For years, Master of Malt’s Head of Whisky, Dr. Sam Simmons (one of my former Lush Life guests!) has watched the pub ritual of pairing a pint of the black stuff with a whiskey sidecar. So he set out to create one with enough roasted, malty character to stand up to “a pint of plain”, while still being fun, sociable and completely un-snobby…
Cue Harp of Darkness, an 8-year-old single grain Irish whiskey, matured in Bourbon barrels and sourced from a carefully selected secret partner at one of Ireland’s greatest distilleries. The stout-friendly flavours all come naturally from the cask: coffee, roasted malt, molasses, dark chocolate, oak and ginger snap biscuits. It’s designed to be enjoyed as a dram or sidecar, especially with salty snacks that cut through the malted flavours.
Whisky and beer are great drinking buddies. Whether you enjoy them side by side or one after the other, get the pairing right and you’re in for some supreme sipping.
Tasting Note by The Chaps at Master of Malt
Nose: Treacle toffee, brandy snaps, and boozy chocolate truffles, with polished oak, poached pear, spicy grain, and earthy coffee grounds beneath.
Palate: Dark malt, chocolate-drizzled flapjack, salted caramel, with hints of molasses and ginger snap biscuits in tow.
Finish: Crème caramel balances drying oak, with a touch of woody clove and bittersweet espresso.