It would appear I’ve been a bit quiet here on Cask Strength Communications for the past number of months, although that wouldn’t be quite true. As many of my readers will know this website was created as a result of my unemployment due to Covid19, 7 months on, 1 cancelled Wedding date, Lockdown no.2 underway and I’m still without permanent employment. Sounds a bit harrowing when I sum it up like that, but there are many positives as I sit here typing not 20 yards from the Atlantic Ocean in the Isle of Doagh in Donegal.
Through my recent posts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram you will have noticed that I have been fortunate enough to have some of my work published across various whiskey related sites in recent months. This has been an exciting and humbling experience as I have had the opportunity to offer up my thoughts and knowledge to much larger audiences than I could have anticipated when I started this site:
Bushmills Causeway Collection 
W.D O’Connell Cask Strength Release
Malt-Review is a website which was started originally as a blog by Mark Newton now the Head of Communications for the much discussed Waterford Distillery, and headed now by the man formally known as Whisky Rover, Jason. With honesty at the core of the website, a fearlessness to asks the tough questions and zero reliance on brands to fuel the content that reaches subscribers daily, it is now one of the biggest Drinks websites in the world. Surpassing an astonishing 3million views already in 2020, you can imagine my excitement when Malt contributor Phil Crawford, Causeway Coast Whiskey Reviews, suggested my writing could be a good addition to Malt and better yet that the editing team agreed.
So thus far, I introduced myself to the world of Malt through 2 rather exciting releases from W.D O’Connell Whiskey Merchants, the PX 18 year Old Single Malt Cask Strength and the Bill Phil Cask Strength which you can read here. And, most recently a review of the Irish exclusives from The Causeway Collection by Bushmills Distillery which can be read here.
In addition to this I have been working on a number of pieces for Irish Whiskey Magazine which has been a long time in the making. Since the earliest releases of Irish Whiskey Magazine I have been supporting the Owner and Editor, Serghios Florides, with initially editing pieces for the print editions along with generally lending an ear and an opinion to any and all magazine topics he has discussed with me. His unwavering promotion of the Irish Whiskey Category and the brands within it, coupled with his providing of a platform for many voices to be heard and become recognized within the Irish Whiskey community, is a clear testament to the man.
Recently with the launch of the all new website we are now getting to see the fruits of his past 3 years work, and I was fortunate to lend an online exclusive teaser to our 3 part series of articles on the Independent Bottling category in Ireland through this foreward.
So with all that being said, I just wanted my readers to know that I haven’t disappeared completely and I am continuing to fight the good fight for Irish Whiskey through my reviews, narratives and sometimes over-eager opinions. In the coming weeks and months expect to see many of the following pop up in my Irish Whiskey review work either here or on Malt:
- The Celt An ChΓ©ad Bhlas, a new independently bottled brand by the Celtic Whiskey Shop.
- Redbreast Lustau Cask Strength.
- Gelston’s Irish Whiskey New Releases.
- Powers Single Cask Garavan’s Bar Release.
- Teeling Black Pitts Single Malt.
- Redbreast 60’s, 70’s, 80’s comparison Tasting.
- Dingle Fourth Single Pot Still Release.
Along with many more as I’m sure there will be some exciting releases between now and Xmas for all Irish Whiskey fans to look forward too.
As for anyone interested in the Consulting work I’ve been doing throughout the Hospitality and Irish Whiskey industries feel free to head over to my LinkedIn account and peruse my updates on the work I’ve been doing.
As always thanks for reading and feel free to reach out if you have any whiskey related queries.
Stay safe folks.
Cask Strength Communications 