Keeper’s Heart Irish + Bourbon Review

By Richard Thomas

Rating: B

O’Shaughnessy Distilling Company has certainly stirred up much buzz since getting started. While many new American distillers have procured the services of a master distiller from a big whiskey company, those are usually 1) retired and starting a second career as a consultant; and 2) American. Poaching such a person away from a major foreign company is unheard of, but that is exactly what O’Shaugnessy did when they acquired the services of Brian Nation. Previously the Master Distiller for New Midleton, Nation had spent almost 23 years working for Irish Distillers, 7 1/2 of them as Master Distiller. He had spent a decade under the tutelage of the legendary Barry Crockett, so his departure for Minnesota caused quite the stir.

Actually, there has been a bit of a migration from Irish Distillers to O’Shaughnessy. Those of us who travel in whiskey circles have grown very fond of Ger Garland, a real gent and former brand ambassador manager at Irish Distillers. He has since moved over to O’Shaughnessy as well, and has made such an impression at the new job that I heard tourists at Town Branch Distillery in Lexington singing his praises.

The brand best associated with this very Irish crew up in Minnesota is Keeper’s Heart. That brand is best known for importing Irish Whiskey, either for sale as such or for blending with American-made whiskeys. This kind of international hybrid is a thing, but not a common one. Probably the best known example are Virginia Distilling Company’s hybrids of Scotch Whisky with their in-house malts.

The Keeper’s Heart Irish + Bourbon is a 92 proof blend of a four year old-plus single pot still whiskey, a four year old-plus grain whiskey and a four year old-plus bourbon, all sourced. That sourcing is undisclosed, but MGP is a good guess for the bourbon, since they have stock with the 75% corn mash bill. As for the Irish whiskeys, you can count on one hand the number of options for the grain whiskey and single pot still whiskey, and you don’t need all your fingers to do it.

The Whiskey
Reflecting what has been blended into this hybrid, the pour has a dull gold coloring. The nose is light, but fragrant, and smacks of caramel, malty honey and a touch of non-descript citrus. On the palate, the caramel and honey pick up a nutty note, with some traces of cookie spices and garden herbs in the background. The finish opens with a quick wave of leaf tobacco spilling out, followed hard a fast by the cookie spices, oak and a little cocoa.

For the most part, Keeper’s Heart Irish + Bourbon is a tasty, if simple whiskey. Where things get interesting is on the finish, which closes the show in style. What makes the bottle a winner and something all fans of whiskey from around the world and/or hybrids should acquire, however, is the price tag. See below.

The Price
Keeper’s Heart Irish + Bourbon goes for $35 a bottle. It’s a serious bargain.