The Sexton was launched in 2017 by Proximo Spirits and quickly became one of the most visually distinctive bottles on the Irish whiskey shelf — a matte black hexagonal flask inspired by Giant's Causeway basalt columns and the gravedigger of the same name. Behind the striking design sits one of the few Irish single malts to be matured entirely in European oak oloroso sherry butts.
The whiskey is triple distilled from 100% Irish malted barley at the Old Bushmills Distillery and crafted by master blender Alex Thomas, one of the few women working at the top of the Irish whiskey industry. Bottled at 40% ABV, it carries a no-age-statement label but is generally understood to be aged for around four years in first-fill sherry casks.
That full sherry maturation is unusual at this price point and gives The Sexton noticeably more body and dried-fruit depth than most entry-level Irish single malts. It has picked up a string of awards since launch, including being named Irish Whisky of the Year at the World Whiskies Awards in its category and winning gold at the International Wine and Spirit Competition.
An excellent gateway into sherry-matured Irish malt, and a bottle that looks as good on the back bar as it tastes in the glass.
