Mr. Fox Irish Whiskey

Whiskey in a can sounds interesting, but will it disrupt the industry? Maybe!

If you had asked me a couple of years ago whether I would drink whiskey from a can, I probably would have laughed. But now that ready-to-drink cocktails and hard seltzers are flooding the market, I'm not too surprised to see whiskey distillers creating something like this.

The can itself is quite small, so you immediately know that it isn't a mixer. It's simply pure Irish whiskey. I'll be honest, even though I was a little sceptical when I first came across Mr. Fox Irish Whiskey, the colourful packaging immediately stood out to me on the shelf. Whether the colours and design were chosen as a gimmick or as genuine innovation is a different discussion altogether, but I'll admit that it certainly got people talking.

And that was literally the reason why I picked up a can.

The story behind Mr. Fox Irish Whiskey

When you look at the can, it already tells you a little about what inspired this particular whiskey. It was none other than Charles Stewart Parnell, the famous Irish politician who became known as the Uncrowned King of Ireland. His nickname, Mr. Fox, reflected the reputation he built for himself as a clever strategist who was willing to challenge convention. It is exactly this rebellious character that is reflected in both the whiskey and the brand's identity.

The company itself was founded by Anthony Smith and whiskey enthusiast Wayne Devlin. Rather than creating yet another traditional Irish whiskey brand, they set out to build something different. A brand that brought together storytelling, hospitality and contemporary design.

Their philosophy is centred around experience and appears to be aimed very much at the Gen Z consumer, at least judging by the design language and the way the brand presents itself. Even though the branding definitely leans towards a premium presentation, the founders have also shown that they are more than willing to challenge many of the industry's unwritten rules.

Hence, the can.

But why is it in a can?

I think we'd all agree that when you first see this, your immediate reaction is, "Why on earth would you put whiskey in a can?"

Unlike canned cocktails and ready-to-drink mixers, the whiskey itself never actually touches the aluminium for an extended period of maturation or storage in the way many people imagine. Like every other whiskey, this spirit is matured in oak casks before eventually being packaged into sealed cans for sale. Though unconventional, the can is simply replacing the bottle.

The idea behind it is portability.

A 100 ml can is compact, lightweight and surprisingly practical. It slips into a backpack far more easily than even a half bottle, while still containing enough whiskey for two generous drams or several cocktails. At the same time, it still contains enough whiskey to pour two very generous drams. It also lowers the barrier for people who simply want to try a whiskey. Instead of committing to buying a full-sized bottle, you're effectively purchasing a generously sized tasting sample.

The benefits... and my reservations

I have to admit that when I first saw whiskey in a can, I had my doubts. But after spending a little time looking into both the whiskey and the thinking behind the packaging, I can certainly understand why it makes sense.

As I mentioned earlier, the biggest advantage is portability. Whether you're travelling, heading to a whisky festival or going camping, carrying a 100 ml can is undoubtedly easier than bringing an entire bottle with you.

It also feels refreshingly modern, which I genuinely appreciate. Premium whiskey is often surrounded by nostalgia, tradition, heritage and, of course, heavy glass bottles. Mr. Fox deliberately moves in the opposite direction, presenting its whiskey in a way that feels much more approachable for the modern drinker.

Now, whether this particular format will become widely adopted is a different question, because part of experiencing whiskey has, in many situations, always been the bottle itself. When you think about it, many collectors genuinely appreciate the beautiful designs, the labels, the distinctive glass bottles, and of course, the satisfying sound of a cork popping from the neck of the bottle.

Because of that, I'm very curious to see how consumers will respond to whiskey in a can over the long term. Is this going to be a genuine shift in how premium whiskey can be enjoyed, or will it simply remain a novelty?

I do think that this concept has a great deal of potential, but it will ultimately depend on how the brand continues to market it in the future.

Only time will tell.

Tasting notes

On to the fun stuff! It is tasting time. Mr. Fox is an eight-year-old, triple-distilled blended Irish whiskey that has been finished in both Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez (PX) sherry casks. It is bottled, or perhaps I should say canned, at 43% ABV (86 proof).

I - On the nose

The first thing that immediately stood out to me was a strong aroma of candy canes, particularly the fruity pink ones, almost like rock candy. It is incredibly fruity and sweet. In fact, it almost reminds me of opening a can of soda.

I found plenty of red fruit here, with raspberries, cherries and strawberries all making an appearance. For me, it is one big basket of sweet, slightly spicy red fruit. It genuinely smells like summer. In fact, I can already imagine this working exceptionally well in a coconut-based cocktail.

II - The palate

The palate is incredibly soft, smooth and approachable.

It is still fruity, although the fruit notes are more restrained than they are on the nose. Instead, I found gentle marzipan and buttery flavours that create a wonderfully creamy mouthfeel. It is a very easy whiskey to drink, and I suspect the triple distillation plays a significant role in achieving that smooth character.

III - The finish

The finish is short to medium in length, gentle and pleasant. It never becomes overwhelming and simply fades away in a very approachable manner.

IV - The verdict

I can absolutely understand why this whiskey would appeal to modern drinkers.

It is approachable, easy-going and uncomplicated without becoming boring. If you're just beginning your whiskey journey, I think this would make an excellent introduction to Irish whiskey. At the same time, for those who have been enjoying whiskey for years, like myself, I can easily see this becoming a dependable everyday dram.

TASTING NOTES - Mr. Fox Irish Whiskey
NOSE Candy cane, rock candy, raspberries, cherries, strawberries, summer fruits	PALATE Soft, creamy, marzipan and gentle red fruit
FINISH Short to medium with a lot of warmth, gentle and approachable	STYLE Triple distilled, Oloroso & PX finish, 8-years old blend
DISTILLER Not disclosed	AVAILABILITY In selected stores and airport locations

A simple summer serve

Being in the middle of summer, drinking whiskey neat can sometimes feel a little intense. So I decided to try something a little different and although I think this whiskey would work beautifully in a coconut-based cocktail, I didn't have the ingredients at home. Instead, I settled on a classic highball. I poured the whiskey over plenty of fresh ice, topped it with chilled soda water, and finished it with a slice of lemon and a sprig of rosemary, freshly picked from the garden.

The result was exactly what I had hoped for.

The whiskey remained recognisable throughout the drink, with its sweet, fruity character still shining through. The rosemary complemented those flavours beautifully, adding a fresh herbal note that worked surprisingly well. Meanwhile, the soda opened up the lighter fruit notes that are characteristic of this whiskey, creating a refreshing and easy-drinking serve that feels perfectly suited to a warm summer evening.

My final thoughts

Personally, I don't think Mr. Fox Irish Whiskey is trying to replace the traditional whiskey bottle. Instead, I think it's asking us a simple question: does whiskey always have to be presented in the way we've known it for generations?

The can certainly attracts attention wherever it goes, but beneath that eye-catching packaging is a respectable and genuinely flavourful Irish whiskey. Whether you embrace the idea of whiskey in a can or remain unconvinced, I don't believe this will be the last we've seen of Mr. Fox.

I genuinely enjoyed seeing a brand willing to experiment and step outside the mould.