Two Stacks ‘Pillars of Creation’ 2024 Vintage

Pillars, noun, something created to metaphorically represent foundational elements or essential principles upon which something significant is built or evolves, and in the land of whiskey, a pillar is an essential element that upholds the character and integrity of the blend, which is exactly what we have with this new release from Two Stacks: three pillars, each with character, upholding an almighty release.

Nothing gets the nation excited like a Two Stacks release. Although we’ve had an exclusive bar release, I’ve been craving something new since the drop of Polaris 2.1, and my whiskey prayers have finally been answered. A little over two weeks ago, Two Stacks started leaving some whiskey-soaked breadcrumbs on social media with some silhouetted bottles, a sure-fire sign of a significant, imminent release. Fast forward a week and we have a glimmer of a carrot dangled before us…

Two Stacks is dropping an annual vintage release of ‘Pillars of Creation,’ which looks to be a blend of ‘the new breed’ of prominent independent Irish whiskey distilleries’ liquids. For the inaugural release, Two Stacks has chosen Dingle, Killowen, and Echlinville as the ‘Pillars’ of this ‘Creation.’ I think we can all agree that all three of these distilleries make incredible whiskey, and a blend of each is likely to be something very special.

The blend consists of a Dingle 10-year-old single malt (Cask 261, filled Nov 13, first-fill ex-bourbon), an Echlinville 7-year-old Single Pot Still (Cask 450, filled Aug 16, first-fill ex-bourbon), and a Killowen 3-year-old Single Pot Still (Cask 004, filled May 19, refill quarter cask). This is very interesting as Dingle has cut their cloth very well as excellent purveyors of the single malt style. Echlinville is yet to release its own whiskey (although we have seen glimpses…) but has offered up a pot still as part of the blend, and Killowen’s thirding is special as it’s cask number 4. While I don’t believe the Killowen DNA really differs throughout the Barántúils, there’s a real feeling that came with the earlier releases, so this release from Two Stacks sounds very exciting. And what’s more, they’ve finished the blend off in a cream sherry butt from the Jerez region in Spain for about two and a half years.

However, all of this is merely the preamble if the craftsmanship of bonding and bottling lacks the necessary expertise and finesse—a domain where Two Stacks has honed their mastery over the last 4 years. With their proven track record, I’m assured they’ve executed this blend with precision. True to their ethos of ‘Transparency, Creativity, and Innovation,’ this release resonates profoundly, especially in terms of creativity and innovation. This annual vintage isn’t just another run-of-the-mill offering; it’s poised to rival and disrupt the status quo of other yearly releases. Coupled with innovation, it holds the potential to redefine expectations, push boundaries, and elevating the whiskey landscape to new heights.

Only one thing left to do, let’s get into it…

Pillars of Creation 2024 Vintage

Price: £110

ABV: 56%

Nose: really complex, beautiful crisp pink lady apples, some lime zest, even a little medicinal. There’s mulled wine with a kick of punchy cinnamon from the off and some spicy blackberry jam.

Palate: There is fizzy cola bottles and lots of pepperiness, but the single pot still really brings the palate to life. There’s cinnamon lozenges too, but the texture is so oily and viscous, almost chewable. Lots of old, stale tobacco smoke and crispy leather too. There’s a refined bite, chilli honey and salty chilli chocolate.

Finish: flat coke and boiled sweets. There’s also a hint of gingerbread with cinnamon sugar.

Conclusion

This is one beautiful whiskey. You can really taste each element here. However, I do feel that the Killowen really does take centre stage with its deep spiciness and heat, as it probably would do. Then it’s on to what the Echlinville brings; it feels like it’s the subtle pepper notes alongside the apple and blackberry for me, evident with some of the original Old Comber. If it’s a true pot still, then it really is a delight. Then the Dingle is the whiskey that brings them all together, almost refining each element with sweetness and softness, delicately balancing each with notes of caramelly and honey notes.

This is really unlike anything Two Stacks have done before, or come to think of it, anything anyone has really done, and I am absolutely here for it. I find it so interesting trying to pick out the different elements of this; it has kept me engaged and interested, which is always good. If this is going to be a yearly release, they’ll have a hard job outdoing themselves.

If the £110 price tag seems a bit daunting (and I completely understand why it might), it’s important to consider the pedigree behind it. These are three renowned distilleries, each often pricing their whiskey at £100 or above. In this blend, Two Stacks essentially offers three single casks, hence the price point. However, they’ve also introduced a more accessible option: a 100ml ‘dram in a can’ release, priced at a perhaps more palatable £15.00 each. This alternative allows whiskey enthusiasts to experience the essence of the blend without committing to the full bottle cost.

I’ll leave you with a direct quote from the guys at Two Stacks themselves, “This is not about maintaining the status quo, this is figuring out where we can go…”

Score: 7.5/10

Disclosure: the sample that informed this article was provided to the Water of Life team by Two Stacks free of charge. Two Stacks has not had any other input into this article, nor has the Water of Life team relinquished any editorial control.