It’s made in the traditional method of triple distillation and then matured in Oloroso Sherry casks, giving it a smooth body and a sweet, fruity palate. The brand was first released in 2017 by Proximo, a spirits producer and distributer. They also own or distribute brands such as Kraken Rum, Bushmills Whisky, TINCUP Bourbon and Jose Cuervo Tequila.

It was first launched in America and has been praised by critics. It has some intriguing branding surrounding it, and it’s black hexagonal bottle, embellished with a skeleton, certainly stands out from your standard Whiskey bottle.

The Sexton is said to have been created in celebration of the North coast of Ireland, which is exactly where Bushmills Distillery is based, so it would not be a big jump to assume the two were connected.

That aside, Sexton is a brilliant malt. It has no age statement, but is said to have been matured for around four years in the finest European oak Oloroso Sherry casks. This is a wonderful combination, bringing together the centuries old traditions of Irish Whiskey distilling with the newer traditions and innovations in cask maturation.

The result is sublime. The Sexton is a thoroughly modern Irish Whiskey, with all the charm of the malts that have gone before it. The nose opens with lots of sweet, nutty flavours. There are lots of pecans and marzipan mixed with cinnamon and nutmeg spice.

The spices are soft and warming, coating a variety of dried fruits. There is an element of Christmas cake here but the texture is smoother and the malt comes through a lot more.

The palate develops all these tastes alongside a wonderfully easy-going mouth feel that is soft and smooth.

The nuts and fruits are chewy and rich, giving you mouthfuls of flavour to sink your teeth into. There is also a delicious honeyed note that seeps through the fruit, giving a lovely depth and sweetness to the overall taste. Malted flavours also come out more on the palate and mix well with the spices and honey. The finish is soft, with lots more honey and malt coming through.

If you’re on the market for something truly Irish, then I would definitely be reaching for The Sexton in the near future.