Aqua Vitae 2001 Cooley 23 Year Old Single Cask Single Malt Irish Whisky

Aqua Vitae 2001 Cooley 23 Year Old Single Cask Single Malt Irish Whisky is an exceptional long-aged Irish single malt distilled at Cooley in 2001 and matured for 23 years before bottling in 2025. Released as part of Aqua Vitae’s The Grand Fruit Gala series under the title “Profound Resonance of Apple,” this remarkable single cask showcases the intensely fruit-driven character for which mature Cooley has become highly sought after. Maturation in an Amarone wine barrel brings an additional layer of richness and vinous depth to the naturally vibrant Irish spirit, resulting in a rare and distinctive expression bottled at natural cask strength of 55.9%.

Distillery: Cooley Distillery
Bottler: Aqua Vitae
Series: The Grand Fruit Gala – Profound Resonance of Apple
Vintage: 2001
Age: 23 Years Old
ABV: 55.9%
Cask Type: Amarone Barrel
Cask Number: 144980
Outturn: 231 Bottles 

Aqua Vitae is an independent bottler recognised for distinctive single cask selections presented through highly artistic and collectible releases. The Grand Fruit Gala collection explores the remarkable fruit character of mature Cooley spirit, with each bottling built around a different expression of fruit and accompanied by elaborate artwork. For this release, the combination of more than two decades of maturation and an ex-Amarone barrel amplifies Cooley’s naturally expressive orchard-fruit character, while the whisky is presented at cask strength, non-chill filtered and without added colouring to preserve the individual character of the cask.

Tasting Notes:
An intensely fruit-driven nose opens with ripe red apples, baked orchard fruits and juicy pear, layered with honey, vanilla cream and the vinous richness of the Amarone cask. Deeper notes of red berries, grape skin, candied citrus and tropical fruit emerge alongside gentle oak spice and polished wood. The palate is rich and concentrated, delivering waves of sweet apple, stone fruit and fruit preserves balanced by creamy malt, warming spice and subtle tannins. The finish is long and expressive, leaving lingering orchard fruit, dried berries, citrus oils, vanilla and mature oak with a beautifully warming cask-strength intensity.