Natterjack Whiskey Has Three Perfect Flavors for Bourbon Lovers
I’m a sucker for a good whiskey, and it’s even better when it’s a good Irish one. During my time in Ireland, I only drank native whiskies, but I wish I had known about Natterjack beforehand.
Thanks to the marketing team at Natterjack Irish Whiskey, I was able to sample each of their three varietals, and none of them disappointed.
But what, exactly, is Natterjack? What inspired it? And just how good does it taste?
Continue reading for more information on the brand, the toad it’s inspired by, and my thoughts on each flavor.
What is Natterjack Irish Whiskey’s story?
Straight from the horse’s (or the toad’s) mouth, the whiskey is inspired by “an adventurous toad and the people who followed it."
Just as I am a sucker for a good whiskey, I am also a big fan of adventures. The whiskey was founded by Aidan Mehigan, with the rest of the team currently consisting of Scott Moran, David Balfour, Jordan Via, and Grant Springer. It’s produced through Gortinore Distillers & Co., which was founded by Aidan and his cousin, Lisa Mehigan.
After Aidan visited a distillery in Detroit, Michigan, he fell in love with the process of making whiskey and eventually learned how to distill it. He met Via at Breckenridge Distillery, where he worked as a Master Distiller known for his rye-forward bourbons.
With a desire to do something different and explore new flavor profiles for Irish whiskey, the Mehigans and Via put their heads together to map out the vision that has now taken a life of its own. In 2022, a group of West Michigan investors, led by former Founders Brewing Co. Chairman John Green, acquired distribution to bring Natterjack stateside, where it continues to grow in popularity.
What is the Natterjack toad?
Now onto the “intriguing character” that inspired this all and remains the hero of the brand—the Natterjack toad.
The Natterjack is the only native toad to Ireland, and has a few distinctive features. For one, it walks rather than hops like other toads. It also has a distinctive yellow stripe to make it stand out and marks its uniqueness. It’s a toad you hear before you see, as its call can be heard up to two kilometers (almost a mile and a half) away.
The Natterjack is not a shy toad, and it’s known for choosing its own course, much like the founders who set out to try something new.
Check out this educational video from the Natterjack website for more information:
Tasting the original Natterjack Irish Whiskey
Another unique thing about the Natterjack Whiskey is its blend of American and Irish aging techniques, which they refer to as “an Irish Whiskey with an American accent.”
This process helps make it smoother and more approachable to palates. It leans into oak flavors, making it an ideal alternative for bourbon lovers, and is triple-distilled with a blend of 20% malted barley and 80% corn, finished in Virgin American Oak casks hand-selected by Mehigan in Napa Valley.
But let’s talk about the real flavor, shall we?
The finish on the original is smooth and creamy with hints of vanilla, orange zest, cedar, and tobacco. Because it’s first aged in traditional Irish ex-bourbon barrels, then finished in Virgin American oak, it adds a unique flavor not seen in any other whiskey. The Virgin casks are known for being brand new and “unadulterated with any other flavor.”
I’m a big fan of drinking whiskey chilled, and this was an easy whiskey to drink. Once I opened it, the bottle didn’t last long.
Discovering The Mistake by Natterjack
The original Natterjack whiskey is traditionally aged in Virgin American casks for about a year. Their newest edition, The Mistake, occurred during a production mishap when 46 of the producer’s Virgin American oak casks were accidentally left for an additional year.
Initially, the brand intended to release The Mistake only as the bottles that were left over as a mistake. However, due to its popularity upon release, they decided to make it a staple in their portfolio.
Due to its additional aging process, this whiskey is much more heavily oaked. It contains a burst of Hickory BBQ and toasted walnut, followed by singed cinnamon and seared orange zest.
On the tongue, expect vanilla bean at the forefront, followed by a strong taste of anise and licorice. It’s all enhanced by warm molasses and toffee, with a tiny hint of Granny Smith apple. This is a stronger and bolder whiskey, so be prepared for it to add a few hairs to your chest.
Exploring the ultimate Natterjack Cask Strength
I called the Cask Strength from Natterjack the “grand daddy,” because it is strong. It’s also the only bottle where the toad is three-dimensional, which I thought was awesome.
This whiskey is not for the faint of heart. At 63% alcohol, I can tell you this one is strong. It’s fully matured in level 4 char ex-bourbon casks and packs a punch when it hits your lips.
On the nose, expect some hints of ginger beer, sawdust, and Pot Still rum, mixed with brown sugar, sage, thyme, and white chocolate. Despite its strength, it’s a balanced mix of sweet and savory. When you taste it, you’ll get additional notes of pecan, wood smoke, and Maraschino cherries. It’s stronger on the nose than it is on the palate, but its strength can be a bit of a shock if you’re not fully prepared for it.
I made a chocolate old fashioned using this whiskey, and the bottle didn’t stand a chance after I did. Of the three, this was the only one I didn’t really pour shots of, which isn’t a bad thing, either. It demands to be sipped and enjoyed rather than just “down the hatch,” and it’s definitely worth the bang for your buck.
Overall thoughts
I could live off these whiskies and die happy.
Although Jameson remains the most popular of the Irish whiskies, Natterjack has the potential to rival it or even knock it off the board once it gains some more popularity. It’s still new to the game, so there’s plenty of time, but its unique mix of American and Irish blending techniques really helps it stand apart as a unique whiskey unrivaled by anything else.
Outside of purchasing through the Natterjack online shop, you can also purchase it through TotalWine and ReserveBar.
Hopefully, all three of these whiskies start to get the shine they deserve.
