Tastes

N: toffee, vanilla, apple, toasted cereal, a light citrus note with a hint of floral. T: fruit, a somewhat strong herbal and grassy note that lingers for a good moment, sherry tries to poke through but seems overwhelmed by the bourbon cask, peppery on the finish. Good, but I don’t think it’s worth the price point. Prefer other higher end Irish whiskeys in the same pricing area over this one.

N: honey, light buttery malt (just a touch), nutty cereal notes, some fruitiness, a lot of oak barrel going on here, a touch of that bourbon effect via the aging in those barrels, vanilla and cherry that you would get from bourbon. T: honey, light fruit, tons of oak, plenty of barrel spices, a little herbal note with a peppery finish. Definitely a different take on an Irish whisky. Not bad, but not exactly what I was expecting either. For those that like bourbon but are trying to expand their whiskey prowess, this is a good segue into something different.

N: light apple and pear, honey, vanilla, some herbal and floral notes, a little ethanol or paint fume, thin overall. T: light sweetness of honey, grassy herbal notes, chocolate, peppery barrel spices, hint of ashy smoke. Ok, but not as good as I was hoping.

N: cherry (almost medicinal), brown sugar, vanilla, classic rye spices, cereal notes, oak. T: brown sugar, cherry, orange citrus, vanilla, toasted cereal, rye spices that are front forward and very pleasant, oak, a nice peppery finish. Fairly solid for a rye.

N: crisp fruits, honey, caramel toffee, butter cookie, cereal grains, simple and pleasant. T: cream, honey, toasted oats, buttery malt sweetness, a pleasant spice throughout and on the finish. Quite enjoyable for a blended and at the price point. I would get it again.

N: Alright, this is a cheap weird one that takes a strangely wild ride. It starts off with a perfume-like new carpet smell but breaks (after sitting a moment) into the fruit and wheat notes, light tropical tone of pineapple and coconut rum, honey, cereal notes. T: acetone punch at first but then takes a right turn and transition into a light sweetness of fruit and coconut rum with marshmallow? And then promptly zags a hard left turn into a weird finish of herbal and floral perhaps? It’s a mixer style scotch for sure. That’s it.

N: slight ethanol/paint fume off the cuff and take a moment to gas off, has touches of honey, orchard fruits of pear and apple, cereal grain, baking spices, nutmeg, fairly simple and lacks depth. T: honey and fruit, barrel spices, peppery finish that has a little alcohol bite. Ok for scotch and soda but would be better as a mixer.

N: orchard fruits of apple and pear, honeysuckle, butterscotch, maltiness, vanilla, light floral note, baking spices, barrel spices, light oak. T: fruitiness, sherry, lightly toasted malted cereal, sweet hay or straw, cinnamon, barrel spices, a very light peppery note on the finish but doesn’t last long. Overall, a decent 12 year old scotch. Worth rotating in to the lineup.

N: light fruity, apple, pear, honey, sweet hay or straw, a neat little bubblegum note, lightest touch of a herbal note, light oak. T: light fruitiness, malted caramel syrup like what would be used in a cola, nice oak barrel spices, white peppery note, some grassy herbal notes, light smoke, medium finish. Not too bad for a budget blend with no age statement and for $30.

N: pleasant ripe orchard fruits, honey, caramel, light touch of vanilla, cereal notes, light wisp of peaty smoke, unfortunately has a perfume characteristic as little to close to paint fumes for me that overlays the entire nose. Not a fan of that and a little disappointed. Distracts from what it’s supposed to offer for sure. Perhaps a bad batch? T: a nice fruity and smoky mix, hint of baking spices, a little earthiness, some grassy herbal notes, nice barrel spices, peppery on the finish, perfume note is present but not as bad as what the nose gives. Overall, disappointed. Just having trouble with that perfume or paint fume characteristic I’m getting. If that wasn’t there, it’s pretty solid otherwise.