Tastes

S: Sweet; butterscotch; butter; lanolin; funk; a horsey/barnyard character; perhaps sulfur from candling? Oxidation from cheap miniature cap? Vanilla, oak, cantaloupe; bourbon? Fruity notes are there, but masked by Sherry influence. Like dark chocolate covered raspberries. T: arrives sulfury, tangy, with dry toffee; waxy. In the development goes sweet to dry, heavy on the Sherry influence without being a sherry bomb; complex - a lot going on- winey in the development. Toward the end: peanut brittle; chestnuts, oak. Medium bodied, but quite slick. F: nutty, sweet (but not too sweet!), oaky, cantaloupe again, lighter finish than palate. Overall: this is a whisky that beginners and experienced malt maniacs could love alike. On a superficial level, it’s like Balvenie double cask, with a little more funk. But if you give this time, there are layers and layers to unfold. Makes me want to try the 12.

Simple, stewed apple, vanilla, toffee nose. More pronounced and complex with water. Taste is simple, straightforward malt sweetness, a touch of ripe honeycrisp apple, then light vanilla and oak. A super-friendly whisky; you can understand how Johnnie Walker is built on this.

Appearance: clear brassy gold. Nice looking bottle, screams “Irish” with the green label and clear glass. S: sweet, vanilla, slightly floral - like 3F’s Alpha King, hoppy floral. Buttery? Has that chemical “brassy,” “coppery” Irish whiskey smell, but it’s not bad, just present. T: simple and straightforward, sugar, malt, vanilla. Slightly slick, and clean. F: pretty short, but at this price point, pretty good. Just sweetness, really. O: I’m not a huge fan of Irish whiskey, but I really do like this. It is as simple as can be, but is pleasant whiskey.

A: classic, classy bottle shape and label design. Bright, clear whiskey that forms no legs. S: a little sharpness, a lot of buttery, sherried stewed orchard fruits; baked apples in syrup; hint of nutty milk chocolate. M: it’s 80 proof, kind of light, but the grain component makes it slick. T: has that distinctive Irish quality, like a bright copper penny, but it is subdued. A little hint of grain whiskey sharpness, but that is also subdued - far “smoother” than comparably priced Scotch blends. Ample sherry sweetness, crisp malty grain and a touch of toffee and stewed apples and pecan pie filling. Sweet and easy as can be, while retaining a certain Irish crispness. F: moderately lingering hints of sherry and that Irish flavor. O: At the price point, this really is one of my favorite whiskeys, and so far the only Irish (besides Connemara) that I genuinely like.

Aroma: light, honeyed, floral, grainy. Complex and light overall. Arrival: mildly sweet, hay, floral. Palate: complex; orangey “pop” of flavor; cologne, leather. End: lingering candies orange,, honey, leather, oak, mint. Lengthy finish with floral, leather, mint, and honey overlapping.

Aroma: Buttery, sherry, sweet. Fruitier than Glenrothes Sherry Cask Reserve. Fuji apples, barley malt, creme brûlée; toasted marshmallows. Elegant & round. Taste: thick body. Sweet, barley sugar arrival with toffee, fruit, dried fruit, golden raisins, ginger, and sherry on the palate. Finish: medium length, toffee, barley sugar, sherry, oak. Overall: great whisky for when you’re in the mood for an easy, sweet, opulent speysider.

Easygoing and uncomplicated. Sweet, bourbon-like notes, mild oak and vanilla. Thinner than expected.

Varnishy, sweet, bourbon-like aroma, but lighter and with a little grainy/corn husk character. 100 proof shows on the nose. Taste is light and bland, similar to a Canadian blended whisky but lacking any rye spice. Finish shows a little bitter, re-used cask, and more of that husky grain. All told, not a bad whisky by any means, just not a really good one. I like the lighter profile, but want more character; I hear there are some corn whiskies out there now with heirloom variety corns, and will have to seek them out. But for one looking to understand American whisky in general, this is a fundamental cornerstone whisky worth trying at least once.

When I first tasted this, it had an overpowering artificial smoke flavor tacked on to an inoffensive blend. As it evolved, it began to taste like a more refined Johnnie Walker Red. Now, it has mellowed out to a noticeably smoky blend with little in the way of harshness, and a decent warming heat. The smoke and speyside flavors are not fully integrated, but it can be forgiven. Nice enough to drink as a sipper, and an absolute steal at the price point.