Tastes

Considered to be one of the world's best Bourbons. This bottle was “dumped” on the 13th February 2017 from barrel number 47. Proof = Cask. Nose – Carmel - Powerful, marked by honey, wooded vanilla, spices, tobacco and fudge. Taste – Oak & Vanilla - Full, rich and creamy marked by citrus, butter, spice, honey, and heavy oak. Ginger Ale or Cola are the best mixers. Finish - Long, with peaches and citrus, leading to a soft buttery chocolate aftertaste. (credit to published reviews - on which I built mine)

A rich whisky from Chivas is aged for 21 years in oak casks before bottling in handcrafted porcelain flagons. Royal Salute was launched on 2nd June 1953 as a tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on her Coronation Day. The name of this Scotch Whisky comes from the 21 Gun Royal Salute, which is fired as a mark of respect for powerful dignitaries. At her coronation, the crown of Queen Elizabeth II was set in rubies, sapphires and emeralds. These precious stones remain the basis for the colours of Royal Salute's handcrafted flagons. Nose - Fresh, with orange, soft spices, gingerbread and cereals. Taste - Smooth approach, then burnt caramel. Wood influence comes next, with a much drier profile leading to hints of smokiness. This is a present from great pal Dave Quinn (Rest in Peace Dave). Whiskey is as colourful and fun as Dave always was, drinking it slowly as cannot be replaced (credit to published reviews - on which I built mine)

For peat lovers, a favourite produced on Islay. Whisky Bible Awards 2012: Best Single Malt Scotch of the Year, 10 Years and Under. Not for everyone, but if you like them smoky worth a try (Prefer Connemara 22 year old) Nose – Intense smoky peat - lemon and lime, dark chocolate. baked pineapple and pear juice. Taste - Heavy peat with lemon and lime, black pepper, cinnamon, toffee. Finish - The finish goes on and on - long smoky (credit to published reviews - on which I built mine)

Was voted Scotch of the Year 2017 and awarded 96.5/100 by Jim Murray. Vatted from a combination of ex-Bourbon and ex-Oloroso Sherry casks, the result being a smooth and creamy taste. There has been 3 batches produced to Dec 2018 – each batch was 800 bottles, 1 in June 2015, 2 in May 2016 and 3 in August 2016. AWARD MEDALS • SILVER 2018 San Francisco WSC • DOUBLE GOLD 2017 San Francisco WSC .. Best Distillers' Single Malt Aged 20 Years+ plus Best Single Malt Scotch, Best Scotch • GOLD 2016 San Francisco WSC • RECOMMENDED 2016 Whisky Magazine Nose: Pear, ginger, butterscotch, vanilla ice cream, sherry, chocolate. Taste: Woody and malty, cloves and cardamom. Finish: Smooth and creamy with just a hint of spice. (credit to published reviews - on which I built mine)

Jameson Gold Reserve is a Blended Irish Whiskey from the Midleton Distillery in Cork. The Gold Reserve is comprised of three different pot still whiskeys and one grain whiskey. Out of the pot still whiskeys, one is aged in virgin American oak barrels from 8-10 years, one in ex-bourbon for 10-20 years and one in ex-sherry from 10-12 years. The grain whiskey component is aged mainly in ex-bourbon with some virgin American oak elements. Nose - Fragrant wood, rich pot still with a touch of sherry sweetness. Taste - All the creaminess and honey sweetness come together to create a taste sensation of spicy character, a smooth complex whiskey experience. Finish - A very long finish with a pleasantly peppery finale. (credit to published reviews - on which I built mine)

The first Irish whiskey release to be finished in Mizunara Japanese oak barrels. The initial maturation period was spent in American oak Bourbon barrel and the result is a citrus, honeycomb, apricot and spice flavour laden whiskey with a touch of creaminess and vanilla from the Japanese oak. No. 18 in the World's Top 20 Whiskeys by Whisky Advocate in 2018. Nose: Vanilla ice cream, toffee, orange, pine. Taste: Quite nutty and chocolate, floral. Finish: Notes of coffee bean and honey linger. (credit to published reviews - on which I built mine)

Master Distiller – Brian Nation. Bottle serial number 18445 The 2015 Midleton Very Range provides a lot more pot still character and also more spicy, oaky notes that previous versions. The bottle carries the signature of new-ish Master Distiller Brian Nation. Nose - Lively, fruity and ester filled aromas. Taste - Powerful and richly flavoured with perhaps a higher pot still content than before. Sweet, orange citrus and pineapple quickly become quite peppery and spicy with flavours of cloves, ginger, cinnamon, vanilla. Finish - Great length with the complex flavours continuing to evolve all the way to the finish. (credit to published reviews - on which I built mine)

Master Distiller – Brian Nation. Bottle Serial number 13407. Light whiskey full of juicy fruit flavours and spiciness on the finish. The blend, created by master distiller Brian Nation, comprises single pot still and grain whiskeys drawn from a batch of ex-Bourbon barrels with an age span of 12 to 32 years. Midleton Very Rare 2017 includes the oldest whiskeys used in the blend to date: 32-year-old grain whiskey and 26-year-old single pot still whiskey. Nose - Vibrantly fruity with aromas of apricots, pineapple, red apples, stem ginger, marzipan and fruit bread. Taste - Soft, smooth and juicy. Flavours of apricots, dried citrus peel, honey, pineapple and mango. Delicate spices lead through to the finish. (credit to published reviews - on which I built mine)

Green Spot can trace its roots to the early 1900s, when Jameson sold whiskey to wine merchants Mitchell & Son, it was common then for wine merchants and publicans to bottle their own whiskey but sell it under the distiller's brand name. It was called Pat's Whiskey in the early part of the 20th century and became part of a range that included Blue Spot, Yellow Spot and Red Spot, all of which had different ages and recipes. The current Green Spot is made at Midleton from pot still whiskey aged between seven and nine years, with 25% coming from sherry casks and a medium weight pot still content. Made in very limited quantities. Very good value at €60. Have tasted the Red, Green and Yellow Spot - have to say that the Yellow is the best. Nose - Gently spicy and oaky on the nose. Some fruit aromas of pineapple, red apples, mango and papaya then some ginger, vanilla and honey. Taste - Juicy and fresh with some syrupy fruit flavours of tropical fruit salad, pineapple, then some honey and ginger on the finish. (credit to published reviews - on which I built mine)

Midleton Academy Bottle is a Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey and is an exclusive bottling of Midleton for the Irish Whiskey Academy. It is matured in four American ex-bourbon barrels (two first fill and two second fill) and for some time in an ex-sherry cask. It is a non-age statement whiskey. Am lucky enough to have both the 1st and 2nd editions of this whiskey. (credit to published reviews - on which I built mine)