Tastes

First time tasting this since my last note on 1/21/24. Similar descriptors. Honey Nut Cheerios. There is a Christmas-tree balsam element. Chocolate oranges and some vanilla. Golden peanut brittle on the nose and palate. Spicy red hots kick in on the back end; a bit disjointed for the 95 proof. Would I buy it again? Yes. Not the best QPR, but Rabbit Hole is an up-and-coming producer to watch.

Haven’t touched this since my last review (12/28/23). Fruity nose with cherries, sweet red grapes, vanilla, and a Bazooka bubble gum note. Light viscosity on the palate. Finishes with a Kentucky Hug which is disproportionate to the 90 proof. This is the lowest rung of the Weller lineup; not as polished as its elder brethren. Too low a proof for cocktails, and too young and disjointed as a sipper. But would I buy it again? At the right price, yes, if for no other reason than to compare it against the rest of the Weller lineup. 3.75 on the Distiller scale.

Golden straw color. Wonderful nose of green apple, honey, peach, papaya, butterscotch, vanilla. Pleasantly viscous mouthfeel. A little white pepper bite initializes the finish, with lingering vanilla following. Alcohol nicely balanced (43.6% ABV). What I’d described on my last noted (1/15/24) as some slight bitterness I no longer detect, but see rather as a gentle espresso note. This is quality Irish Whiskey (non-chill filtered) at a reasonable price ($50-55). Easy drinking; no hard edges. Killed this bottle this evening but I’ll definitely look for another. 4.0 on the Distiller scale.

It's been about a year and a half since I've had this whisky. Better than my previous note from 10/14/23 (though I don't have the 15 and 18 in front of me for comparison). Lots of sherry-finished typicity: candy apple, caramelized sugar, hazelnut, dates, clove, a touch of orange oil. Lightly viscous mouthfeel; typical Scotch white-pepper pinch on the back end, with a moderate to long finish with espresso, dark chocolate, and a certain gravitas. Just finished a NV Billecart-Salmon Brut Réserve Champagne immediately prior. I don't think this is ratings "inflation" from my previous note, but the whisky elements are likely amplified coming from the acidic and citrus Champagne beforehand. Would I buy it again? Yes. 4.0 on the Distiller scale.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY IRISH WHISKEY SHOWDOWN Redbreast Missouri Oak Edition Redbreast Cask Strength Blue Spot Cash Strength I’ve really gotten into Irish Whiskey over the past two years, in no small part to my good friend Siobhàn (@Joanie), with whom I’ve tasted (drained) a couple of dozen over that period. Redbreast in all its forms. The Spots in all its forms. Teeling in its many expressions. Multiple bottling of Clonakillty. And several others. What more appropriate way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than with some great Irish Whiskey? The purist in me has a penchant for the high-test expressions, so I pulled three to honor the saint who banished all the snakes from Ireland. Redbreast Missouri Oak Edition Vanilla and sweet oak are immediately recognized on the nose, along with tropical fruit notes of papaya and guava, as well as black cherry cola, mulled apple cider, and spice cake. Viscous mouthfeel and more of the same notes on the palate. Spicy cinnamon on the finish. Redbreast Missouri Oak Edition can be found online for ~$130. Made exclusively for the US market. Would I buy it again? A bhuin! (Hell yes). 4.5 on the Distiller scale. 50.5% ABV. Redbreast Cask Strength As expected, not as much oak and vanilla as the quasi-eponymous Missouri Oak Edition. Nose and flavor profile might be described as leaner and less expansive, more focused. Chocolate-covered cherries, pomander, dark caramel, fruitcake. Not quite as viscous as the Missouri Oak Edition. Neither a Kentucky Hug nor an Irish Car Bomb on the finish, but the expected high-test presence is most certainly present. Lingering flavors evoke vanilla cake with chocolate icing. Redbreast Cask Strength can be found online for about $100. Would I buy it again? I already have. At least one in inventory, in addition to this one. 4.5 on the Distiller scale. Batch B1/22. 58.1% ABV. Blue Spot Cash Strength One of my favorite whiskies, Irish or otherwise. Notes of honey, vanilla, hot candied cashews, ginger, warm brownies, espresso, banana bread. Controlled ostentatiousness. If you've got it, flaunt it--and Blue Spot most assuredly does. Proper Twelve this ain‘t, but you may need a Connor McGregor tolerance to enjoy it. Surprised I haven’t reviewed this since late 2023. At the time, I’d only had it in a restaurant, but I’ve since acquired a few bottles, including a couple brought back directly from Ireland by @Joanie (it can be found there for about $US 120 vs ~$300 here). Would I buy it again? Yes, at either price. Backup already in inventory. One of the best. 4.75 on the Distiller scale. 7-Year age statement. Non-chill filtered. 58.9% ABV. There is no substitute for doing side-by-side tastings--even for whiskies that may be considered incongruous or not part a similar set. Tastes are influenced by context. These three are Irish, and two are from the same producer, but each is quite different in ways that are likely not recognized when each is tasted separately, at different times. I love cask-strength whiskies. Don’t get me started on the economics of water dilution. That‘s what any whiskey less than cask strength or barrel proof is--a water-diluted expression of whatever was in the barrel. It has nothing to do with what tastes “best.” If that were the case, there wouldn’t be a bare minimum (40% ABV / 80 proof), nor would there be so many common ABVs (43%, 45%, etc.). If I had to rank these three whiskies, it would be Blue Spot, Missouri Oak, and 12-year Cask Strength. This surprises me, because I love the latter (and still do), and the second one is more diluted. Each of these are hedonistic and contemplative whiskies, Irish or otherwise. Sláinte!

ST. PATRICK’S DAY IRISH WHISKEY SHOWDOWN Redbreast Missouri Oak Edition Redbreast Cask Strength Blue Spot Cash Strength I’ve really gotten into Irish Whiskey over the past two years, in no small part to my good friend Siobhàn (@Joanie), with whom I’ve tasted (drained) a couple of dozen over that period. Redbreast in all its forms. The Spots in all its forms. Teeling in its many expressions. Multiple bottling of Clonakillty. And several others. What more appropriate way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than with some great Irish Whiskey? The purist in me has a penchant for the high-test expressions, so I pulled three to honor the saint who banished all the snakes from Ireland. Redbreast Missouri Oak Edition Vanilla and sweet oak are immediately recognized on the nose, along with tropical fruit notes of papaya and guava, as well as black cherry cola, mulled apple cider, and spice cake. Viscous mouthfeel and more of the same notes on the palate. Spicy cinnamon on the finish. Redbreast Missouri Oak Edition can be found online for ~$130. Made exclusively for the US market. Would I buy it again? A bhuin! (Hell yes). 4.5 on the Distiller scale. 50.5% ABV. Redbreast Cask Strength As expected, not as much oak and vanilla as the quasi-eponymous Missouri Oak Edition. Nose and flavor profile might be described as leaner and less expansive, more focused. Chocolate-covered cherries, pomander, dark caramel, fruitcake. Not quite as viscous as the Missouri Oak Edition. Neither a Kentucky Hug nor an Irish Car Bomb on the finish, but the expected high-test presence is most certainly present. Lingering flavors evoke vanilla cake with chocolate icing. Redbreast Cask Strength can be found online for about $100. Would I buy it again? I already have. At least one in inventory, in addition to this one. 4.5 on the Distiller scale. Batch B1/22. 58.1% ABV. Blue Spot Cash Strength One of my favorite whiskies, Irish or otherwise. Notes of honey, vanilla, hot candied cashews, ginger, warm brownies, espresso, banana bread. Controlled ostentatiousness. If you've got it, flaunt it--and Blue Spot most assuredly does. Proper Twelve this ain‘t, but you may need a Connor McGregor tolerance to enjoy it. Surprised I haven’t reviewed this since late 2023. At the time, I’d only had it in a restaurant, but I’ve since acquired a few bottles, including a couple brought back directly from Ireland by @Joanie (it can be found there for about $US 120 vs ~$300 here). Would I buy it again? Yes, at either price. Backup already in inventory. One of the best. 4.75 on the Distiller scale. 7-Year age statement. Non-chill filtered. 58.9% ABV. There is no substitute for doing side-by-side tastings--even for whiskies that may be considered incongruous or not part a similar set. Tastes are influenced by context. These three are Irish, and two are from the same producer, but each is quite different in ways that are likely not recognized when each is tasted separately, at different times. I love cask-strength whiskies. Don’t get me started on the economics of water dilution. That‘s what any whiskey less than cask strength or barrel proof is--a water-diluted expression of whatever was in the barrel. It has nothing to do with what tastes “best.” If that were the case, there wouldn’t be a bare minimum (40% ABV / 80 proof), nor would there be so many common ABVs (43%, 45%, etc.). If I had to rank these three whiskies, it would be Blue Spot, Missouri Oak, and 12-year Cask Strength. This surprises me, because I love the latter (and still do), and the second one is more diluted. Each of these are hedonistic and contemplative whiskies, Irish or otherwise. Sláinte!

ST. PATRICK’S DAY IRISH WHISKEY SHOWDOWN Redbreast Missouri Oak Edition Redbreast Cask Strength Blue Spot Cash Strength I’ve really gotten into Irish Whiskey over the past two years, in no small part to my good friend Siobhàn (@Joanie), with whom I’ve tasted (drained) a couple of dozen over that period. Redbreast in all its forms. The Spots in all its forms. Teeling in its many expressions. Multiple bottling of Clonakillty. And several others. What more appropriate way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than with some great Irish Whiskey? The purist in me has a penchant for the high-test expressions, so I pulled three to honor the saint who banished all the snakes from Ireland. Redbreast Missouri Oak Edition Vanilla and sweet oak are immediately recognized on the nose, along with tropical fruit notes of papaya and guava, as well as black cherry cola, mulled apple cider, and spice cake. Viscous mouthfeel and more of the same notes on the palate. Spicy cinnamon on the finish. Redbreast Missouri Oak Edition can be found online for ~$130. Made exclusively for the US market. Would I buy it again? A bhuin! (Hell yes). 4.5 on the Distiller scale. 50.5% ABV. Redbreast Cask Strength As expected, not as much oak and vanilla as the quasi-eponymous Missouri Oak Edition. Nose and flavor profile might be described as leaner and less expansive, more focused. Chocolate-covered cherries, pomander, dark caramel, fruitcake. Not quite as viscous as the Missouri Oak Edition. Neither a Kentucky Hug nor an Irish Car Bomb on the finish, but the expected high-test presence is most certainly present. Lingering flavors evoke vanilla cake with chocolate icing. Redbreast Cask Strength can be found online for about $100. Would I buy it again? I already have. At least one in inventory, in addition to this one. 4.5 on the Distiller scale. Batch B1/22. 58.1% ABV. Blue Spot Cash Strength One of my favorite whiskies, Irish or otherwise. Notes of honey, vanilla, hot candied cashews, ginger, warm brownies, espresso, banana bread. Controlled ostentatiousness. If you've got it, flaunt it--and Blue Spot most assuredly does. Proper Twelve this ain‘t, but you may need a Connor McGregor tolerance to enjoy it. Surprised I haven’t reviewed this since late 2023. At the time, I’d only had it in a restaurant, but I’ve since acquired a few bottles, including a couple brought back directly from Ireland by @Joanie (it can be found there for about $US 120 vs ~$300 here). Would I buy it again? Yes, at either price. Backup already in inventory. One of the best. 4.75 on the Distiller scale. 7-Year age statement. Non-chill filtered. 58.9% ABV. There is no substitute for doing side-by-side tastings--even for whiskies that may be considered incongruous or not part a similar set. Tastes are influenced by context. These three are Irish, and two are from the same producer, but each is quite different in ways that are likely not recognized when each is tasted separately, at different times. I love cask-strength whiskies. Don’t get me started on the economics of water dilution. That‘s what any whiskey less than cask strength or barrel proof is--a water-diluted expression of whatever was in the barrel. It has nothing to do with what tastes “best.” If that were the case, there wouldn’t be a bare minimum (40% ABV / 80 proof), nor would there be so many common ABVs (43%, 45%, etc.). If I had to rank these three whiskies, it would be Blue Spot, Missouri Oak, and 12-year Cask Strength. This surprises me, because I love the latter (and still do), and the second one is more diluted. Each of these are hedonistic and contemplative whiskies, Irish or otherwise. Sláinte!

No significant differences since my last tasting on 9/8/23. Deep sherry-enhanced color (no E150a added). Nose shows both red and golden raisins, dates, apple butter, caramelized sugar, molasses, banana bread, and Christmas cake. Nice viscosity on the palate, with sweetness from the aromatic descriptors. Finish begins with a pleasant chile spice, dark chocolate, and a lingering espresso note. Very nice.

Wonderful as always. I rarely drink this due to the fact that it's been discontinued. Apple cider, fruitcake, golden raisins, vanilla, sohrgum syrup. Wonderful mouthcoating palate with a little viscosity and more sweet fruit. Classic white pepper on the back end, with a lingering finish showing vanilla and honey. Everything in balance at 43% ABV; goes down easy. Wish there was more! 4.25 on the Distiller scale.

What whiskey to savor on New Year’s Eve prior to the Fiesta Bowl, and some great champagne later? I chose one of my all-time faves: Elijah Craig 18. EC18 is a pensive whiskey, perfect for reviewing the prior year and planning for the next one. Some older bourbons can become woody, but not EC18. It is smooth and sophisticated. I’m sure that I would love this if tasted blind, but knowing beforehand what it is, I can’t help but appreciate its subtle complexity. I’ve savored this a couple times recently (without notes), and each time—including this one—I find the same general descriptors. Baked cinnamon apples, Honey Nut Cheerios, pomander, graham cracker, baking spices, vanilla. On the palate, it’s light on its feet; not thin, but ethereal. The 90-proof is an apt accompaniment to the generous and complex but understated flavor profile; there is no doubt that this is Bourbon (as I’ve written previously, no Kentucky Hug, but rather a Bardstown Kiss). The finish is long, with the expected oak from an 18-year-old bourbon, with its characteristic vanilla and caramel notes. EC18 isn’t cheap; you’d be hard-pressed to find it below $250. Would I buy it again? Without question. Every time I’ve seen it in the wild (which is three), I’ve pulled the trigger, and would do so again, even with 2.5 bottles on hand. 4.5 stars on the Distiller scale. Barrel 5863, bottled 6.2.22. 45% ABV. All spirits tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.