The Irishman Cask Strength Irish Whiskey
The Irishman Cask Strength Irish Whiskey is a cask-strength Irish whiskey in a 750mL bottle — an annual vintage release that vats Walsh Whiskey's best single malt and single pot still stocks and bottles them straight from the barrel at roughly 54% ABV (108 proof), matured exclusively in first-fill ex-bourbon casks, available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: cask strength — approximately 54% ABV (108 proof); exact bottling strength varies by annual vintage (2017: 54%, 2021: 54.8%, 2022: 54.9%)
- Size: 750mL
- Style: vatting of triple-distilled single malt and single pot still Irish whiskies — non-chill filtered, bottled straight from the barrel
- Origin: Ireland — Walsh Whiskey Distillery, County Carlow; the brand was created by Bernard and Rosemary Walsh (launched 2007)
- Maturation: exclusively first-fill ex-bourbon American oak casks
- Awards: Gold Medal, Premium Irish Whiskey category, The Whiskey Masters; 94.5 points — Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2010
Bernard Walsh's Annual Hand-Selected Release
Every year, Walsh Whiskey founder Bernard Walsh scours the distillery's cellars to hand-select a handful of exceptional casks — a vatting of triple-distilled single malt and single pot still whiskies — and bottles the result at full cask strength with no chill-filtration. The 2022 release ran to just 6,100 bottles worldwide with only 1,200 allocated to the US, and each bottle is individually numbered and signed by Walsh himself. Explore our whisky collection or browse the The Irishman lineup.
Tasting Notes
The 2022-vintage profile opens on crisp green apple and pear with orange zest, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove on the nose. The palate layers honeysuckle and crisp apple over caramel, vanilla, ginger, and creamy cinnamon, resolving into a rich, lingering finish of walnut, toasted oak, dark chocolate, and hazelnut with warm spice.
How to Enjoy
Pour it neat in a Glencairn or tulip glass and let it rest a few minutes, then add a few drops of water to unlock the full orchard-and-spice arc. This is a contemplative sipper, not a mixing whiskey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the ABV change from year to year?
The Irishman Cask Strength is an annual vintage release — the bottling strength is whatever the selected casks delivered that year. The 2017 vintage was 54%, the 2021 was 54.8%, and the 2022 was 54.9% ABV.
Who makes The Irishman?
Walsh Whiskey Distillery in County Carlow, Ireland. The brand was created by Bernard and Rosemary Walsh in 2007, and the Cask Strength is Bernard Walsh's personal annual bottling.
Is each bottle really numbered?
Yes — every bottle of The Irishman Cask Strength is individually numbered and signed by founder Bernard Walsh.
One of Ireland's benchmark cask-strength bottlings — pick up The Irishman Cask Strength online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.