Bushmills Original

Initial strong flavor but mild after. Smoke, yeast, sweet flavor. Short lasting flavor.

Nose: Vanilla, pear, oak Flavor: honey Finish: Smokey, caramel

A 375ml bottle cost me $14.99 at Total Wine here in Albuquerque. It's 80 proof, and it's aged for three years. It's a corn color in the glass. NOSE: Flowers, honey, a slightly sour note, alcohol, pears. After a couple of sips I picked up an additional note - something sharp which I think might be the malt, since I've encountered this note before in Balcones Texas Lineage Single Malt Whisky. MOUTHFEEL: Watery. TASTE: Honey and pears, very faint oak. FINISH: Medium - oak, honey, and an alcohol sting. This isn't a bad whisky, but I suspect it's at most on the middle shelf of Irish whiskies. I'm just beginning to experiment with Irish whiskey, and this is just my second, but I already have a ranking - Jameson is better. This is just much more simple than I like. I will, however, possibly buy it again, and I'll certainly try other Bushmills expressions.