Items that will be hard to find in Utah on St. Patrick's Day: a pot of gold, a four-leaf clover and a bottle of Black Reserve 86 Irish Whiskey.
West Cork Distillers, said to be one of only two independent distilleries in Ireland, released just 4,800 bottles of its limited-edition whiskey, aged six months in double-charred bourbon barrels.
Six bottles of the whiskey, which were special ordered, arrived in Utah last week. But none is available through state liquor stores, according to the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control online product locater.
We did find one bottle — only three-fourths full — last week at Whiskey Street, a popular downtown Salt Lake City bar that has one of the largest collections of Irish whiskey in the state.
"There's only about 20 drinks per bottle, so the first 20 people who order it will get it," said Eric Kammerer, Whiskey Street's general manager.
For those who do get a shot, West Cork Black Reserve has a dark mahogany brown color and light sweet aromas of malt and vanilla. The whiskey, a mellow 86 proof, has a deep woody taste with slight spiciness and a lengthy finish.
Utah liquor stores do carry a 10-year-old whiskey from West Cork Distillers. A 750-ml bottle is $39.99.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune A rare bottle of West Cork Black Barrel Whiskey at Whiskey Street in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 10, 2017. Only 6 bottles were shipped to Utah last week.
