Jack Ryan 15 Year Old Irish Whiskey Review

By Randall H. Borkus

Rating: A+

The Jack Ryan Whiskey Company presents small releases of malt whiskeys, aged and finished in their own stock of select barrels.  Jack Ryan whiskey finishes range from classic ex-bourbon casks to innovative rum and Madeira casks, and include collaborations with small, quality spirit producers.

Jack Ryan “The Centenary” is a limited-edition Cask Strength 15 Year Old Single Malt at 56.5% ABV, released to celebrate the centenary of the 1915 birth of Jack Ryan.  The 500 bottles were hand signed and numbered by Eunan Ryan, my bottle is number 424/500.

The Ryan whiskey family has been creating great expressions since the mid-19th Century.  The earlier generations moved from barley growing and distillery management in Munster, to the legendary Dublin vintner’s trade and moved into the marrying of malt and casks to finish their Irish single malt in 1913 with “Ryan’s Malt” in their string of Dublin pubs including the Beggars Bush (still family-owned).

“The Ryans have been six generations in the whiskey business.  In the 1820’s, John learned his craft in the Limerick Distillery (later Walker’s), before moving to manage Birch’s in Roscrea, Tipperary, near to his home farm in Toomevara.  Son Michael worked with him and also supplied barley from the farm. Thomas (1873) oldest of his and Maria’s 12 children, was born when Irish whiskey still ruled the world (there were 5 distilleries within 50 miles of home), though Ireland itself was recovering from the Great Famine his grandparents had lived through, and Europe was in a turmoil of republican fervor. Thomas preferred the whiskey business to tillage, fascinated by the finishing of barley rather than its sowing.”

“At twenty one, he made the move to Dublin, second city of the British Empire, home to legendary distilleries, intent on making his mark, through the vintner’s trade, on the whiskey world. Following a long apprenticeship, he specialized in what became his life’s passion – to source, finish and bottle his very own whiskey, one that would display the family name. He finally hit on Ryan’s Malt, which became a firm favorite of Dubliners, the astute Thomas supplying the trade and dispensing in the string of city public houses he purchased along the way.”

The Whiskey
The whiskey color is a bright gold.  The nose is loaded with fresh fruit and solid oak tannins.  The mouth feel is smooth and oily.  The front to mid palate is delightfully warm and full of fresh kiwi, pineapple, citrus, Marmalade fruit preserve with a touch of honey enveloped in oak.  The finish is complex and long reminding me of a slightly burnt honey biscuit covered in a malty candy citrus Marmalade preserve shrouded in oak chips.

I have grown to have new respect and appreciation for Irish whiskey over the past five years; however, this limited edition expression, similar to what Blue Spot and High N’ Wicked – The Wild Rover has brought to the Irish whiskey tasting table, has vaulted 15-year old Jack Ryan Irish whiskey to the top of my list for 2021!

The Price
I found bottles at retail in Chicago from $129.00 to $149.00.