Two Stacks The First Cut Signature Blend Irish Whiskey Review

Two Stacks
The First Cut
Signature Blend
Irish Whiskey
86 Proof
MSRP: $37.99/700ml, $4.99/100ml Dram in a Can

Please enjoy our Two Stacks The First Cut Signature Blend Irish Whiskey Review and learn about the Dram in a Can!

Introducing Two Stacks Whiskey

From the Distillery: “Founded in 2020 by three friends, Shane McCarthy, Liam Brogan and Donal McLynn, Two Stacks works with some of Ireland’s leading distilleries to select the finest spirits for flavor-forward blended and single malt whiskeys. As one of the only independent bonders and blenders on the island of Ireland, with a purpose-built 100% solar-powered production warehouse, Two Stacks is breaking boundaries to create innovative and daring whiskey expressions for new and seasoned whiskey drinkers alike.” The brand is currently expanding the U.S. distribution of its flagship product – Two Stacks The First Cut Signature Blend Irish Whiskey (the subject of this review) – through its new import agency partnership with Foley Family Wines & Spirits.

The Details – Two Stacks The First Cut Signature Blend Irish Whiskey Review

This blend, which was distilled and matured at the Great Northern Distillery*, is a combination of single grain, pot still, double-distilled malt, and peated malt whiskeys, each aged in distinct cask types. The final whiskey has no added colorings and is non-chill filtered. Here are the component whiskeys:

• 40% Single Grain Whiskey – Aged in former Kentucky Bourbon casks
• 40% Single Grain Whiskey – Aged in virgin American Oak casks
• 8% Pot Still Whiskey – Aged in Oloroso Sherry casks
• 10% Double-Distilled Malt Whiskey – Aged in former Kentucky Bourbon casks
• 2% Peated Malt Whiskey – Aged in former Kentucky Bourbon casks

*The Great Northern Distillery is located in Dundalk, Co. Louth, Ireland. It is not to be confused with Great Northern Distilling, in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.

Dram in a Can

One thing truly unique about the Two Stacks brand is that they package all of their whiskeys in convenient 100ml (~3.4 oz) cans, in addition to standard 700ml bottles. The “Dram in a Can” is not just reserved for their core line up, but also includes their limited releases, such as a 22 year old Bushmill’s Single Cask, and their Double Irish Cream Liqueur!

Tasting Notes – Two Stacks The First Cut Signature Blend Irish Whiskey Review

Let’s taste it:

🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn

👉🏻Nose: Tangerines, sweat pears, peaches, simple syrup sweetness, subtle peat, hints of uncharred oak; alcohol vapor quite light
👉🏻Taste: Fairly sweet; peaches, tangerines, pears, light caramel, mildly sweet light honey, light peat, light char
👉🏻Finish: Peaches, pears, mild peat and char, moderate capsaicin spice; quite dry; fairly long; a deep mild burn

The nose of Two Stacks The First Cut Signature Blend Irish Whiskey is fruit forward and fairly sweet, with sweet pears, peaches, some citrus from tangerines, and simple syrup. There is mild peat smoke, which subdues the sweetness to some degree, as well as hints of uncharred oak. The alcohol vapor is fairly light, and appropriate for the proof.

The taste also starts off fruit forward and fairly sweet, with fresh peaches, pears and tangerines. Light caramel, and sweetness from light honey, round out the flavors. In addition, the peat has a subtle presence, and there is mild barrel char, as well.

The finish fairly rapidly become much more dry, as well as more spicy. Capsaicin spice grows and lingers, peaches and pears become quite subtle, but linger, along with tangerines and some sweetness. Later on, there is mild barrel char and peat, which remains on the milder side. The finish lasts quite a long time, with lingering mild spice and char. I am left with a deep mild burn.

An Interesting Transition

Two Stacks The First Cut Signature Blend Irish Whiskey has an interesting transition from being very fruit forward in the nose, as well as in the taste, to becoming significantly more spicy and dry in the finish. While the peat smoke from the 2% peated malt whiskey component is on the subtle side, peat is definitely noticeable, from the nose to the finish. It both compliments, as well as subdues, the fruit and sweetness, and contributes to the dryness later on. In addition, as a nice complement to those flavors, there is a bit of a tang from citrus, mainly tangerines, that is also present throughout. However, it is a bit of an enigma, why, by the tail end of the finish, all that remains is mild char, peat and hints of spice. The fruit, essentially gone for now, is waiting to be resurrected in the next sip.

Conclusion

Overall, Two Stacks The First Cut Signature Blend Irish Whiskey is a very enjoyable pour. I am a fan of the ample fruit flavors, with the fairly subtle peat providing a nice change from the much more common unpeated Irish Whiskeys. This is a whiskey that should be enjoyed by most Irish Whiskeys fans. However, if you are not a fan of peat, you should proceed with care. While the peat is mild, it is nonetheless present, so you may want to give this whiskey a try in a bar before you buy. Last, but certainly not least, who doesn’t love a “Dram in a Can?” I know I do!

Have you tried Two Stacks The First Cut Signature Blend Irish Whiskey? What did you think? Cheers!🥃

We hope you have enjoyed our Two Stacks The First Cut Signature Blend Irish Whiskey and Dram in a Can Review! If you would like to learn more about Irish Whiskey, check out my articles “What is Irish Whiskey?” and “Bourbon Whiskey vs Irish Whiskey” Also, you may be interested in my Two Stacks Single Grain Double Barrel Irish Whiskey Review and my Two Stacks Double Irish Cream Liqueur Review!

Note: This bottle was graciously provided by the brand for my review. Thank you!

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