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Connemara 12 Year Peated Single Malt
Distiller Score 87
The aroma has a small amount of peat smoke, but what's also nice to find are Japanese nori and sea salt. The entry on your tongue is a touch sweet, but spice and wood notes are quick to follow. The finish to the whiskey has a decent length, but it would have been nice to see this bottled at a slightly higher proof.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Connemara Cask Strength Peated Single Malt
Distiller Score 86
The peat smoke is present on the nose, but really comes alive when a few drops of water are added. Hey, it's close to 116 proof, it's okay to add water. There is a vegetal quality on the nose as well as hay. This is not a sweet whiskey, but there's a just a spoonful of apple butter that makes the medicine go down, in the most delightful way.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Redbreast Lustau Edition
Distiller Score 88
Toasted oak highlights the bright nose of emptied sherry casks. Expected figs and prunes are combined into a mix of orchard fruit groves. This whiskey hits hard on the palate like a stick of TNT put through a juicer with blazing alcohol-laced pepper spices. Honey sweetness counterweights the spice with soaked oak at every step. A very long finish gives the best from a blend of sugar and spice with swells of clove.
Reviewed by Blair Phillips
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Tullamore D.E.W. Phoenix
Distiller Score 85
The 110 proof helps drive home the fiery quality of the whiskey with cinnamon and raw wood attacking the nose. Drinking without water is definitely more of a prickly affair, but if you add just a splash, the whiskey's sweetness and creaminess comes alive. The fruitiness of the Sherry also helps round out the whiskey in this regard, but doesn't overwhelm the dram.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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HYDE No. 1 President's Cask 10 Year Sherry Cask Finish
Distiller Score 86
Lots of malt and honey alongside oak and fruit on the nose. In the mouth, there's salted caramel and brine, along with floral notes, pepper, apples, and orange bitters.
Reviewed by Keith Allison
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West Cork 12 Year Rum Cask Finish
Distiller Score 86
Peaches and toffee open up the nose, along with spice, molasses and rum raisin, and a range of tropical fruits from green apple to melon. Soft entry on the palate, with spicy dry oak and tannins, chocolate, and citrus zest. Finish offers more oak, along with pine and spearmint, spice, more chocolate, and a touch of salt. Chocolate continues to come on more as the whiskey opens up.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Jameson Select Reserve Small Batch
Distiller Score 84
An easygoing blend of toasted oak and creamy cereal grain. There’s a pop of cinnamon in the mouth but the spice balances nicely with the dominant peach and apricot notes. Vanilla and toffee support the palate leading into a calming finish where the fruits fade into a dash of wild flowers and fresh-cut grass.
Reviewed by Blair Phillips
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Tipperary Knockmealdowns 10 Year
Distiller Score 85
This is decidedly different than its Watershed counterpart. While that one is bright and sunny, this one is dark and austere. Aromas of old barrels and dusty books. There's a touch of vanilla as well. As you taste, the whiskey is smooth with barrel spices integrated in the whiskey. Finish of decent length, and on the bitter side with a lasting taste of cinnamon red hot candies coupled with barrel char smoke.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Connemara Distillers Edition
Distiller Score 82
A reference when it comes to peated Irish whiskeys delivering a surprisingly smooth nose with fresh notes of eucalyptus, heather honey and plenty of earthy notes. Meanwhile, the palate offers a rich oily texture with hot spices, cooked peaches, juicy apples and those same earthy/peaty/smoky aromas. The finish is lingering with more spices and treacle.
Reviewed by Anne-Sophie Bigot
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Tyrconnell 10 Year Madeira Cask Finish
Distiller Score 91
The wine finish has provided for a salty and fruit filled nose with pears and baked apples. The palate is slick with sweet fruit and chewy malt and the finish is filled with cinnamon.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Powers John's Lane Release 12 Year
Distiller Score 93
There is a gentle sweet cereal nose mixed with caramel and honey. As you taste, you'll find a major vanilla presence along with lots of wood and baking spices. Rich and chewy with a slightly slick and sweet finish, it is nice to see Powers adding this bottling to their collection.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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The Irishman 12 Year Single Malt
Distiller Score 91
The aroma of the whiskey is on the richer side with dark honeycomb, black pepper, cedar and other wood aromas. The palate continues on the dark side with dark chocolate, dark honey, black tea and a small dose of char smoke. It finishes with a long lasting, warming aftertaste to the dram.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno