McConnell's is another revived Belfast whiskey brand, originally distilled at the Old Comber Distillery in County Down until its closure in 1953. The modern iteration is produced by the Belfast Distillery Company, which is also building a new distillery in the city's Crumlin Road. The 5 Year Old blended whiskey — currently sourced while the new distillery's spirit matures — is finished in oloroso sherry casks to add richness and character to a young blend.
The sherry finishing is the decisive factor. Without it, the five-year-old blend would be light and somewhat characterless; with it, the whiskey gains a warmth and sweetness that makes it pleasant and approachable. The sherry influence is modest rather than dominant, adding dried fruit and a gentle nuttiness without masking the grain character beneath.
McConnell's 5 Year Old is a serviceable, well-priced Irish blend that serves as a placeholder for the brand's greater ambitions. When the Crumlin Road distillery comes online and its own spirit reaches maturity, McConnell's will have the opportunity to establish a more distinctive identity. For now, the sherry-finished blend is a pleasant enough introduction to a brand with Belfast roots and modern aspirations. A whiskey to watch rather than one to seek out.
