Keeper’s Heart Irish + Bourbon Cask Strength Review

Keeper’s Heart
Irish + Bourbon
Cask Strength Whiskey
118 Proof
O’Shaughnessy Distilling Co., Minneapolis, MN
MSRP: $49.99/700ml
Review

Please enjoy our Keeper’s Heart Irish + Bourbon Cask Strength Whiskey review!

“Bottled at Cask Strength, our award-winning blend marries the sweetness of bourbon with the earthy spices of Irish pot still and the delicate butterscotch notes of Irish grain whiskey, to deliver a powerful and truly unique taste experience” – The Distillery.

The Specifics

The O’Shaughnessy Distilling Co certainly provides plenty of transparency when it comes to this whiskey. As its name clearly states, Keeper’s Heart Irish + Bourbon Cask Strength is a blend of Irish Whiskeys and Bourbon, bottled at cask strength. The breakdown of the components is: 41% Irish Whiskeys and 59% Bourbon Whiskey. However, there are both Irish Grain and Pot Still whiskeys included in the blend, as is shown in the following table:

Tasting Notes – Keeper’s Heart Irish + Bourbon Cask Strength Review

Let’s taste it:

🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn

👉🏻Nose: Sweet ripe pears, apples, hints of sweet cherries; fairly sweet with light caramel; tart orange citrus in the background; dark cherries later on; mild alcohol vapor
👉🏻Taste: Fairly sweet simple syrup and honey; sweet pears; light caramel; tart orange and grapefruits; growing black pepper spice
👉🏻Finish: Lingering citrus; mild sugary sweetness; noticeable and lasting black pepper spice; growing and lingering dryness; mild dry wood and barrel char later on; fairly long with moderate warmth

Keeper’s Heart Irish + Bourbon Cask Strength Whiskey starts off quite fruit forward in the nose, and is also fairly sweet. There are flavors of pears, apples and sweet cherries, as well as light caramel. The alcohol vapor is quite mild, particularly given the whiskey’s 118 proof. Subtle notes of tart orange peel are in the background at first, but they become more noticeable with time. Likewise, the sweeter fruits subside a bit, with dark cherries becoming evident.

The taste starts off quite sweet and syrupy with ample light honey, simple syrup and light caramel, as well as sweet pears. Soon after, there are citrus notes from tart orange and grapefruit. In addition, there is growing black pepper spice. The flavors continue into the finish, with lingering sweetness and citrus, but also further escalating and lasting black pepper spice. There is also a developing dryness, with dry wood and barrel char later on. The finish is long with a pleasant warmth. Nonetheless, this whiskey drinks below its fairly high 118 proof. However, its fairly high level of black pepper spice nevertheless provides it with quite a bit of heat.

Summary

Keeper’s Heart Irish + Bourbon Cask Strength has an enjoyable progression from sweet and fruity in the nose, almost syrupy in the taste, and finally somewhat dry and spicy in the finish. The nose also has an interesting evolution throughout the course of the dram. The Irish Whiskeys are definitely playing a role up front, with the bourbon handling the background and the endgame. Yet, there is still a feeling reminiscent of Irish Whiskey in the finish, as well. As the name implies, I would think that this whiskey should appeal to bourbon drinkers who enjoy Irish Whiskey. For those bourbon purists out there, you may want to try before you buy, as there are some flavors that you are likely less accustomed to.

Conclusion – Keeper’s Heart Irish + Bourbon Cask Strength Whiskey Review

As a bourbon drinker who is also an Irish Whiskey fan, I am really enjoying this whiskey. Even though it boasts a fairly high 118 proof, it is nonetheless quite easy to drink. In addition, its full flavors are right in line with what would be expected from its name. Nonetheless, I would have guessed that the Irish Whiskey made up a larger percentage of the blend, as it seems to me that those flavors are the most dominant. At this point, it should be clear that if you are both an Irish Whiskey and Bourbon fan, Keeper’s Heart Irish + Bourbon Cask Strength Whiskey is definitely worth a try! Have you had it? What did you think? Cheers!🥃

We hope you have enjoyed our Keeper’s Heart Irish + Bourbon Cask Strength Whiskey review! I have previously reviewed the lower proof version of this whiskey. Check it out in my Keeper’s Heart Irish + Bourbon Review. If you would like to learn more about Irish Whiskey, then check out my articles What is Irish Whiskey? and Bourbon Whiskey vs Irish Whiskey.

Note: This bottle was graciously provided by the O’Shaughnessy Distilling Co. for my review.

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