Tastes

Definitely a very unique Irish whiskey. Tastes very much like a bourbon, and has that distinctive plasticky sweetness that comes with a corn based mashbill. The Cabernet Sauvignon casks have imparted rich red fruit notes and some vanilla. Texture is like an oily bourbon. 46%ABV with no chill filtering or added colour definitely improves this. For less than 50 euros/dollars/pounds this is definitely worth trying. It's a little bit young but not harsh or aggressive.

This whiskey is very interesting as it's unlike any other Irish whiskey (due to being peated) but it's also unlike any peated Scotch. It has a nice amount of peat without being harsh and medicinal tasting, and it still has a uniquely Irish character because the peaty smoke is very nicely balanced with the sweet smoothness. There's sweet smoke on the nose, reminiscent of tobacco and dried herbs, with a bit of honey and malt. The taste is very much the same. Initially it's sweet with notes of caramel, honey and red apple, before transitioning to peaty, smoky and oaky flavours. It's also got a briny, salty character reminiscent of something like Talisker. A fantastic Irish whiskey.

Fantastic for the price. Full bodied, viscous and oily mouthfeel, the kind that coats your tongue and sticks to your gums (in a good way). Nose of green apple, marzipan, cinnamon, clove and faint star anise. Taste is similar with stronger green apple and a touch of cardamom. Some faint ginger as well, all backed with a sweet butteriness. Finish is long and warm, with the savoury spices coming back for the final word. This is really great for the price and has all the hallmarks of a wonderful pot still whiskey- rich, savoury spice and a viscous, buttery mouthfeel. Non chill filtered, no bitter grain whiskey influence and no bitter oak tannins. For the price I doubt you'll find better.

This is very good value for money and punches well above its price. Nose of some light vanilla, creme brulee and almonds with some acetone burn on the core. Taste of the same vanilla and creme brulee notes, but it quickly evolves into notes of coffee/cocoa/stout and similar "dark" flavours, with very strong oak. Surprisingly full bodied and with a good finish, very smooth and no acrid bite. Call me crazy but I'd take a bottle of this over Johnnie Walker Black or Chivas 12 any day. And needless to say I vastly prefer this to the dirt cheap blends like The Famous Grouse and Johnnie Walker Red.

Not a bad drop and dare I say a bit underrated. No idea why Chivas gets so much shit, there's nothing wrong with it. It's a bit too sweet for my liking but other than that it's.... pretty much just Scotch. Nothing offensive really. Nose of herbs, apple, honey and vanilla, with a bit of acetone, and a very similar taste with some grain whiskey influence. It's very drinkable neat and it also mixes well. Personally I rather enjoy Chivas Regal 12 and I think the single malt snobs who act like it's the most disgusting thing in the world are a bit full of themselves. It's far from the world's best whiskey, but it's not bad at all and it's so common and popular, being in every supermarket, restaurant and bar, so no matter where you get lost you'll always at least have Chivas.

Very enjoyable. More savoury than most bourbons, with some oak and brown sugar and.... not much else really. It's very nice but also kind of one-note. Quite warming as well. This is a great reference whiskey so it's recommended to try it at least once.

A fantastic bourbon. Clean and sweet nose with the typical vanilla and caramel notes, with a slight minty/menthol note as well, which is unusual but interesting. Taste is very similar, sweet, oaky and a bit of spice which is probably from the rye in the mashbill. Rounded and complex, certainly worth trying at least once.

Quite enjoyable and a big step up from the original Bushmills. The sherry influence is nice, providing a rich fruitiness with plum, red apple and red wine notes. Some light honey and vanilla. Smooth finish. Some slight grain whiskey influence and an unsettling mouthfeel. Not bad.

The best inexpensive Irish whiskey in my opinion. For the price it completely defies expectation. Very full, rich and complex, and it doesn't have the metallic bitterness that many other cheap blends (ahem Jameson) have. Nice and clean nose of green apple and vanilla with a slight acetone burn. Surprisingly thick and viscous mouthfeel, very creamy/buttery and very smooth. Quite warming with some sweet spice (maybe cinnamon and a bit of nutmeg) with some oak, red apple, a bit of vanilla and a faint buttered toffee note. The finish is great, very long and smooth and feels fantastic. I would rate this a 3.75 although I think it's deserving of a 4 just because of what great value for money it is.

Not terrible, but very, very close to it. By far the worst single malt Scotch I've ever had. No complexity and practically no flavour other than an unsettling and rather nauseating aroma and taste of cheap cough medicine and hand sanitizer. There's a very faint star anise note but it's very faint and it blends horribly with the cough medicine note. A very disappointing dram.