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Redbreast 21 Year
Distiller Score 96
The more you nose and taste this whiskey, the more aromas and tastes you find. For starters, honey, ripe pears, hay, and breakfast cereal are revealed. The tasting profile is even more layered with juicy summer peaches, fresh barley, and wood spices. It is rich and chewy and finishes with a spice-filled aftertaste. Try to resist consuming the whiskey quickly; it is best enjoyed slow and steady.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Redbreast 27 Year
Distiller Score 96
This is an incredible single pot still whiskey from Redbreast. It opens with chestnut, vanilla, and a hint of cinnamon; it feels deceptively light at first, but then the port finish comes through with an unmistakably fruity, jammy note reminiscent of red currants. This is a spicy, high-proof expression, and a few drops of water can help open it up. However one drinks it, it's a superb whiskey.
Reviewed by Jacob Grier
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Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve (2009 Release)
Distiller Score 85
The nose offers up big sweet fruit aromas of black plums, honeydew melons and nutty banana bread with underlying spicy notes of clove, nutmeg, warm cinnamon, and fennel fronds. On the palate, this mildly sweet whiskey displays notable woody characteristics, ripe red berries, caramelized bananas, and a decadent fudgy dark chocolate. This is followed by an exquisitely long finish bouncing back from grain to fruit and spice.
Reviewed by Ryan Conklin
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Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy
Distiller Score 93
In classic Irish fashion, this whiskey introduces itself with floral notes on the nose, but where aromas of Jameson and Redbreast might be described as chamber music, Legacy’s is sheer symphony —a richer rendition of the bouquet we expect from an Irish whiskey. Within that bouquet are tones of cinnamon, vanilla and dense oak, but with a sip, a dazzling complexity of mandarin orange, barley spice, honeyed heather and toasted grain unfurl, leaving a roasty finish lingering in its wake. This is truly a composition only a master could create.
Reviewed by Liza Weisstuch
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Teeling Silver Reserve 21 Year Single Malt
Distiller Score 93
Tropical fruits hit the senses with this whiskey, mango perhaps? Cooked banana? These notes continue on the palate with a bit of dried ginger, fresh grass, and pastry dough. Depending on your palate, this may be too fruit-forward for you, but I'd suggest trying this with a cheese plate for your dessert.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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The Dublin Liberties Keeper's Coin 16 Year
Distiller Score 89
Pedro Ximinez casks give this single malt an exceptionally rich flavor, bringing forth notes of date, raisin, vanilla, and currant jam. Velvety and luxurious on the tongue, it finishes silkily sweet with a hint of dark chocolate. Keeper's Coin would make an excellent after dinner dram.
Reviewed by Jacob Grier
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Teeling 32 Year Purple Muscat Finish
Distiller Score 92
Butterscotch leads on the nose, followed by pears drizzled with honey, molasses, and gooey fudge. The palate is bold and rich, with cacao nibs, dark chocolate, barrel char, and spicy tannic oak, as well as tart cherries and dark berries. On a lengthy finish, find toffee, pecans, peanut brittle, and grape jelly, with final notes of spearmint and polish.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Teeling 1991 Vintage Reserve 24 Year Single Malt
Distiller Score 93
Exotic fruits appear on the nose, along with hints of pastries like apple crumble and coconut flan. Also on the nose you'll find some pleasant nutty aromas, red fruits, candied figs, and subtle oaky notes. On the palate, the fruits kick in with mango, peaches and pineapple making it a real bowl of punch. The smokiness, or rather the peatiness, is now more obvious. The finish is medium length with lingering wood spices, earthy tones, and mango jam.
Reviewed by Anne-Sophie Bigot
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Midleton Dair Ghaelach Grinsell's Wood
Distiller Score 92
This whiskey has a fetching dawn amber color with smoke, caramel, and red apple aromas wafting from the glass. The palate is deeply concentrated with more orchard and tropical fruits mixed with vanilla, toffee, and honey. There's quite a bit of toast on the finish with a charcoal smoke, burning hay, and sesame seed under-taste. This dram definitely benefits from a drop or two of water or an ice shaving to open it up to fully appreciate its nuances.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Bushmills 28 Year The Rare Casks Cognac Cask Single Malt
Distiller Score 97
Let this one sit for a few minutes before getting into to it. Let it breathe. Once you do you'll find a really lovely nose filled with a trail mix of sorts. The whiskey is still here, but it's got the fruit notes from the cognac and sherry (orange peel, raisins, coconut, dried fruit) along with a touch of chocolate and nuts. Tasting there's a little bit of spice which punches through and a few bitter notes to be found as well coupled with the trail mix. The finish is complex, lengthy and satisfying. Okay so it doesn't come in a fancy bottle. But if you're more interested in the contents within the bottle, you'll be very pleased indeed.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Teeling Distillery Exclusive 23 Year Single Malt
Distiller Score 94
The nose offers a hefty sherry influence, with dried and candied fruits, nuts, and raisins. The palate leads down the same path, with plums, figs and additional red fruits, all big Oloroso sherry. A long finish on a rich and full dram, closing notes of vanilla and honeyed fruits. It's an after-dinner sipping whiskey meant to be savored, and a very well-aged Irish offering in the realm of an Aberlour A'bundah.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Teeling Platinum Reserve 30 Year Single Malt
Distiller Score 97
Enticing vanilla breaks ground first on the nose, backed up by toffee, dry oak, and spice. The palate offers light honey and raisin, more oak and spice, and a steady dose of vanillins, with a touch of saltiness lurking in the back. A long, smooth finish lingers leisurely for minutes as various notes continue to meander and circle around, offering even more time to savor what is an absolutely lovely whiskey.
Reviewed by Jake Emen