Kilbeggan Traditional Irish Whiskey is produced using hand selected grain and barley. It was double distilled, and utilized a blend from a 180 year old pot still. Kilbeggan which is located on the Brosna River is the oldest distillery in Ireland in operation. It’s located in the town of Kilbeggan in Co, Westmeath. This Whiskey is widely available across the country and has a suggested retail price of $23.99. Aromas of toasted almond are joined by bits of tangerine on the nose of this whiskey. Apricots and other stone fruits are present through the full palate along with a nice dollop of spices and bits of brown sugar. There is a honeyed edge to the finish along with vanilla bean and a final hit of white pepper that brings everything to a tingly and memorable close.

This Whiskey represents a solid value as a daily drinker. I first sampled it neat and really enjoyed it that way. A drop of water really opened it up and allowed it to express its charms more fully. I also used Kilbeggan to made some mixed drinks and found it to work as well, if not even better that way. I tried a recipe that Kilbeggan provided which would be a great one for a Halloween party. The ingredients are seasonal and it’s really very tasty. I willing to bet it would be quite a hit, even with people who aren’t necessarily big Whiskey drinkers normally.

Kilbeggan Masquerade Mixer Ingredients: 2 parts Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey 1/2 part DeKuyper Mixologist Series Ginger Liqueur 1 part Fresh Apple Juice 1 part Fresh Lemon Sour Red & Orange Sugar Mix

Method: Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a sugar rimmed cocktail glass.

If you shop around Kilbeggan Traditional Irish Whiskey often sells for right around $20 making it a pretty inexpensive bottle to keep around for a quick shot or to use as a base for an array of cocktails. Give it a try, you’ll be glad you did.