The Busker Strikes Up a New Tune With Its First Small Batch Release

Royal Oak Distillery has released a new small-batch offering of The Busker single pot still. Debuting a new look and carrying a suggested retail price of $50/700 ml, this limited-edition Irish whiskey was matured in first-fill bourbon casks and finished in European oak sherry butts. The small batch release also sports a slightly higher ABV of 46.3% than the 44.3% carried by the original $30 expression of The Busker Single Pot Still, which our tasting panel rated 88 points.

The restoration of the Irish whiskey industry has seen a resurgence of single pot still whiskey, with Royal Oak Distillery in Co. Carlow just one of many new Irish distilleries producing this style. The distillery, originally called Walsh Whiskey Distillery, opened in 2016 and produces single malt, single pot still, and grain whiskey in one facility. Italy’s Illva Saronno, known for its Tia Maria and Disaronno liqueurs, purchased the distillery in 2019 to produce whiskey for The Busker and has since added Sagamore Spirit and Italy’s Engine Gin to its portfolio.