Trying to Hyde my feelings
The HYDE family have been involved in the Irish drinks business for over twelve generations since 1640. HYDE is presidential quality Irish whiskey named in honour of Ireland’s very first president Douglas Hyde. President Hyde was an inspirational figure who helped to define Ireland’s national identity. Now then, on facebook I have not been generous to Hyde, in fact quite “having a go at them” often. I apologise and write this blog as a way to sneak into their affection. MCLEANSCOTLAND as readers know, offer Irish whiskey tours all over the Emerald Isle, it would be nice when Covid allows, to be able to donder along to Cork and visit them.
Hyde select the very finest Irish whiskey, made by only the very best Irish whiskey distilleries, which they then finish in vintage oak casks sourced from distilleries and bodegas around the world. Irish whiskey is then bottled in small limited edition batches and non-chill filtered for a more original character. The family were well known bar owners at ‘Tinker’s Cross’ outside Bandon in West Cork, from 1640 to 1962. Here the Hyde’s would sell fine Irish whiskey and draught Stout straight from wooden oak casks that they would tap with a wooden mallet and a brass tap. Today Conor Hyde is the first generation of Hyde’s not to own a pub in West Cork, but he continues the reputation for bonding and purveying some of Ireland’s finest Irish whiskey. The family are passionate about the age old craft of ‘Bonding’ and curating fine Irish whiskey to very strict standards, only the very finest Irish whiskey, made by only the very best Irish whiskey distilleries, which in turn are finished in a variety of vintage oak casks. I may be repeating myself here but it’s well worth the double mention.
PRESIDENT’S CASK SINGLE GRAIN BOURBON CASK MATURED is a triple distilled, single grain, Irish whiskey from one single distillery location. Originally distilled in a traditional “Coffey” Copper Column still from pure Corn/maize grain. Made in small batches, It is matured for at least 6 years in flame charred, first fill, ex-bourbon casks from Kentucky in the U.S.A. Cinnamon and clove with caramel flavours, spicy with bourbon notes on the nose. A long and satisfying ending with a silky combination of oak and barley. 46% alc./Vol. This one grabbed my attention because of the date on the label.
Two of my great uncles fought in the Easter Rising of 1916 against English rule. My mum’s family are originally fae Kilkenny, and have a great history with both 1916 and 1920 Ireland. Many family members died, many left Ireland and a good few (to this day) stayed there. This is the bottle for me; Sean Daley (aka Paul McLean).
Hyde also source ‘new make’ spirit, made to very strict specifications, from two great Irish distilleries. This ‘new make’ spirit is then laid down for many years in casks at the Bonded warehouse in Little Island, County Cork to age and mature. In order to be called an ‘Irish whiskey’ the whiskey must be distilled and matured on the island of Ireland. It must also age in wooden barrels for three years with a minimum of 40% ABV.
Back to the President; Douglas Hyde was the first President of Ireland as mentioned earlier, from 1938-1945. He was sworn into office on 26th June 1938, which was the very first presidential ceremony in Ireland’s long and rich history. President Hyde was an inspirational figure who helped to define Ireland’s national identity. As an academic he played a fundamental role in cataloguing Ireland’s rich cultural history and championing the Irish language.
SIGNIFICANT DATES The years on each of the HYDE expressions are significant dates in Irish history that are directly associated with President Douglas Hyde: I like this idea. 1860 Douglas Hyde’s birth year,1916 The start of the Irish Rebellion, 1922 The establishment of the Irish Free State. 1938 Douglas Hyde was inaugurated as President of Ireland. MCLEANSCOTLAND have undertaken many Irish tours, whiskey and non related whiskey, we are itching to get working again and look forward to having a wee chat with Mr Hyde when we can.
Meantime, the lovely people at Hyde (Connor) sent me drams to taste, I was no expecting that, many drams arrived! To be honest, I gave some away to whisky friends here in Perth, they LOVED THEM, one pal saying; “I was not the biggest fan of whisky, but these Irish drams are really changing my mind!”
PRESIDENT’S CASK is a 10 YO SINGLE MALT, SHERRY CASK MATURED
This whiskey is tripled distilled on a traditional copper pot still. Originally aged in 200 litre, flame charred, ex-bourbon, oak casks from Kentucky in the USA for 10 years before being transferred into in toasted 250 litre, vintage, Oloroso, ‘Hogshead’ SHERRY casks, from Cadiz in Spain. This was a favourite; peaches and cream, vanilla, honey, caramel, chocolate, orange, lemon and a whole range of flavours to satisfy my mooth. It lingers in the mouth with a long rich finish. I will be investing in a bottle soon.
HYDE NO.2 PRESIDENT’S CASK another 10 YO SINGLE MALT this time a RUM CASK FINISH tripled distilled on a traditional copper pot still. Originally aged in 200 litre, flame charred, ex-bourbon, before being transferred into 200 litre, flame charred, DARK RUM casks from Barbados in the Caribbean, for a further six months of finishing – passion fruit, vanilla, ginger and lime with hints of mango and orange in the background. I’m afraid I liked this one too!
HYDE NO.3 PRESIDENT’S CASK a SINGLE GRAIN, BOURBON CASK MATURED another triple distilled, single grain, Irish whiskey, distilled in a traditional “Coffey” Copper Column still from pure Corn / maize grain. It was matured for at least 6 years in flame charred, first fill, ex-bourbon casks from Kentucky in the U.S.A. it has caramel flavours.
HYDE NO.4 PRESIDENT’S CASK a SINGLE MALT, RUM CASK FINISH. Left alone for a wee while in rum casks from Barbados, for a further six months of sorting itself out. That’ll do me. Porridge oats and barley. Caramelised sugar and tropical fruit in a drink!
HYDE NO.5 ÁRAS CASK, SINGLE GRAIN and a BURGUNDY CASK FINISH distilled in a “Coffey” Copper Column still from pure Corn / maize grain. After resting in the Burgundy cask, this is now a 6 and a half year old, I do like a red wine, this dram features red berry fruit, vanilla, and toasted oak, custard and apple pie.
HYDE NO.6 PRESIDENT’S RESERVE a SPECIAL RESERVE, SHERRY CASK FINISH producing this 18 YO Single Malt & 8YO single grain Irish Whiskey with a Sherry cask finish, both originally aged in flame charred American Bourbon barrels, married for a further 9 months of ‘finishing’ in Spanish, Vintage, toasted, Oloroso sherry cask Butts, don’t leave the house without locking this one up.
HYDE NO.8 their HERITAGE CASK, SPECIAL RESERVE, STOUT CASK FINISH oh man, am guessing the Murphy clan had something to do with this, 75% Single Grain; 25% Single Malt; finished in an Irish STOUT cask. Was wrong, this stout craft Irish beer was from the www.cottonball.ie craft micro brewery in Cork City is aged in a first fill, ex-Bourbon, American white oak cask for 3 months. The stout is then taken and bottled from this cask. The whiskey is then put into the STOUT cask for a further 6 months to ‘finish’. Can I just say, to me, this is better than the Jamesons Stout.
Paul McLean (aka Sean Daley), Perth March 2021. I gave this to Connor to read and check, here is his reply; HYDE are totally transparent about being Whiskey BONDERS – focusing completely on wood management. HYDE IRISH WHISKEY (Hibernia Distillers Limited) bonders no a distillery. Thank you Mr President and Connor.
Trying to Hyde my feelings
The HYDE family have been involved in the Irish drinks business for over twelve generations since 1640. HYDE is presidential quality Irish whiskey named in honour of Ireland’s very first president Douglas Hyde. President Hyde was an inspirational figure who helped to define Ireland’s national identity. Now then, on facebook I have not been generous to Hyde, in fact quite “having a go at them” often. I apologise and write this blog as a way to sneak into their affection. MCLEANSCOTLAND as readers know, offer Irish whiskey tours all over the Emerald Isle, it would be nice when Covid allows, to be able to donder along to Cork and visit them.
Hyde select the very finest Irish whiskey, made by only the very best Irish whiskey distilleries, which they then finish in vintage oak casks sourced from distilleries and bodegas around the world. Irish whiskey is then bottled in small limited edition batches and non-chill filtered for a more original character. The family were well known bar owners at ‘Tinker’s Cross’ outside Bandon in West Cork, from 1640 to 1962. Here the Hyde’s would sell fine Irish whiskey and draught Stout straight from wooden oak casks that they would tap with a wooden mallet and a brass tap. Today Conor Hyde is the first generation of Hyde’s not to own a pub in West Cork, but he continues the reputation for bonding and purveying some of Ireland’s finest Irish whiskey. The family are passionate about the age old craft of ‘Bonding’ and curating fine Irish whiskey to very strict standards, only the very finest Irish whiskey, made by only the very best Irish whiskey distilleries, which in turn are finished in a variety of vintage oak casks. I may be repeating myself here but it’s well worth the double mention.