Details of Shanky’s Whip Whiskey and Liqueur #
Producer: Shanky & Shireman’s
Region: County Cavan, Ireland
Ingredients: Irish whiskey blended with cream, vanilla, and caramel. Extracts? Probably.
Age at Review: No idea
ABV: 33%
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Notes: I did not know what I was getting into when I picked up this bottle from my local Trader Joe’s. I missed the “and liqueur” words on the label and was excited to try a black Irish whiskey, something I’d never heard of. As you’ll see in my thoughts that follow, the “and liqueur” is assuredly the most prominent aspect of this whiskey. The coloring is near-black, I’ll give them that! But even then, it's no Kraken.
Thoughts on Tasting Shanky’s Whip #
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Most memorable flavors? I can thoroughly say that I did not expect an Irish whiskey to taste like s’mores. The sweetness is overpowering—I taste marshmallow the most, then toffee and hints of bitter chocolate and coffee. It is sweet, creamy, and does not at all taste like whiskey. It smells most like Tuaca—a sugarier Tuaca. There are no notes of whiskey that I can detect.
Image conjured up? S’mores, obviously, but not the genuine article roasted over a campfire flame. These are closer to a mass-produced bag of s’more-flavored candy.
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Is it a sipper? Only if you’re looking for dessert in a glass. If this had come in a bottle labeled vanilla or marshmallow vodka, I’d have believed it . . . and wondered what else had been added in.
Cocktail potential? If you enjoy doctoring your coffee or hot chocolate, this is for you. No need to add any Irish cream or Kahlua—it brings its own party. Consider it for an espresso martini, but only a splash.
Would I drink it again? I can only imagine myself finishing this bottle slowly, through a series of doctored coffee mugs, over a few years. So yes, I would, but not with anticipation.
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At this $40 price? Nah, there are already plenty of liqueurs that serve its purpose in a cocktail: Irish cream, Tuaca, Kahlua, Tia Maria’s. I don’t think we needed this new entry. Plus, I am no closer to knowing what a black Irish whiskey might taste like. Have I been lied to? Do they not exist? The search continues.
Reviewed multiple times in 2025.
