Founders Reserve

In 1999, Bernard and Rosemary Walsh founded Walsh Whiskey with a clear ambition: to revive the Irish whisky tradition. Founder's Reserve is their signature blend and a deliberate return to classic Irish whiskey-making: 70% single malt paired with 30% single pot still whiskey. That split matters — pot still whiskey uses unmalted barley alongside malted grain, delivering a fuller, spicier character absent in single malt alone. The whisky is triple distilled, as is standard in Ireland, then matured in ex-bourbon casks.

The nose is restrained and elegant: apple, pear, and subtle citrus notes with a whisper of vanilla from the cask. On the palate, the character opens up — a creamy mouthfeel with honey and butterscotch, finishing with light pepper and smooth oak. There's no aggression here; instead, refinement and balance.

This is not a showy whisky. The makers themselves call it "The Champagne of Irish Whiskey" — a nod to finesse rather than force. It earned gold at The International Spirits Challenge and 93 points in Jim Murray's Whisky Bible, proving that thoughtful blending and restraint can speak louder than peat or proof.