Tastes

N: Red apples, wood, and fallen leaves. Later, toffee and bread pudding. P: Buttery sweetness with toasted almonds and sticky bun like malt undertone. Dark fruits in the background. Mildly spicy finish of cinnamon or ginger that builds over time. Mouthfeel is big and heavy, almost feels like you're taking a bite out of it rather than a sip. Creamy and smooth. Really enjoyed this bottle, but I think I preferred some other Irish single pot still whiskeys a little more. This is never a bad choice though.

Says ocean aged for two years on the bottle, so this may be a more recent release than others have reviewed. N: Whiskey's usual suspects: caramel and vanilla. There's a touch of yeasty, breadyness too. Maybe something floral going on in the background. P: Basically tastes exactly as it smells. Caramel and vanilla run the show with some type of butter and bread combo playing second chair. Fruity notes break through occasionally, pear, maybe a sweet apple, even a little banana. Long spicy black pepper finish with lots of bite. This is good and interesting, especially if you know and love the beer. But it's not particularly great either. A bit overpriced. Great looking bottle and packaging though.

Nose is very tame. Bit of honey, bit of bread, bit of peat smoke. Not much else. White tea with honey and a cracked pepper finish. Bit of smoke, but far from a peat bomb. Slightly sweet and smooth. A little tannin pucker to it. As it warms, a buttered toast flavor arrives, then morphs further to orange zest and light milk chocolate. A very well-mannered whiskey. Close to boring, but rewards some patience. Best neat and slowly sipped.

N: Red apples with spicy and woodsy notes. Cinnamon and cream, at the same time, somewhat oddly. Not a bad thing though. P: It's autumn in a glass. Cinnamon caramel apple under an oak tree that's dropping its leaves. Also slightly bitter and tannic. Long and spicy/hot finish, at least for an Irish single pot still whiskey. Probably on the medium-long side overall. Super interesting expression of the style. Love it, but don't think I'd buy it again.

N: Vanilla, caramel, orange, and spice. Some orchard fruit notes. Slightly woodsy. Very rich. P: Sweet and spicy. Caramel, pear, apple pie. Anise and/or black licorice spice from start to finish. Orange hits the edges of the mouth. Slight bitterness, not unpleasant. Smooth, but assertive. Excellent dram, decent value sub-$50.

N: Lemon and baked goods. Slightly woodsy. Some toffee and, of course, caramel. P: Vanilla and citrus. Sweet tropical fruit, like mango maybe, but a little softer. Cinnamon spicy finish, but super smooth. Little bits of slightly burnt baked apple pie around the edges of the mouth. Very tasty. Really delightful. Worth keeping on hand.

Heavy nose of peanut, peanut butter, and pecan pie. Hints of peach and candied pear. Subtler hits of dried cherry, chocolate, and cola. Peanut butter and chocolate palate. Long, spicy finish. Cinnamon and clove. Sweet, but not overly so. A bit woodsey. Heavy feeling body. Phenomenal at $36 retail MSRP. Less so at $90 shipped, as this was. The Barrel Select is slightly better/smoother, easier to come by, and half the price. But it was a gift, so can't complain.

Fresh ripe peaches and pears. Little bit of honey and citrus. Faintly floral. Delightful nose. Fruit carries through to the palate and brings along a malty, honeyed sweetness with good body. Hints of smoke and spicy wood on the finish. Oddly refreshing for a whiskey. Light and delicate. Delicious.

Nose is a little off tonight, so partially from memory as this is the bottom of the bottle. Sweet fruit and honey. Nutty. Background banana. Peanut butter and chocolate on the palate. Reminiscent of a candy from childhood, but I can't place it - Reese's Pieces maybe. Also fruit, wood, and smoke. Spice and slight tannic bitterness (not unpleasant) on the finish. Very tasty. More here than I can get tonight. Exceptional for the price.