Tullamore D.E.W. 14 Year Old Single Malt is the bottle that answers a fair question about the brand: what does Tullamore do when it stops blending and commits to one grain and one distillery. The answer is a triple distilled single malt built entirely from malted barley, matured for at least fourteen years, and then put through what the label calls, accurately, a rare four cask finish. The bulk of that maturation happens in ex bourbon casks, where the spirit picks up vanilla, honey and a soft oak frame. For the final stretch the whiskey is divided and moved into three additional cask types, Oloroso sherry, port and Madeira, before the four parcels are recombined. Very few distilleries attempt this, for the mundane reason that maintaining all four barrel inventories at once is expensive and logistically awkward. What it buys is layering. The sherry brings dried fruit and nuttiness, the port adds a darker berry sweetness, and the Madeira contributes a slightly oxidative, nutty lift that keeps the whole thing from turning syrupy. Underneath all of it, the triple distillation keeps the spirit light on its feet, which is why this reads as bright and fruit forward rather than heavy despite fourteen years in wood. Expect ripe apple, sweet citrus and a genuine tropical note, all wrapped in vanilla oak. It is bottled at 41.3 percent alcohol by volume, a deliberate half step above the rest of the Tullamore range, and it replaced the much loved and now discontinued 10 Year Old Four Wood, adding four years and two extra cask types to that recipe. Best enjoyed neat or over a couple of rocks, where the fruit opens up rather than closes down.
ABV / Proof
| ABV |
41.3% |
| Proof |
82.6 |
| Size |
750ml |
| Country |
Ireland |
| Region |
County Offaly |
| Distillery |
Tullamore Distillery, Tullamore, County Offaly |
| Producer |
William Grant & Sons |
| Category |
Single Malt Irish Whiskey |
| Expression |
14 Year Old Single Malt |
| Age |
14 Years (minimum) |
| Mashbill |
100% Malted Barley |
| Distillation |
Triple distilled in copper pot stills |
| Maturation |
Primarily ex bourbon casks |
| Finish |
Four cask finish: old bourbon, Oloroso sherry, port and Madeira |
Tasting Notes
Color: Warm gold with amber reflections.
Nose: Vibrant and fruit driven. Ripe apple, sweet citrus and tropical fruit, all set in vanilla oak with a soft honeyed sweetness behind.
Palate: Rich and sweet with real layering. Orchard and stone fruit up front, then dried fruit and dark honey from the fortified wine casks, with cocoa and gentle oak spice underneath.
Finish: Long, soft and elegant, with lingering sweetness and a fruity, lightly spiced fade.
FAQ
Q: What is the four cask finish?
A: After spending most of its life in ex bourbon casks, the whiskey is split and finished separately in Oloroso sherry, port and Madeira casks alongside bourbon, then recombined. Few distilleries attempt it because it requires all four barrel inventories at once.
Q: Is this a blend like the 12 Year Special Reserve?
A: No. The 12 Year is a blended Irish whiskey. This is a single malt, made entirely from malted barley at a single distillery.
Q: Why 41.3 percent rather than 40?
A: It is the producer's chosen strength for this expression, a deliberate half step above the standard Tullamore bottling proof to carry the extra weight from the cask finishes.
Q: How old is it exactly?
A: The label states matured for at least fourteen years, meaning every component has spent a minimum of fourteen years in oak.
Q: What happened to the 10 Year Old Single Malt?
A: It was discontinued. The 14 Year replaced it, adding four more years of maturation and extending the cask finish from two types to four.
Q: Where can I buy Tullamore D.E.W. 14 Year Old Single Malt online?
A: Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
