Talnua Single Pot Still Whiskey Continuum Cask
I could be off here, but I don’t know of an Irish whiskey brand using a solera method. If you know of one, let me know!
Talnua is, though, and they’ve released it under their Continnum Cask label. Solera aging is common in the sherry triangle of Spain, where it’s used to lengthen the age of some sherries and add a bit of older stock to younger stock.
Solera systems are (usually) like either barrel pyramids or stacks, with new distillate entered on top and older barrels staying on the bottom. Product to be aged is pulled from those bottom barrels, the idea being that there’s always some “older” sherry in the bottles.
Talnua’s applying the same idea with their Continnum Cask. Aged for 18 months in virgin American oak (the same process as the whiskey that ends up as their Virgin American Oak Cask), the whiskey then enters the solera system for at least another six months and likely longer - they plan to continue aging-up the solera for years to come.
There are a few other solera-vatted whiskies out there, most notably Glenfiddich’s 15 Year Old that’s been a stalwart since Dave Stewart introduced it in the 1990s. Blade & Bow, Barrell, and Hillrock all have American whiskey-based solera blends, too. Talnua’s is notable for being the only one of these that is an Irish-style distillate, with Glenfiddich a single malt and the others all bourbons (I know there are a few others I didn’t mention, but this is about Talnua, not the others).
This pour was the third I tried from Talnua (after the Virgin American Oak and Bourbon Cask & Stave Series - coming soon!), and it was the first where the full single pot still spice came out. There were also the darker fruits characteristic of my favorite single pot still whiskies from Ireland (Redbreast - no offense to any others!). This was complex, with cereal grain and honey on the nose followed by grapefruit, inky red Tempranillo wine darkness, and sweet herbs like tarragon and corn husks. The mouthfeel is silkier than heavy, but it’s so wonderfully coating throughout that it feels heavier than it really is.
By the end, I felt as if this were lightly sherried, the dark fruits and single pot still spice mimicking a short oloroso finishing. This was also my second-highest rated Talnua pour at 6.9, signifying a solid base upon which years more Continuum Cask releases can be built. Usually when someone says “there’s nowhere to go but up,” they’re starting from the bottom. Talnua is already a few years ahead of the game.
Thank you to Talnua Distillery for providing this sample free of editorial constraint.
Talnua Single Pot Still Whiskey Continuum Cask: Specs
Classification: Single Pot Still Whiskey
Origin: Talnua Distillery
Mashbill: 50% Malted Barley, 50% Unmalted Barley
Proof: 86 (43% ABV)
Age: 2+ Years Old
Location: Colorado, United States
Talnua Single Pot Still Whiskey Continuum Cask Price: $50
Talnua Single Pot Still Whiskey Continuum Cask: Tasting Notes
Eye: Pale copper. Medium bleeding rims bleed large drops and legs.
Nose: More cereal grain and single pot still spice than I’ve had yet with Talnua. Dark fruit abounds, plums and juicy dates. Rich honey notes, both on its own and as honeyed grains. Grapefruit still there, all candied peel with crunchy sugar.
Palate: Darkly fruity, red and black grapes and a slightly tannic Tempranillo wine, thick and inky. Coating and buttery, too. Sweet herbs like tarragon come through with some coating menthol notes. Cereal grains, plump and juicy sweet. Mouthfeel is silky, not as heavy or coating, a bit of prickle on the tip of any tongue.
Finish: Coating and buttery without being greasy. The cereal grains are front and center, yet an almost rye-like silkiness comes through as does an oloroso-like spice and fruit. Medium length.
Overall: There’s a noted shift in this pour to the darker, cereal and malt syrup profile of maltier Irish whiskies. Truly pleasing mouthfeel and an almost sherry-like dark fruit richness. The pot still spice finally comes out, too.
Final Rating: 6.9
10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close
9 | Incredible | Extraordinary
8 | Excellent | Exceptional
7 | Great | Well above average
6 | Very Good | Better than average
5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary
4 | Has promise but needs work
1-3 | Let’s have a conversation
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