The Legendary Red Silkie comes out of County Donegal, from Sliabh Liag Distillers, based in the Gaeltacht on Ireland's wild Atlantic coast beneath the Slieve League cliffs. The Silkie name comes from the selkie of Irish and Scottish folklore, the seal folk who shed their skins to walk among people, and the range has built a following on doing something most Irish whiskey does not: putting peated malt into the blend. The Red Silkie takes that signature and pushes it somewhere unexpected. The base is a blend of double distilled and triple distilled whiskeys, combining peated malt with soft grain whiskey, and rather than finishing it in the usual bourbon or sherry wood, Sliabh Liag put it into Spanish red wine casks, specifically Rioja and Ribera del Duero. Those two regions pull in different directions and that is the point. Rioja leads with big, generous fruit, while Ribera del Duero brings a fuller body and firmer tannin, and between them they hand the whiskey a wave of summer berry that runs straight into the smoke instead of politely beside it. The name honours Red Hugh O'Donnell, Lord of Tyrconnell, who sailed to Spain in 1602 to seek King Philip III's support against English rule and died there before he could return with an army. The Ribera del Duero region sits just east of the castle where he was buried, which is a considerably better reason for a cask choice than most. Bottled at 46 percent alcohol by volume and non chill filtered, so the texture stays intact. Expect strawberry and blackcurrant, toasted sugar and warm barley, with peat smoke building underneath and drying oak tannin pulling the finish back.
ABV / Proof
| ABV |
46% |
| Proof |
92 |
| Size |
750ml |
| Country |
Ireland |
| Region |
County Donegal |
| Producer |
Sliabh Liag Distillers, County Donegal |
| Category |
Blended Irish Whiskey |
| Expression |
The Legendary Red Silkie |
| Age |
No Age Statement |
| Composition |
Peated malt and grain whiskeys, double distilled and triple distilled |
| Finish |
Spanish red wine casks: Rioja and Ribera del Duero |
| Filtration |
Non chill filtered |
| Release |
Limited edition |
Tasting Notes
Color: Deep amber with a distinct red cast from the wine casks.
Nose: Rounded strawberry and blackcurrant lead, with cooked fruit behind and a vegetal peat smoke that grows the longer it sits.
Palate: Toasted sugar and warm barley, more sweet strawberry, then drying oak tannin and a smoky richness cutting through the fruit.
Finish: Cooked summer fruit with a smudge of black pepper, smoke lingering over dry tannin.
FAQ
Q: What casks is it finished in?
A: Spanish red wine casks, specifically Rioja and Ribera del Duero. It is not a sherry finish, despite some listings claiming otherwise.
Q: Is it peated?
A: Yes. Peated malt is part of the blend, which is unusual for Irish whiskey. The smoke sits underneath the fruit rather than dominating.
Q: Is this a single malt?
A: No. It is a blend of malt and grain whiskeys, combining double distilled and triple distilled components.
Q: Who is the Red in the name?
A: Red Hugh O'Donnell, Lord of Tyrconnell, who travelled to Spain in 1602 seeking military support and died there. The Spanish cask finish references that history.
Q: What does non chill filtered mean?
A: The whiskey skips the chilling and filtration step used to prevent cloudiness, preserving more texture and flavour.
Q: Where can I buy The Legendary Red Silkie online?
A: Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
