Sexton: The best thing you can have before you're married.

Sexton: The best thing you can have before you're married.

Outside of Jameson's party-house infamy, Irish whiskey is often overlooked in the whiskey family, playing second fiddle to bourbons, scotches, and even ryes. However, the light, airy, playful personality of Irish whiskey makes it standout in the pantheon of whiskeys. Sexton is, without a doubt, is a chieftain of the Irish whiskey tribe.

Its distinctive packaging, featuring a squat, hexagonal black bottle with a skeleton logo, makes it a standout on the shelf, though some have noted the bottle's design can make pouring a bit challenging. Nevertheless, the aesthetic appeal adds to its allure as a gift or for personal collection.

Taste Profile: 

Despite its shorter aging time (roughly 4 years), Sexton offers a smooth, relatively complicated flavor profile, while not being so complex that an unseasoned palate cannot enjoy all it has to offer. Much of this balanced flavor comes from its maturation in Olorso sherry casks.

On the nose:

  • nutty
  • pecans
  • marzipan
  • cinnamon
  • nutmeg

On the palate:

  • sweet dried fruits
  • mild spices
  • gentle sherry influence
  • finish is pleasant, with lingering notes of wood and a mild sweetness.

Notably different from the typical, tart, briefly oaky but mostly airy taste of Jameson or Tulamore, there is a richness that really anchor's Sexton's profile.  

Sipping: An ideal sipper. Perfect for even beginners at sipping and tasting, as its lower price ($20-$30) means that even a few unnoticed notes by a beginner does not feel like a wasted drink. However, even novice and master tasters will find something delectable about Sexton's complex nose and easy palate.

Shooting: A bit like using a sledgehammer to crack a walnut. The smoothness means it will go down easy, and no noticeable burn afterwards makes it agreeable to shoot. However,  the taste notes and impeccable presentation are wasted on just knocking back shots. Buy a bottle of Jameson if you just want to do shots of Irish whiskey.

Mixing: There are a good fistful of cocktail recipes featuring Irish whiskey. However, just listing off another variant of Irish coffee feels too tawdry for how we do things here. The Sexton, with its apothecary-potion bottle presentation and impeccable flavor, needs to have its mixability tested with panache. Naturally, it was used to mix a Shillelagh.

  • 1.5oz Sexton
  • .5oz light rum
  • .5oz sloe gin
  • 1oz lemon juice
  • 1tsp sugar
  • peach slice
  • orange slice
  • 2-3 raspberries
  • 1 maraschino cherry

Place all ingredients into a shaker with ice, shake it like there is an Englishman trapped inside and strain into a low-ball glass. A delicious, easy sipper who places to the sweet, nutty notes of the Sexton.

This whiskey is versatile; it's suitable for sipping neat, on the rocks, or as a base for cocktails. The Sexton is a commendable single malt Irish whiskey for its price point, delivering a smooth, enjoyable experience with its sherry cask maturation. It's a solid choice for those seeking an affordable yet distinctive Irish whiskey.

Back to blog