Two Stacks is one of those Irish whiskey brands that caught my attention precisely because they're doing things a bit differently. The First Cut is their blended Irish whiskey — a combination of grain and malt whiskeys bottled at 43% ABV with no age statement. At under thirty quid, it sits in that sweet spot where you can afford to drink it regularly without feeling guilty about it.
What I find interesting about Two Stacks is their independent approach. They're not tied to one of the big three Irish distilleries, and that freedom shows in the blending choices. The First Cut is designed as an accessible entry point — hence the name — and it does that job well. It's a no-age-statement release, which in the Irish category usually means a blend of younger whiskeys selected for consistency and drinkability rather than complexity. At 43%, they've given it just a touch more body than the standard 40% minimum, which I always appreciate. That small bump makes a real difference in how the whisky carries flavour, especially in a blend where grain whiskey can sometimes thin things out.
Tasting Notes
I don't have detailed tasting notes to share on this one, but as a blended Irish whiskey at this price point and strength, you can expect the hallmarks of the style: a smooth, approachable character with that classic Irish pot still influence balancing out the lighter grain component. Two Stacks have built their reputation on flavour-forward blending, so this isn't likely to be a wallflower. The 43% ABV suggests they want you to taste something with a bit of backbone, not just easy-drinking smoothness for its own sake.
The Verdict
At £28.95, The First Cut represents solid value in the blended Irish category. You're getting an independently produced whiskey at a sensible strength for less than many of the big-brand equivalents. Is it going to rewrite your understanding of Irish whiskey? Probably not — and it's not trying to. What it does is offer a well-made, honest blend from a producer that clearly cares about what goes into the bottle. A 7.7 out of 10 feels right here. It's a whiskey that does exactly what it sets out to do, does it competently, and doesn't charge you over the odds for the privilege. There's real merit in that.
Best Served
The First Cut is a natural fit for an Irish whiskey sour. The blend's approachable character and slightly elevated proof mean it won't disappear behind citrus and sweetener — it'll hold its own. Two parts whiskey, one part fresh lemon juice, three-quarters part simple syrup, shaken hard with ice and strained into a coupe. If you want to keep things simpler, it'll work nicely neat or with a single ice cube. At this price, it's also a perfectly good daily sipper — the kind of bottle you keep on the shelf for a Tuesday evening pour without overthinking it.
