Tastes

I tried this blind in a tasting with four other Irish selections. This was by far my least favorite. I am not certain if it translates, but I am not an IPA fan at all. However, the same notes I dislike in beer, I tend to appreciate in spirits...??? N - Licorice with isopropyl. P - Acetone, light fruits, pear and some citrus. Light baking spice with accent of stale bread. F - Quick, light and thin with some tailing off notes. K

I tasted this blind along with four other Irish pours. This was next to last. The IPA finished seemed very flat with very little of anything. This Stout finished had more personality and more flavors. Some of these flavors I didn't care for, but there was at least something to taste and analyze. Not bad, but I would not waste time or resources drinking either of these. N - Light acetone, light baking spice. P - Sour apples, spicy heat, licorice candy, with a bit of butternut. F - Short and a bit harsh with some off-notes.

I tried this blind along with four other Irish whiskeys. This finished slightly ahead of Writer's Tears Copper Pot for top spot. I usually find Irish whiskeys fairly bland and boring while still very drinkable and smooth. I really find the original Jameson one of the most boring yet unoffensive of the Irish offerings. However, there is a lot to like in this Black Barrel. I really like ripe and dried fruit flavors in my pours, but this had very little. Still, this was my favorite of the five. It is very leggy' and has a viscous rich mouth feel. With that, it still manages a crisp refreshing finish which is a puzzle. It seemed the most "bourbon-like" of the ones in the blind tasting which may be why I picked it. I will now keep some of this around. N - Vanilla, slight eucalyptus, isopropyl P - Vanilla, slight char and wood, tobacco and graham biscuit. F - Spicy short crispy finish with a lingering tart fruit flavor. Finishing Order: J Black Barrel WT Copper Pot TD XO Caribbean J Caskmates Stout J Caskmates IPA

Budget Irish. An ol' reliable bottle. It's fruity, and slightly sweet. It is smooth without being altogether boring. It's not pretentious. It just is what it is. It reminds me of a light pear and apricot brandy. A fine affordable, available, no-nonsense pour with a crisp refreshing finish. I like it neat in a chilled glass, on a spring evening.

I tried this blind along with four other Irish selections. This was very good and near the top. My opinion is that the rum finish made this much more interesting and to my liking. I would like to taste the basic offering for comparison some time. N - Cherry, vanilla, toasted bread, acetone, brown sugar, and unidentified fruit. P - Spice, rum notes, vanilla, ripe tropical fruit. F - Long and warm. Spice with some more lingering cherry. The nose was better than the taste, but the finish rescues the pour. Cherry gets me every time.

I know it's an icon, but I am just not a fan. The flavors are hidden in the dryness.(Like a painfully dry Sauvignon Blanc but not in a good way) The nose seems interesting enough, but it doesn't translate into flavor. I do not favor very sweet drams, but this dry short finish is more than I can take. It is available everywhere and it doesn't break the bank. Unfortunately, it does nothing for me...except make me exceptionally thirsty.

Tasted blind with four other Irish bottles. This finished just out of the top spot behind Jameson Black Barrel. I really like this. It really deserves a cork. Sad to see such good juice under a screw top. N - Fruits...pear apricot and citrus. Licorice candy with peach brandy. P - Fruit. Spice with top mouth heat. Vanilla, citrus and fresh baked pie crust. F - Long warm fruity finish with a bit more spice tailing off. Typically, I find most Irish whiskey boring and uninspiring. Very few bottles are really bad or off putting, just drinkable and weak. A few of these pours, including the Writer's Tears Copper Pot, were pleasant surprises. A fancier bottle and a synthetic cork, and I would easily keep a bottle on hand.

This was different than expected. I was expecting more negative flavors, but it really had very little flavor. A slight bit of vanilla. A bit of wood char. A bit of pear to add some sweetness, but not a lot of anything. It was very smooth and inoffensive. It reminded me of weak Bushmills, but not in a bad way. NC prices: P12 -$28. Bushmills - $23... I will take the less muted flavors in Bushmills and keep my $5.

Nose: Leather, tobacco, and isopropyl. Taste:. Peppermint up front very strong. Rye spice, and a briny taste similar to flat club soda. Finish: Mint returns, back heat and a crisp short finish. This dram is a puzzle. In a blind taste, I would never have guessed Four Roses. The amount of mint dominates. I don't detect the wood, vanilla, and caramel that I know are there. My favorite trait of FR in both Small Batch and Single Barrel is the elegant fruit notes that they bring. If they are here in the Sm Ba Select, they are muted. This pour is very hot and rough. It's certainly not a daily sipper. I could see it as a wintertime change of pace or special occasion pour. This is too rough a ride for the $60 price tag. However, I have spent more for less. Plus. I like York patties.

Full disclosure. I am a 1792 fan. That being said, I attempted to get a bottle of this late summer/early in fall 2019 before someone deemed it, "must try bourbon." Every year it's readily available... except this year. I finally obtained a bottle from a NC ABC store and waited until New Year's to crack and share with fellow appreciators. I have had several passes at this bottle and have now been able to offer a fair review. Nose: Fairly heavy ethenol tones. Standard 1792 Cherry along with other unidentified fruity notes. Supressed vanilla and slight cereal or toasted bread. Taste: Rich and viscous, but light and refreshing at the same time. Cherry and vanilla, a bit of tobacco, and a good bit of rye spice and cinnamon. Finish: Medium to medium long finish with pepper and char to round it out. WARNING... Dangerously smooth! This dram in no way seems like a 125 proofer. It is so deceptive and so good, a person might easily sit down to sip and not be able to stand back up. A bit of water tames the spice a bit. If you like the spice, forego the water. I tried this the first time along with Four Roses Small Batch Select.(review to follow). The much lower ABV Four Roses felt much hotter and was actually very harsh in comparison without a cube. The 1792 Full Proof is nothing short of outstanding, especially at $45. I would not consider it, " bourbon of the year", but it is good. However, to my recollection, I think I prefer the 1792 Single Barrel store pick I was drinking on last summer. The difference I believe is the slightly thinner profile of the SB. This is most likely due to the lower proof. Given a slightly lower price, and MUCH easier availability, the SB would be a given. If you are a proof hound, I highly recommend the Full Proof.