Heyfolks! We're heading back to Ireland🇮🇪 today for another solid budget-friendly blend that's perfect for your everyday sipping lineup. We've been on quite the whisky journey lately—bouncing from Scotland🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 to Ireland🇮🇪, over to Taiwan🇹🇼, and back again. I love exploring different styles and distilleries, and it's been a blast so far.

Funny enough, I just realized I haven't reviewed a single American🇺🇲 whiskey yet—not a bourbon, not a single malt, nothing! I really need to fix that soon. It's been far too long since I've poured myself a good, rich bourbon.

But today, we're shining the spotlight on a ☘️Dublin-based distillery: Roe & Co, brought to life by Diageo. They've released a few expressions already, but we'll be diving into their very first core range blend. I'm definitely curious to see what it's all about—and I hope you are too! Let's dive in.

But before we go any further, please check out my previous reviews.🥃✅

About the distillery

Roe & Co is more than just a modern Irish whiskey—it's a heartfelt tribute to one of Dublin's forgotten giants. Named in honor of George Roe, whose distillery once towered over Dublin's whiskey scene, Roe & Co carries forward a legacy that dates back to the 18th century. In its heyday, George Roe & Co was Ireland's largest whiskey exporter, occupying an impressive 17-acre site on Thomas Street, directly across from the now-famous Guinness Brewery. Together, Roe and Guinness defined Dublin's brewing and distilling power for decades.

Unfortunately, like many Irish distilleries, Roe & Co was hit hard by American Prohibition and competition from Scotch whisky. It closed in 1926, and all that remained was the distillery's windmill tower and a resilient pear tree—both still standing today as symbols of the past. Fast forward nearly a century, and Diageo, the company behind Guinness, has brought the Roe name back to life, establishing a new distillery just steps away from where the original once stood.

Production

Roe & Co is crafted in the heart of Dublin's Liberties district—now a vibrant hub for whiskey once again. The distillery is housed in the former Guinness Power House and features a visually striking setup of three pot stills, each uniquely shaped. One was even a former gin still, repurposed for whiskey production. These stills enable triple distillation, producing a smooth and refined spirit that's quintessentially Irish.

The water used for Roe & Co whiskey flows from the Wicklow Mountains, the same source used in brewing Guinness. For the malt component, the team sources high-quality Irish barley from Minch Malt in Kildare. The grain whiskey used in the blend is sourced externally. Roe & Co's own distillery focuses solely on 100% malt production.

Fermentation happens in traditional wooden washbacks, allowing for complex ester development. Two different fermentation recipes are used—one grassy, one fruity—and the resulting spirits are blended in a 15,000-litre spirit vat to balance these profiles. Maturation takes place in first-fill American oak bourbon casks, though due to city regulations, aging happens offsite in warehouses across Ireland.

Core range

The flagship expression of Roe & Co is a premium blended Irish whiskey bottled at 45% ABV and non-chill filtered—crafted to appeal to both newcomers and seasoned enthusiasts. The blend strikes a balance: not as light as Jameson, but not as bold as Bushmills. Instead, it offers a smooth, fruity character with subtle spice, making it versatile for sipping neat, over ice, or in cocktails.

While the core blend is the heart of the brand, the distillery has also experimented with limited-edition releases, cask finishes, and collaborations with bartenders and mixologists, emphasizing Roe & Co's connection to modern cocktail culture.

Roe & Co Blended Irish Whiskey - Natural Color(?), Non-chill filtered, 45%

"Roe & Co is a new premium Blended Irish Whiskey, named in honour of George Roe, a true pioneer of Irish Whiskey. Refined, elegant, and with remarkable depth, a masterful blend of rich malt whiskey and the smoothest of grain whiskey aged in bourbon casks.

Made from the finest hand-selected stocks of Irish malt and grain whiskies, aged in bourbon casks."

Let's start by taking a moment to appreciate the bottle design—because honestly, I'm a big fan. The shape of the bottle pays tribute to the old windmill tower from the original George Roe distillery, which is such a clever nod to the brand's heritage. And if you take a look at the base, there's a subtle pear-shaped impression—an homage to the historic pear tree that still stands today. That kind of attention to detail really makes me smile.

The label design is also spot on. I love the turquoise color choice—it's modern, eye-catching, and elegant without being loud. The label itself is minimalist, telling me just what I need to know without cluttering the view. Sadly, there's no mention of "natural color," so I'm guessing it might not be—but that's a minor quibble.

The cork? Top quality. It feels solid, looks great, and just adds to the premium feel of the whole package. Overall, this bottle is a standout. It's clean, well-thought-out, and shows off the whiskey beautifully. Truly one of the best-looking designs I've come across in a while.

Nose: Rich and inviting from the first pour, with malty depth and a soft creaminess. Dark caramel and baked stone fruits take the lead—think stewed plums and overripe apricots—followed by more delicate layers of vanilla fudge, starfruit, and a subtle touch of coconut water. There's an herbal edge too, reminiscent of mint tea. As it breathes and warms, brighter notes like Mirabelle plums and citrus peek through, but the darker, caramelized tones keep everything grounded and balanced.

Taste: The texture is notably oily and smooth, delivering a balanced interplay of sweetness and spice. Vanilla and honey come through clearly, alongside a light fruit acidity that recalls orange zest and green banana. There's a gentle peppery tingle and a background of oak and roasted grain—never harsh, just enough to add structure. A slight herbal bitterness, maybe mint or walnut, lingers at the edges and brings contrast to the sweetness. It's a well-rounded sip with low graininess and a soft alcoholic presence.

Finish: The finish is medium in length, softly drying with a gentle warmth in the chest. Vanilla and honey linger, joined by a faint herbal freshness—something between mint and fennel. While not explosive, it fades with a touch of wood spice and citrus peel, leaving you ready for another sip.

Overall I think this is a pleasant and approachable Irish blend that makes a solid entry point into the category. It's bright, fruity, and easygoing—bursting with orchard fruits, vanilla, and caramel—making it especially enjoyable on warm summer days. The nose offers surprising complexity, but the palate and finish, while smooth and balanced, lean toward the safe and familiar. It's not a dramatic or deeply layered whiskey, but it delivers freshness and drinkability in spades. A good everyday dram, though perhaps lacking the depth or uniqueness to push it into higher scoring territory. I rate this 6.3/10. Buy it. Try it. Drink responsibly.

Some of the photos featured in this article are not my own; I've credited the original owners. All other images bearing my logo were taken and are owned by me.

Feel free to check out the scores and rankings I've given to each whisky I reviewed.

Thanks for reading—I hope you enjoyed it! Here's to many more drams. Sláinte!

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