Tastes

The nose has a bit of sharp fruit mixed with lots of alcohol and some bright wood. There's just the tiniest hint of chocolate and maybe coffee on the nose. It smells a bit herbal like Belle Meade Cask Strength but more organic. There's a bit of bright apple and rye nose as well. The palate is surprisingly light and sweet with some interesting herbal presence and some floral fruitiness. There are some nice orange blossom notes that are actually quite like tangerine. It's sweet with lots of vanilla. This is a shockingly smooth drink. It's also interesting in how it's light but balanced. It doesn't have that brash young taste, but it certainly isn't old. The balance is quite good and the proof really sneaks by. This is super tasty and easy to sip, though it isn't your traditional bourbon flavor. The mineral really isn't overwhelming and it doesn't taste excessively like rye. It lacks the robust presence of Wild Turkey Jewbillee, but it has some delightful balance that reminds me of Macallan 15. With water, some more wood and spice come out. The fruit and floral flavors really balance it. Why doesn't Irish whiskey taste more like this? One one hand, I'd love to taste a more mature version of this whiskey. On the other hand, it's quite good as is in large part due to its terrific balance. Aging it longer might result in the wood overwhelming the other flavors.

This has a really nice sweet floral nutty nose. Ginger, orange, and a bit of cherry come out. Some clove and cinnamon are there as well. The palate is rich and sweet with some really nice nutty flavors coming out with barrel and appropriately place rich fruits. This kind of reminds me of Eagle Rare with a little more of that Booker's Shiny Barrel nuttiness and maybe a tad more of that Beam licorice. The high proof really doesn't come through here. There's just a mild amount of heat, but the viscous mouthfeel really comes through nicely. The vanilla is so rich and smooth. The butterscotch exists alongside mineral flavor without being turned into sickly caramel. This is complex and elegant without tasting weak. It doesn't have the rich bold flavor of many great bourbons, but it has a really nice nuttiness. This is very enjoyable. I gave it an 18, but on the last sip I am still discovering chocolate notes with hints of eucalyptus. Everything about it is good, but it's a bit on the mild side, sort of like Macallan 15.

The nose has a strong char character to it. It smells bitter like coffee with some bright, tart cherry, a veil of vanilla, a tad of caramel, and plenty of alcohol (which comes with some spice). The palate is quickly numbing and has some rich, rich wood with plenty of char. There's a huge coffee ground presence that is backed by a bouquet of vibrant red fruit and a harsh spiciness. It's sweet yet poignant with s numbing element front he spice coming in. While the fruit is a bit on the vibrant side and the char is a bit bitter, the flavors are nice. The balance is good, though it could be a bit better. The caramel isn't very present and isn't sickly sweet, but there is a very sweet syrup flavor and a ton of vanilla. It's very good, but a bit naive to be excellent. The finish is nice and toasty though. There's a hint of maple that isn't overwhelming and there's also a light mix of peppermint and spearmint. It's better than Old Forester Signature, but it has the same general character. It's tasty enough, but a bit overpriced. I expect to pay less for a 16-17 drink. Increased water brings out more wood and spice. Initially, it enhances the balance. Later on though, it detracts from it. It's an 18-19. I'd like to just call it a 19, but the light flavor detracts. A little water highlights the mineral flavor and bitter tinge of the char. It also brings out some cocoa, but it doesn't make the drink more complex or tasty. The char does add some interesting variation at times, kind of like it was inconsistently applied and there isn't a young wood presence. The alcohol does stand out a bit throughout though. It's solid. A little little bit of almond toastiness does come on through.

There is some spice mixed with delicious malty orange peel and a bit of apple in a way that competes with Bushmill's 21. This is so, so much better than Redbreast 15. The richness and finish are superb. It really competes with Springbank 10 side-by-side, albeit in a different dimension. It might edge out Springbank 10, but barely so. There are so many flavors in here that it makes a dramatic statement. Apple and pear. A bit of spice that is not limited to cinnamon. Some malty grain plays a prominent role. Orange, of course. Macallan meets Bushmill's: this is a terrific experience. Without a doubt, this beats Macallan Rare Cask. It's smokey with some nice spice, honey, and orange peel. It's quite rich and full for an Irish whiskey. There's kind of that off note that haunts most Irish whiskeys. It's very good, bit not excellent. Certainly, it isn't worth the price. There's definitely some hay, which gives it a bit of a rye flavor. There's some tangerine and cherry here that are nice but the off backing is still a problem. The balance is adequate, but it's also a bit muddled.

Spices and fruit jump out. Cinnamon and gineger, apples and cherry. It's good, but not mind-blowing. Also, I expect more malt and orange from an Irish whiskey, though I am definitely biasing toward Bushmill's 21 (which is amazing!). Compared to the completely different Springbank 10, this is just not on the level. That said, this is quite good in general. I would definitely sip it. I wish the spice were diminished and the other flavors were accepted more, though the apples do come through on their own, so I would definitely consider drinking the Redbreast 12 instead of the Redbreast 15 since the former contains less spice. Mainly, there is just too much spice here. Vanilla comes through with the fruit, as do sweetness and somewhat bitter oak. It's quite good, bit sort of in a bourbon cross brandy sense, so it isn't quite for me.

Fruity (red fruit) with some spice and a mildly dry finish. On the sweeter side with some coconut and milk chocolate. The finish is creamy, but lacks the depth and richness that I would really like. All in all, it's solid and sippable, but not something I would go out of my way to drink. Some less alcohol flavor and richer flavors would be terrific improvements. I also would like a bit less of that spicy bite. The balance, however, is pretty good. Some less off flavors would do wonders too. It's flawed, but it's good.