The Legendary Midnight Silkie Irish Whiskey Review

Several styles of Irish Silkie whiskey are now available, ranging from non-smoky to smoky. In this review, we’re tasting the smokiest whiskey from the brand to date. What it does to your palate, you’ll discover in The Legendary Midnight Silkie Irish Whiskey Review.

Sliabh Liag Distillers has built an impressive Silkie range. There’s a whiskey made from both double- and triple-distilled spirit called The Legendary Silkie. They also released a slightly smokier expression, The Legendary Dark Silkie.

But there’s always a top dog, and Silkie proves it. The Legendary Midnight Silkie Irish Whiskey is smokier still and even bears the claim “our smokiest blend of single malts.” That’s quite a promise for fans of peat.

The blend is composed of five elements: 35 percent heavily peated single malt from bourbon casks, 30 percent single malt from sherry casks and new oak, 20 percent single malt from stout casks, 10 percent whiskey from red wine casks, and five percent single malt from Oloroso casks.

The components were married together and finished in new oak and imperial stout casks. The result is a complex flavor profile with a distinctly smoky character.

Silkie signals the level of smokiness not only in the names of its expressions. The Legendary Silkie features a fairly light label, The Dark Silkie is a shade deeper, and The Midnight Silkie wears a dark blue label, bordering on charcoal.

The expression’s name gleams in glossy blue, with the brand name in white, and the gold mermaid, after which the whiskey is named, right where she belongs. At first glance the label seems simple, but the brand’s clever use of color gives the whiskey a thoughtful, evocative twist.

With “our smokiest blend of single malts” called out on the label, you might expect a smoke bomb even before you crack the seal.

The whiskey defies that expectation. On the nose it’s barely smoky at all. It opens with notes of pear and ripe wild peach. Given time, malt tones emerge with just a whisper of smoke in the background.

The complexity unfolds on the palate. It isn’t especially creamy, nor does it arrive with a bang; instead, like the nose, it builds with subtlety. More and more sweet notes appear, caramel and fruit candies among them.

You’ll also find layers of fruit like orange zest and fresh pear, along with hints of salt, malty notes, and charred wood. The longer you hold a sip, the more layers peel back, like a magic gobstopper revealing new flavors.

Eventually, malty flavors and ashy smoke take the lead into a fairly long finish. Honeyed notes flicker through, while the fruity tones linger softly in the background.

With The Legendary Midnight Silkie, Sliabh Liag Distillers has delivered a wonderfully surprising whiskey. It’s a reminder that a complex, lingering sipper doesn’t have to cost a fortune, sometimes it’s just a few notes above a budget bottle.

And “smoky” on a label doesn’t have to mean licking an ashtray or chewing on iodine. Smoke can balance sweetness with supportive accents, creating harmony that any fan can appreciate.

+ Wonderfully balanced

+ The most complex Silkie to date

+ Very affordable

- You’ll need to enjoy malty notes