Single Malt Remote…
It’s remarkable how much of this surreal existence we now take for granted. Consider, for instance, last Wednesday. I sat at my dining room table tasting Egan’s Irish Whiskey from miniature vials—that for some reason also got me thinking about vaccines! Somewhere there has to be a connection. After all, is not single-malt the best medicine? And, surely, Imperial Stout (aged in whiskey barrels) can’t be far behind. After all, a few of us can still remember when ‘Guinness was Good for You’. In fact it likely still is… But I digress.
We’ve taken to Zoom like proverbial ducks to water. We’ve even learned to look our best—or at least shave—before clicking the video icon. I was connected to Vancouver’s Brewhall, a genuinely impressive brewery emporium. The occasion? The introduction of Egan’s Irish Whiskey and launch of Seven One Oh Nine—a true ‘collab’ brew, if ever there was one.
This hefty (9% ABV) but well mannered Imperial Stout has been aged in barrels previously used for Egan’s Centenary Irish Whisky. The name refers to the distance (kms.) between Vancouver and Tullamore. Those already well traveled barrels are now headed back to Ireland for more whiskey finishing. And will return yet again to Vancouver to do duty for another Imperial Stout.
Jonathan Egan
The witty and well-traveled Jonathan Egan led us through his whiskeys— from Chicago, no less. All in all, even more considering the deluge outside, it turned out to be an exceptionally satisfying Wednesday afternoon. Especially given that no small part was played by the merging of two of my favourite food groups: single malt and stout.
Egan’s: Steeped in Tradition
Somehow the technology of the moment overshadowed the past and the distillery’s story. Being a bit of history buff, I find it fascinating that Jonathan is a sixth generation Egan. It was his great, great, great, great, great grandfather who founded the commercial enterprise that eventually included a brewery and distillery. I went digging on the website and found this gem from its early days.
‘Why consume English and Scotch Ales and Dublin Porter when you have at your door ales and stouts brewed equal to the best of them. Keep the money at home! Ask for Egan’s Ales and Stouts and drink no other.’
Why indeed? Well, part of the answer lay also in the risk of arsenic poisoning, which apparently contributed to Mr. Egan’s forebears’ early success in offering alternatives to plain water. Their vast commercial network across Ireland eventually included the distillery, bolstered by sales of malted barley to the likes of Guinness and Jameson.
Egan’s today
Egan’s flourished for well over a century before it closed. However, as a youngster, Jonathan Egan learned its history from his grandfather. He became determined to resurrect the brand—which he did with a good friend and business partner in 2013.
Egan’s present range includes the creamy and lengthy, eminently sippable, gently smokey 10 year old Single Malt (the inaugural modern day malt); the bourbon barrel-aged, vanilla and caramel toned Single Grain, and the formidably mouth filling, spice and vanilla toned, French oak-aged Centenary. All are expected to arrive in spring.
Happily, currently available at select BCLS stores is the impressive Egan’s Fortitude. Aged in ‘PX’ (Pedro Ximénez) Sherry casks, this Single Malt Irish Whiskey yields forward vanilla and honey hints followed by creamy, complex layers of honey and sherry notes that linger long on the finish. It adds up excellent value for a true, transparently labelled 10 year-old single malt. $84.99 BCLS
Irish Whiskey aged Seven One Oh Nine Imperial Stout
You’ll have to move quickly to grab a bottle of Seven One Oh Nine. But it’s well worth the effort. Prefaced by lovely chocolate, whisky and honey notes, it’s a heady, espresso and mocha toned sip with hints of bitter chocolate and a dry finish. Find it at Brewhall or at better private stores. $19-ish; 9% ABV… Yes, indeed, serious #breakfastbeer.
Single Malt and Stout—for whatever ails you. Also guaranteed to improve your Zoom experience.
[…] We like some hefty peat—and it definitely has to be single malt, by the way—so we tend to steer to one of our lifelong faves, such as shy and retiring Lagavulin or Talisker. On the other hand, we could easily be swayed towards some Egan’s Fortitude. […]