We here at Wilderness Whiskey Women believe that sharing stories is best when accompanied by a glass of whiskey. I often find myself researching how a certain whiskey came to be, who was involved in that process, and why particular stories stand the test of time. As a historian, I’m interested in the stories of the people who have developed and shared their spirits with the world. Many stories follow a similar narrative:
- “This whiskey represents the spirit of (insert topic here)”
- “The legacy of our brand…”
- “Time-honored tradition…”
You get the idea.
While I love learning about the history of each whiskey we try, what I enjoy the most are the truly unique stories. Fighting 69th hit all the notes with their fascinating history and time-honored traditions. Pour yourself a glass while we share their story with you.
Fighting 69th: The Story
I looked at the calendar the other day and realized it was already March. That meant it was time to prepare for the annual celebration of St. Patrick. While a green beer might be the kitschy go-to beverage to toast the patron saint of Ireland, I’d prefer my celebration be with a dram. My recent excursion to the liquor store led me to a bottle of Fighting 69th Irish Whiskey.
Although I was supposed to be tasting Fighting 69th and writing this review, I got lost. Fighting 69th Irish Whiskey is a bottle made to honor the 69th Infantry, a New York state Irish militia founded in 1849. This regiment fought as a U.S. Army infantry regiment in wars from the Civil War to modern-day conflicts. I went on a historical research tangent as I read about the bravery of the 69th during the Civil War. The stories of Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville led me to my Civil War Atlas (pictured top) as I attempted to pinpoint the locations where many in this regiment sacrificed themselves in defense of our Union. My research led me to the stories of the people and places they fought.
The whiskey was born when the Honorary Colonel of the Sixty-Ninth Infantry Regiment Historical Trust, Colonel James Tierney, traveled to Ireland in 2015 and decided to create a whiskey to honor the legendary 69th. In 2019, Fighting 69th Irish Whiskey was launched. In addition to being named after the heroic regiment, $1 for every bottle sold supports the Sixty-Ninth Regiment Historical Trust.
The Fighting 69th regiment joins the New York St. Patrick’s Day parade each year, and before they set off on the 1.5-mile journey, they toast the day with a shot of their very own bottle. Look out for them this year whether you’re watching the parade in person or from home.
With a history as rich as the 69th regiment, I enjoyed researching this historically rich regiment as much as I enjoyed drinking Fighting 69th during the process.
Fighting 69th: The Whiskey
Fighting 69th is an Irish whiskey distilled and aged in Ireland. The whiskey is made from three unique mash bills. It is aged a minimum of three years in oak barrels. After the first aging, the whiskies are finished in different barrels to add unique flavors to the profile. Fighting 69th uses a variety of barrels for finishing including rum, port, and sherry casks. The result is a light and fruity whiskey that is both delicious and easy to drink.
Tasting Notes
Fighting 69th Irish Whiskey smells of citrus, apple, and grain. Alie picked up the apple smell, whereas I noticed more of a citrus smell. We both noticed the grain smell that we commonly attribute to bread or cereal.
The taste of Fighting 69th hits your tongue sharply, although the intensity doesn’t linger. We described it as a “tingle on the tongue, like a limerick.” The sharpness was like a burst of cinnamon, not in taste but the sensation on our tongues. I picked up a malty, bread taste with hints of vanilla and the tanginess of lemon. Alie picked up delicate fruit notes including the apple she noticed on the nose.
We tried a dram with water to better identify the flavors in Fighting 69th. It did help me pick out more specific flavors, but it lost some of its intensity. However, if you prefer a lighter-tasting whiskey, a splash of water or a small ice cube (rock) creates a very light and delicate whiskey. If you do not like the punch in the mouth that many bourbons deliver, then this whiskey would be an excellent alternative.
Our Ratings
Drinkability: 3.5
Intensity: 2.5
Personal Preference: 3.5
Availability: 3
Beginner Friendly: 4.25
Overall: 3.75
Final Notes
While this might not be the bottle that turns you on to whiskey, it won’t be the bottle that turns you off. Fighting 69th is not an overpowering whiskey. It is light and delicate. The intensity hits you quickly like the spiciness of cinnamon, but it doesn’t linger too long. It is a pleasant and easy drinking whiskey at a standard 80 proof. We’d take it without ice. However, if you are new to the hobby, a little water or a small rock will mellow out the sharp pop that hits your tongue on the first sip without sacrificing too much on taste.
If a cocktail is more your style, we recommend Fighting 69th as your base in our Spiced Winter Warmer. You can find the recipe here.
Overall, this was a bottle we enjoyed and something I would share with my friends who aren’t into whiskey, yet. It is also a proper drink to honor St.Patrick, much more appropriate than green beer.
The ease of finding a bottle will depend upon where you live. Fighting 69th has a wide distribution in Colorado so it wasn’t hard to get a bottle where we live. Check out their website to learn more about the Fighting 69th, their whiskey, and where to purchase a bottle here.
Happy Exploring!
