Peat, light creaminess continuing to citrus peel.
Finish:
A little spicy, with delicate smoke and beautiful floral honey.
Overall:
This is a really unusual, but very interesting whiskey. The peat from the Laphroaig is delicate but definite and comes across as earthy and herbal rather than heavily smoked. The Cooley single malt really holds it own and brings nice elegant fruit flavours to the mix.