Whiskey Review: Triple Dog Irish Whiskey

Film Review: Talk to Me (2023)

Triple Dog Irish Whiskey boasts the tagline, “Take the Dare,” a challenge to the whiskey lover looking for something newer, bolder, and inherently different from other Irish whiskey brands. Triple Dog Irish Whiskey understands the importance of finding a way to reach the next generation of whiskey drinkers, of broadening the appeal of whiskey beyond the image of the stodgy old men at the golf club – no offense to golf clubs – and within that mission, the distillery had to find their own innovative approach.

Located in the smallest town in Ireland, “the Wee County,” Dundalk, County Louth, Triple Dog Irish Whiskey doesn’t just distill, it instills the lore and traditions passed down by generations of whiskey creators. Working off a 100-year-old recipe, Triple Dog had to find a way to stand out from the crowd while still adhering to the rules of pot still Irish whiskey; the mash must be made from a minimum of 30% malted and 30% unmalted barley, with up to 5% other cereals, and distilled in pot stills. Co-founder Daniel Patrick O’Shevlin was excited to create a distinctly unique Irish whiskey while still following the rules that garner an IWA (Irish Whiskey Association) certification. As reported from an interview with O’Shevlin and my old gang at The Whiskey Wash, the 5% “other” cereal was where the magic was for Triple Dog, allowing for something different from the more common of the Irish whiskey flavor profiles.

The whiskey is truly special, and I absolutely love it (*find tasting notes below this review). Aside from the standout aesthetic of the bottle – a black and red frosted bottle with a bold label and spiked dog collar around the neck – the spirit is smooth and strong, sweet, and coating, a bold new expression for a bold dare. It was this concept I considered as I was working out what horror film I wanted to pair with Triple Dog Irish Whiskey. I had initially explored Irish folk horror, but as I thought more on the contemporary and innovative moves the team at Triple Dog were exploring, I wanted to pair the whiskey with a film made by the new generation of horror.

In a film as profoundly Gen Z as Danny and Michael Philippou’s 2023 breakout Talk to Me, a great deal of impact rides on the ability to stand out from the other A24 TikTok-loving horror release that made a splash recently, Halina Reijn’s Bodies Bodies Bodies. Luckily, Talk to Me does this by focusing more on character study and cultivating true dread and terror over quippy dialogue and relying on an, admittedly, smart twist. The brothers Philippou created an instantly memorable horror film from the opening scene, thrusting the audience headfirst into the fast-paced world of teens playing with a modern-day version of the Ouija board, recording their antics with the world of the dead and posting online with little consideration or care of consequences.

Touching on familiar genre themes of grief and loss, Talk to Me observes Mia (in an outstanding performance by Sophie Wilde) as she puts on a brave face while continuing to struggle with the memory of her mother’s untimely death by overdose two years prior. Her father is a nearly non-existent presence in her life and Mia has inserted herself into the family of her best friend Jade (Alexandra Jensen), Jade’s mom Sue (Miranda Otto, Annabelle: Creation), and little brother Riley (Joe Bird). No sooner do we meet our heroine, than she eagerly participates in a party game involving an embalmed severed hand scribbled with signatures, resembling a grade-school cast on a broken arm.

Videos of the dangerous game circulate across the Web, showing kids in the throes of possession, an alluring concept to the grieving Mia. On the night of the party, she is the first to grasp the hand and whisper “talk to me,” immediately recoiling upon seeing a revolting figure appear before her. The other teens at the party raise their cameras as Mia goes back in, muttering “I let you in,” followed by the aggressive intrusion of a fiendish ghoul. The scene is terrifying, but also strangely funny, with the kind of reckless amusement that can only come from youthful ignorance.

Mia is already haunted when we meet her, and so when the ritual goes on for longer than it should, and she is inhabited with what is either her lingering and incessantly cruel grief, or the actual ghost that she encountered, it doesn’t really matter. The horror grows and spreads, seeping into those around her, her every waking moment becoming a nightmare, to the point she is forced to make a decision between her past and present, a sacrifice beyond what has already been lost – a choice far beyond the pale of what any teenage girl should have to make.

Talk to Me feels fresh, and that’s coming from a viewer who’s seen too much to feel too much. It’s not that the story hasn’t essentially been told, nor that the themes are completely original, but the voice and cinematic language of the narrative, soundtrack, and  performances feel unique, bold, and risky enough to toy with the darkest of tones while incorporating that lackadaisical nature of a generation raised to view the world through a small screen. The horrors that occur when the participant utters “talk to me” and further still the gall to say so flippantly “I let you in” to an entity that cuts such a grotesque and dangerous figure is undermined by the thrill and potential “likes” and follows when shared on social media. This is exactly the kind of game that would run rampant in this day and age, with the consequences so dire yet so easily derided so long as you play the game right.

Look at me, sounding so profoundly like a Millennial. But in all fairness, I was raised with extreme “Stranger Danger” and by a mother who had her own horror stories to tell of Ouija boards in the 60s inviting in dark and ominous forces. So, I wouldn’t fuck with it no way no how. Talk to Me barely has to dare its protagonist to open the door, she’s ready and willing, and only after does she understand just how delicate the balance between the world of the living and whatever lies beyond really is. I think ultimately, it’s far easier to Triple Dog Dare you to try a new delicious Irish Whiskey while watching this film in the warmth of your home, safe from any wandering spirits other than those in your glass.

Film Rating: 💀 💀 💀.5/5

Tasting Notes: Triple Dog Irish Whiskey

Aesthetic: A deep gold hue comes through in the glass with long, lean legs.

Nose: Immediately I observe the aroma of cinnamon imperials – Red Hots for the kid in us all – along with cherry cola and light brown sugar, with the faintest bit of prune or fig.

Palate: Gentle, radiating heat right off the top, with a pithy, citrusy flavor. As I continue tasting, notes of wafer, apricot, and toasted coconut present, and I notice the oaky elements that blend well with the balanced and well-aged whiskey. I recommend drinking neat, at least to start out, to really experience the flavor profile in an undiluted way, but then as you continue, the whiskey surely would be great with an ice cube or a couple drops of water.

Triple Dog Irish Whiskey can be found in some U.S. stores, but definitely online here at a SRP of $41.99.

Whiskey Rating: 🥃 🥃 🥃 🥃 🥃/5

**This whiskey was provided as a review sample by those who created and released it. My reviews are my own, and I tell it how I taste it.**