Tastes

I'm a fan of Irish whiskey - particularly Bushmills. The original has that great, light, floral flavor profile. It's great for mixing and for a good Irish coffee, but there's a bit too much alcohol in the flavor for it to be my go-to sipping whiskey. But it's a good starter to get into the Irish scene, and not too expensive.

It's like regular Bushmills with a drop of sherry added. The typical flavor profile is there, but it more round and full-bodied. It fits into a nice niche in that it has its own merits as a sipping dram, but not too expensive to test out as a mixer. If you're a Bushmills fan, throw in a few extra dollars and get this one. It's worth it, and there's less of the alcoholic burn present.

This was a disappointing drink. I held it side-by-side with the cheap Bushmills as another example of straightforward Irish whiskey. Both had that slighly floral and fruity flavor, but the Tullamore had an off-putting dry and bitter after-taste. I don't think I even finished my glass. If you're looking for a good starter Irish, go to Bushmills first.

Super cheap, but it's a surprising bang-for-your-buck flavor. Considering other whiskeys in this price range, there's not a huge amount of alcohol burn - just decent, predictable bourbon flavor. It's not a particularly memorable dram, but maybe that's not an altogether terrible thing. Not every sip needs to make you ponder the universe.

Absolutely delicious and sweet old-fashioned in a bottle. I love the citrus balancing out the spice from the rye. Easy-drinking (too easy?) summer drink. Put in a couple ice cubes and live the easy life!

A good beginner's whiskey. The maple is actually a good addition to the typical Crown Royal flavor profile, which already has a hint of maple to it. When you nose this one, of course you get that maple note immediately, but on the palate it is an enhancement. It helps to take the edge off of a whiskey which tends to have a dry aftertaste. This is a good, cold day, easy-to-approach drink.