Tastes

The nose has a buttery, creamy character, reminding me of steel cut oatmeal with a dollop of salted butter. Whiskey for breakfast? In the glass, notes of toasted pecan, graham cracker, and even a peculiar touch of pineapple mingle together, while a hint of sherry gives the liquid a sweet tinge on the palate. All ends with a medium-long finish fading into a dry and slightly tannic note. Overall, this is a well made whiskey that holds its own against some of the venerable brands from the Emerald Isle.

Another fantastic release. This one has a BBQ smokiness to it that just begs for a plate of pulled pork and baked beans to enjoy between sips. The nose is full of high notes with a mouthwatering maple, brown bread, pecan pie essence. The flavor is intensely compact poured straight, with a spectrum of notes from deep woody bass rumblings to high keening sweet corn. With a bit of water to bring the proof down, things open into a wider vista, with each element playing a significant role. The finish is long, sweet and leaves you thinking once again of BBQ. A fun and impressive whiskey that hits all the right marks.

As most Americans know, chocolate and peanut butter work magic together. This latest expression from Ballotin ramps up the flavor to 11. A silky sweet treat, the peanut and chocolate enhance the whiskey, but never overwhelm it. We tried it straight, with some heavy cream, and even in amug of coffee. It all works beautifully. This makes a great gift for Valentine’s Day instead of the usual box of chocolates.

The peat is light, elegant and mixes well with the warm, malty nose. The flavor also has a light touch of peat which accentuates the bakery character of the spirit. Quite traditional in character, and in the mould of Japanese whiskies, this one nonetheless has it’s own unique flavors at the finish. Some ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and a touch of clove add depth and a dry, bright end.

A beautfully evocative nose of oak, malt and plum. This carries through on the palate, which has a very fruit forward character. Sometimes black cherry, strawberry, green apple or plum notes shine in the spirit. The finish is quite long with a luscious finality. A masterful blend.

Rye is apparent and spice forward, with a fresh and grassy character on the nose. The barrel’s oakiness has dark notes of roasted coffee, tobacco leaf and char. Flavorwise, the intensity of the proof showcases more of the spice, along with high top notes of madiera and an almost citrus pith bitterness. Not too much to overwhelm, but rather it leaves the palate clean. The finish is medium long, with the fruit notes we were expecting from the apricot brandy cask. All in all, still a quite dry, rye bread-like spirit that has a depth of field. Another amazingly forward thinking blend from the crafters at Barrell

From the first scent, there is a heavy sherry coloration on this liquid. Almost dessert-like, with a sweet and cheery nose. This character comes through even more upon tasting. The whiskey sings sherry, and coupled with the inherent sweetness of the malt, this makes for a powerful duo. Een the mouthfeel has a somewhat heavier quality, adding to the richness of the experience. We have really enjoyed this spirit and it has been our “go to” for several days. Plus, the bottle itself is a work of art. This is a fun, lively and expressive Irish that has won our hearts.