People say lots of things in life come in threes, but Tullamore D.E.W.’s latest release, Trilogy, is going to be the only thing anywhere remotely associated with threes that you’ll want in your life. Released earlier this year, Trilogy is a blend of all three styles of Irish whiskey—pot still, malt, and grain—which gives it a unique character from nose to finish. Not only are all three styles of Irish whiskey represented, but it also aged in three different types of barrels, greatly changing the flavor from what you might think of with another Irish whiskey. First, Trilogy does its time in ex-Bourbon casks. Next, it is transferred to Oloroso sherry butts before finally being put into rum casks which, according to Tullamore D.E.W. Brand Ambassador and pub historian Tim Herlihy, “delivers a richer, smoother, more complex whiskey with a full-bodied taste of fruit, nuts and spice, and a lingering creamy fudge flavor. The nose has a nutty oakiness and rich spice interlaced with a hint of tropical fruit.”
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If that isn’t enough for you, Trilogy is Tullamore D.E.W.’s oldest member in their lineup, clocking in at fifteen years. This age, plus the triple barreled agin process just keep adding to the complexity that you’ll taste both on an initial sip and later on in your drinking experience.
Intended primarily as a sipping whiskey, Herlihy says that Trilogy will appeal to seasoned whiskey drinkers looking for something a little different when searching through the premium Irish whiskey category. If you don’t consider yourself one of them, there’s still hope. The aging in ex-bourbon and rum barrels imparts a sweetness and a richness that will bring the spirit closer to the palate of someone more used to drinking bourbon or rum.
Tullamore D.E.W. Trilogy retails for around $80.