In the past, we reviewed a couple of the most popular Irish whiskeys such as Jameson, Bushmills, and Tullamore Dew, but now we are going to take a look at Busker Irish Whiskey. It’s a fairly new brand that has grown in popularity since it’s release in 2020. If you’re a fan of lighter whiskey / Irish whiskey, then this is for you. The Busker offers all 4 types of Irish whiskey – malt, grain, pot still, and blended. The malt, grain, and pot still selections all boast the ‘single’ label, meaning that all the whiskey that goes into it is produced at the Royal Oak Distillery. I’ll discuss more about each type of whiskey below. The Busker Single Grain This is for the wanderers, the sharers of stories, the followers of dreams, living unabashedly. Meet The Busker, its roots now deep at Royal Oak Distillery, the home of Irish Whiskey Culture [...] But only in wandering far has it found its true place in the world here among the spirited, like you. - Royal Oak Distillery The Busker is a brand under Disaronno International, a US based subsidiary of Illva Saronno SpA. These companies have focused on producing Italian liqueur’s and wine. In 2020, they’ve expanded their reach to Irish whiskey with the release of The Busker.

The distillery produces four versions of Irish whiskey: Single Grain, Single Malt, Single Pot Still, and a blend of the three. Today I'm reviewing The Busker Triple Cask Triple Smoothwhich is the latter. A majority of the blend is made from the Single Malt and Single Pot Still expressions, with the remainder Single Grain. The Blend is matured in three different casks formerly holding Bourbon, Sherry, and Cantine Florio (1833) Sicilian Marsala.The authentic 1833 Cantine Florio Sicilian marsala winecasks used during the ageing and maturing process for the Single Grain and Triple Cask Triple Smooth were a “major point of differentiation” for the brand, it added. Irish law dictates that whiskey must be aged for at least three years to bear the name "Irish whiskey," but that's only the minimum. Longer-aged bottlings are typically between 10 and 20 years old, but there are rare (and very expensive) expressions out there that have aged for 50 years or even longer. If you see an age on the label, that's the minimum amount of time every drop of the whiskey has spent in wood—it could potentially be a blend that also includes older spirits. Next, pot still whiskey must contain at least 30% malted barley and 30% unmalted barley, with up to 5% of other grains allowed. When it comes to The Busker Single Pot Still, they only use barley, but we do not know what ratio of malted to unmalted barley is used.

Finish: A long - very, very long, lasting finish of vanilla, white pepper, and toasted oak would not give up. There was absolutely nothing harsh about it. Single grain does not mean that just one grain was used in the mash bill either. Grain Irish Whiskey uses no more than 30% malted barley with other grains, such as corn, wheat, and unmalted barley. lastly, grain whiskey is distilled in column stills. This allows for larger scale production. The Busker Triple Cask Irish Whiskey shows what can be done with a blend when you start with good components and lean heavily into the malt instead of the grain. Everything comes together nicely here and ends up being an easy-sipping, and easy mixing, whiskey. There is a lightness and a brightness to this whiskey that’s unlike most other Irish whiskeys out there in that it’s not that cloying honied fruit profile. There’s more going on, more to it than that and it’s driven by malt. Which I appreciate immensely. Palate: It has a very light flavor profile with a watered down caramel sweetness. The flavors of the sherry and marsala are driving this, providing just a hint of tannin. The finish leaves a faint sulfur and white pepper. This does not need water; the addition pushes out much of the subtle flavor it has and leaves it tasting like grain spirit.

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The Busker uses 1833 Cantine Florio Sicilian marsala wine casks to age and mature itsSingle Grain and Triple Cask Triple Smooth SKUs Records the default button state of the corresponding category & the status of CCPA. It works only in coordination with the primary cookie. Each boasted “an unmistakable taste profile, with nuances ranging from vanilla and oak, to rich spicy notes”, said The Busker. It’s with great pride that today we reveal The Busker’s new small batch whiskey addition,” said master blender Caroline Martin, who took up the role in 2021. Irish whiskey must spend at least three years aging in oak barrels, but distilleries can use casks that formerly held anything from bourbon to sherry to beer. Whiskey usually goes into the barrel at fairly high proof and is then "cut" with water to bring it down to its final strength. Bottle proofs vary, but the minimum allowed by US law is 40 percent ABV, or 80-proof.