Tastes

Dec 2017 Solid but unremarkable on its first outing. A 3 to 3.5 stars Second outing on New Years Eve after Tyrconnell single malt and the Irishman Founders Reserve. Better than both of them. Light, fruity nose and sweet, vanilla palate. Definitely the higher of my previous rating options.

Nov 2017 Tasted at Whiskeylive 2017. Better than the Uigeadail. Really liked this. Strong kick but tasty. 4 stars.

Dec 2017 Tasted while watching (delayed) Manchester derby. Tasted after Teeling Single Malt. First, involuntary impression of the nose was pet food! Then seaweed or brine. The pet food could be whiskas pouches with tuna, or perhaps it could even be tuna in brine. The taste is lightly sweet and a touch briny. Not a huge fan of this. It improved as the glass neared empty. So far just 3 stars or lower even.

Dec 17 Had after a starter of Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy, which probably helped. A 3 to 3.5 stars. Second tasting while watching the (delayed) Manchester derby. Tasted after Teeling Single Grain and Jura Origin. Nose is light cereal, not at all overpowering even on a full intake of air. Taste is simple, lightly sweet and very pleasant. Still earns its 3.5 stars, I reckon.

Nov 2017 Second whiskey tasted at WhiskeyLive in Dublin. 4.5 overall. Perhaps not as good as the Barry Crockett, which I've had several leisurely tastes of, but better than the Very Rare 2017 which I also tasted at WhiskeyLive.

Oct 2017 Apple scent is most noticeable for me, particularly after a minute or two in the glass. Taste is spicy but far too sweet. This doesn't compare well to the Balvenie Doublewood 12, which i very much liked. Taken after a curry and 3 earlier drams. Felt that my taste buds were a bit numbed by the time I tasted it. Probably need another go, but on this showing I could only award 2.5 to 3 stars. Dec 2017 A second leisurely tasting while watching United vs Leicester has seen this rise slightly in my opinion. Added a bit more water than previously and nursed it for longer which may have helped. Still a bit too sweet for my taste, but deserving of a 3 star rating.

Oct 2017 Approachable and very pleasant nose - strong, oily, with vanilla to the fore. Taste is on the sweet side, not very complex from start to finish, but very friendly. My first tasting was after a curry but I had a Lagavulin 16 to cleanse the palate! On the second outing it was first drink poured and again it wasn't that complex, I felt. Nevertheless, pleasant and easy. Probably a 3.5 star rating is fair.

Oct 2017 Drank in the Circle Tavern (smallest bar in Europe according to them) on Portland St, Manchester. Had at the end of a relatively quiet night after the Utd v Spurs game. My rating may be over-high due to 3 prior pints of Scarlet Red Ale 6% in the Grey Horse pub (next door to the Circle).