Pearse Distiller’s Choice Irish Whiskey Review

By Richard Thomas

Rating: B-

The next step, after The Original reviewed yesterday, in the new Pearse line of Irish Whiskeys is Distiller’s Choice. As the label says, this blend draws on a stock of 7 different malt and grain whiskeys. Those choices range in age from three to nine years, and mostly draw on whiskeys aged in ex-bourbon barrels, but a little Sherry cask aged stock makes an appearance too. The blend is bottled at, like all the whiskeys in the Pearse line, at 42% ABV.

Just as the distillery, the line is named for Pearse Lyons, the founder of Alltech who passed away last week, aged 73.

The Whiskey
This whiskey has a pale yellow coloring in the glass. The scent is oily, carrying dry grass, wet oak and a faint hint of apricot and other stone fruits.

The taste isn’t really like that at all, however, smacking of caramel and vanilla pudding, spiced with cloves. The finish was a bit fruity, but also short.

I’m told that this whiskey is intended as the mixology member of the line up, like the Whiskey and Tonic (substitute Distiller’s Choice for gin). I got to try some of those recommended cocktails, and I found myself nodding in agreement. As a sipping whiskey, even on the rocks, the character is unremarkable…  but what it does have holds up well mixed in with other ingredients.

The Price
A fifth of this stuff will set you back $49.99.