Tastes

I purchased it out of curiosity--of course I have no real idea of how closely it simulates the flavor of the whisky on Shackleton's expedition. Overall, I would say this is a rather pleasant Scotch. There is a good nose of malt, orchard fruit, and medium peat. In the mouth those flavors come through, the mouth feel is rather thin. If you can find it for $30 or less, I would say it is worth a try.

First, Grand Old Parr is named for Thomas Parr, a semi-legendary Englishman reputed to have lived for 152 years, from the late 15th to the mid-17th Centuries. Quite the tale! Pouring neat, this a copper/amber in the glass. The nose is mellow and rich with musty oak, plus a generous helping of malty cereal, with notes of dried hay; and, a little candied dried fruit. It’s rich and malty sweet on the tongue, with some toffee and dried fruit flavoring, and a dash of spice. The finish is a long, lingering one, but only slightly warm and slightly peppery. There is a good whiff of peat throughout: less than Johnnie Black or Teacher's, but more than Dewar's 12 or Antiquary 12. The brown bottle is a little unusual, perhaps making it more interesting for some folks for Christmas gifting.

These tasting notes are based on Black Bush bottles I purchased three years ago at a good sale , the store was selling the Black and regular Bushmills for the same sale price in their St. Paddy's sale. It pours a reddish amber in the glass. The nose both malt and grain, leather, chocolate, ripe fruit all wrapped in a cozy blanket of sherry. It has a decent mouthfeel, softer than the typical Irish blend (they do claim a higher portion of malt in the blend). The taste is pretty much like the nose, but there is a bit of vanilla here, the sherry is long lasting, and there is a slight peppery finish, which is still outlasted by the sherry note. I find this to be very enjoyable. I noticed some of the more recent reviews, made since my purchase date, have not been as generous in their remarks. I must buy a more recent bottle to see if it lives up to my expectations now. I will update my review whenever that happens. UPDATE: A couple months have passed and I have purchased a more recent bottle of Black; and, I must say that it is still as consistent and enjoyable as my previous purchases a few years ago. 6

This is an excellent medium peated Islay malt. It is youthful, reputed to me around six years of age. To me the nose is fresh (young) malt, vanilla, a hint of fruit from the sherry casks it is finished in, a very light floral note, and of course peat smoke. These are all evident on the tongue. I am curious as to where that floral note is coming from, be it yeast strain, the length of fermentation time, or the shape of the still. I simply don't know those particulars for this malt. I must say, because of that slight sherry influence, this malt makes me think of a peated version of Old Pulteney

I am doing a side-by-side comparison of a few Irish mid-shelf whiskies. All are being poured neat. First up is Clontarf. Apparently it is 15% pot still and 85% grain (corn), is charcoal filtered, and aged in first fill bourbon barrels. Distiller rates it at 80, and whiskeyreviewer gives it a C+. I give it a C. It is smooth and heavy on vanilla, but is rather non-descript. It doesn't taste "Irish," but could pass for an average Canadian or American blend with no rye in the mash bill. I purchased a bottle of this three years ago and could not remember exactly what I thought of it; so, I decided to try it again. I have found it not to be memorable again. It's not bad, and probably would be a good mixer; but it simply is not a great sipper for me.

Many love or hate this one. I find it to be average to average plus, but over priced except when on sale. There is that Irish "thinness" in the mouth feel, some spice and vanilla, and a small hint of ripe fruit (apple?). There is an underlying sweetness while it rests on the tongue. The biggest pluses for this dram is that it is available everywhere and seems to be of consistent quality.

Proof 66 does a nice job of summarizing how this whiskey is aged in both bourbon and sherry barrels. It noses of honey, cereal grains, lemon, and a little fig or raisin, or, perhaps cherry. On the tongue these all come across, but the sherry fruit flavors are not as obvious as the nosing predicted. The finish ends in a sweet spiciness. Distiller rates this an 86, and Whiskeyreviewer gives it a C+. I think I fall between those two. This is good; but, if I am looking for an Irish with a sherry note, I would prefer The Irishman and Powers Signature. I am sure there are others, but these I have in my collection. (Later this week my case of Redbreasts and a Green Spot will arrive. I will post my notes as soon as I am able.)

This Irish is a blend of all three: malt, single pot, and grain whiskies. A higher proportion of malt gives it a better mouth feel than the typical Irish blend. It noses of nutty cereal grain, malt, and honey---with a bit of spice thrown in. The flavors are true to this. The finish is rather short. This is a fine middle-of-the-road Irish. Being aged up to 7 years makes it a little smoother than Bushmills or Jameson. Distiller rates this at 78, and Whiskeyreviewer gives it a C+. I think that is about right. 3

Bushmills is a good, consistent, easily available Irish. Yes, there are several out there which are better at a price of a few dollars more to five times the price. But this is decent quality and offers malt, vanilla, and spice; and, is often on sale in the $18-20 range.

Finally going to try this and some of the Redbreast line. Where I live this and the standard Redbreasts range from $60-$90. (I paid no more than that for a Chieftains independent bottling of Glentauchers 15 yo Sherry cask Scotch of which only 673 bottles were available.) One of my west coast sources were offering them at about $20-25 less per bottle, then had a free holiday shipping offer. I was hooked!! This is a lovely Irish pot still. Noses of honey, vanilla, fruit, toasted cereal, almond. It is cream in the mouth and the nosed flavors ring true. My first sip was so lovely I didn't even notice the alcohol's slight heat. I became more aware on the second sip--not because it is "hot," but I was able to get my mind past the initial glory of the dram's balanced flavor. That being said, I think this is often over-priced. I was able to get this for $45, but, where I live it goes for $70 and is NEVER on sale.