The Irishman Legacy Single Malt Shelf Review
Shelf Review
Designed to give you all the quick hit information you need when you’re standing in front of your local liquor store’s whisky shelf.
Did you know that Ireland – not Scotland – holds the distinction of having the first recorded reference to whiskey in history? Written in 1405, the Annals of Clonmacnoise first referenced a chieftain of an Irish clan who “died at Christmas by taking a surfeit of aqua vitate”. This aqua vitae – meaning water of life in Latin – would later come to be known as whiskey and started a spirits revolution that would profound shape Ireland for hundreds of years.
To celebrate what Walsh whiskey calls 700 years of whisky tradition in Ireland (their math, not mine), Walsh Whiskey’s Irishman brand has released a new expression called “Legacy” exclusively with the Kilkenny Whiskey Guild. This 100% single malt was aged first in bourbon and sherry casks before spending 15 months finishing in Châteauneuf-du-Papered wine barrels from Château La Nerthe. Irishman Legacy is bottled with no age statement, but with natural color 46% ABV, and non-chill filtration, this expression caught my eye on a recent trip to Ireland. It was released in late 2023 but can still found in Dublin Airport and a few shops around Kilkenny, Ireland. Coming in around $90, is this limited release worth picking up while pursing the Irish whiskey aisle? Let’s dive in and find out.
Age: Non-Age Stated
ABV: 46%
Cask: Bourbon and sherry aged, finished in Châteauneuf-du-Papered wine barrels
MSRP: Around $90
Distillery Name: Sourced (Walsh Whiskey Company)
Review Date: 7/28/25
Nose: Big round red fruit, soft malt, Hubba Bubba chewing gum, whiff of hay and anise seed. Juicy and refreshing, full of fruity sweetness.
Palate: Fruit continues with lots of delicate strawberries, raspberries, chocolate, with an oaky backbone that compliments a creamy sweetness. Gentle structure with good, sweet wine crispness – like a chilled Rosé.
Finish: Medium length finish. The sweetness disappears and is replaced with a lingering dryness and slight tannic note.
Score: 90
Would I buy again? If I had the chance to grab another bottle of the Irishman Legacy, I absolutely would – it remains a gentle, complex, sweeter take on red wine finished single malt. It never becomes too oaky or allows the wine to completely overwhelm the malt, instead providing just enough of the red fruits to remind you of a chewy strawberry candy. I’ve found that Irish whiskies tend to take very well to red wine finishes, and this Legacy expression continues that tradition. If you have the chance to grab a bottle – don’t hesitate. On top of the very cool story, the liquid itself outperforms it’s relatively affordable (for a limited release) price point and is profoundly crushable.
