Introduction
I’ve had my eye on this bottle ever since I noticed it was a limited release collaboration between The Sexton and The Walking Dead’s Norman Reedus. That didn’t interest me for celebrity reasons—more for the fact that it's an 11-year-old Irish single malt in a pretty untraditional black hexagonal bottle. The regular Sexton is a NAS (no age statement) with a decent sherry influence, so I was curious to see how this older expression would compare. It’s matured entirely in Oloroso sherry casks, which usually brings a distinctive richness. I was in the mood for something darker and more brooding, and this one delivered.
Nose
Right out of the glass, it opens with dense aromas—dried figs, prune, and some dark cherry. There's a stewed fruit note that reminds me a bit of spiced plum jam. Underneath that, I picked up bitter dark cocoa and a little walnut, followed by a sharp touch of ethanol that doesn’t stick around long. It’s not wildly complex but definitely rich, with a slight earthy tone that I associate with extended sherry maturation. A few minutes of airing brought out faint cinnamon and toffee.
Palate
The mouthfeel is full and gives a creamy first impression, quickly shifting towards drier territory. It lands with a hit of dried dates and espresso powder. There's a lean toward bitterness here—think dark chocolate that's more than 80% cacao. There’s some nuttiness again, more like roasted hazelnuts than walnut this time, and a pop of clove and black pepper warms up the mid-palate. It remains dry and structured throughout, never straying into the overly sweet, sherried territory some other cask-heavy Irish malts can fall into. It’s assertive, no doubt, but stops short of being harsh.
Finish
The finish is medium to long, with a lingering layer of oak spice and black tea. It’s dry once again, almost tannic, like the skin of a plum or the aftertaste of a dark red wine. I got a slightly metallic edge near the end—copper or iron—that faded slowly and left behind warm baking spice and more of that roasted coffee bitterness. A contemplative end to a fairly intense sip.
Price and Value
This release comes in above the price of the standard Sexton, which is no surprise given the age and the packaging. It's a bit of a premium for an 11-year-old Irish whiskey, but not outrageous considering it's a limited run and 100% Oloroso cask matured. If you're into darker, more structured whiskies and already enjoy Irish single malts that lean toward dryness over sweetness, you'll probably feel the cost is justified. I wouldn't call it a whisky to pour casually, but for the right moment, it earns its spot.
Background
The Sexton comes from County Antrim, Northern Ireland, and is triple distilled from 100% malted barley at the Bushmills distillery, though it isn't officially branded under them. The standout bottle—a solid, weighty black hexagon—is easy to spot. The brand itself usually releases no-age-statement whisky, with a strong emphasis on sherry cask influence. This 11-year-old expression uses first-fill Oloroso butts to give it a deeper, more monolithic character compared to the core bottling. Only around 4,300 bottles were released, positioning it firmly as a limited edition.
More on the brand can be found at the official The Sexton Irish Whiskey site.
Final Notes
Would I pick this one up again? I think so—but more to share with friends who already appreciate darker, sherried styles. It’s not a beginner-friendly dram, mostly due to its dry, slightly austere profile. This isn’t a casual sipper or a daily bottle—it suits slow evenings or tasting sessions where you’re paying attention. If you’re used to lighter Irish whiskeys, this is a big step sideways into something much more robust and wood-driven.
For those asking how it stacks up to the original Sexton: it’s certainly more intense and better structured, with added depth from the longer maturation. But if you’re expecting lush sweetness typically found in sherried expressions, you might be caught off guard. It delivers more grip and edge than fruit and syrup.