According to indie bottler W. D. O’Connell, this Marsala-finished Bill Phil edition – which marks the series’ first entry with an age statement – ain’t no ordinary peated Irish whiskey. In 2016, when this heavy smoker was initially distilled at the Great Northern Distillery, only a small amount of peaty spirit was made at the large-scale production site that spawns over 12 million liters of spirit each year. One of the few available barrels found its way into the hand of Daithí O’Connell, the founder of W. D. O’Connell Whiskey Merchants. From May 2016 to November 2019, he left the spirit in its initial vessel. In November 2019, however, he moved it into a superdry Marsala cask (Marsala Superiore Secco). In there, it remained until it was bottled in May 2023 – developing an increasingly exciting flavor profile with every passing day. The result of the special treatment: a heavily peated, cask strength Irish whiskey with a pretty unique smell, taste, and feel. If – like me – you’re a fan of real peat monsters, you’ll surely be loving Bill Phil 7yo Marsala and a considerimg it mighty fine alternative to young, wine-finished smoke bombs from the isles of Islay, Mull, Orkney, or other peat strongholds in Scotland and abroad!

by Tobi

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Eye: Bronze n’ copper.
Nose: Sniff once and a big wave of fumy smoke will enter the nostrills straight away. Besides lotsa peat and soot, it also carries a richness of other aromas along: charred wood, crunchy brittle, juicy peach, sourish berry mix, oven-baked hokkaido pumpkin, spicy paprika, and – woven into the rest – a drying layer of finely grated sweet pepper. That’s a wild mixture, no doubt. But damn, it’s good!
Palate: A real flavor clash: Immense smoke (greasy and oily) collides with meaty fruits (with lotsa chew n’ bite). Burnt wood (all sooty and torrid) crashes into sweet treats (the kinds you’d find at a 20th century fun fair). Mineral notes (stones and shells) strike a blow upon spicy sensations (piquant and powdery). Upon impact, the differing notes push each other back and forth with vigor and might. But ultimately, none bests the other. They all contribute equally to this peated Irish whiskey’s intense flavor profile!
Finish: Long, strong, and hard-to-forget. The smoke turns cold, developing a somewhat metallic quality. The fruits remain red and juicy, but they also taste a bit sourish now. I first and foremost get rhubarb, redcurrants, and wild strawberries at this stage. The woody notes from before remain. As do the sweet flavors. Towards the very end, the whiskey gets noticeably darker with unsweetened licorice, black coffee, and something earthy and veggie … eggplant or artichoke, perhaps?

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Type: Single Malt Whisky
Region: Ireland
Age: 7 years old
Alc. volume: 53 per cent
Cask: 1st-fill ex-Bourbon & Marsala
Bottle size: 0.7 litres
Price: 99.00 Euro
More info: https://wdoconnell.com/ (Bottler) ; https://www.irish-whiskeys.de/ (German Importer)

*** I bought the bottle myself as a regular customer. ***