Kilbeggan 8 Year Single Grain

Meh

Rating: 7/23 I'm really hoping that this is a big improvement over the regular Kilbeggan Single Grain because I have not enjoyed Kilbeggan so far. N: This has a richer, fuller, smoother nose than the regular Kilbeggan Single Grain does. I get more wood and a more mellow profile with a bit of a damp cardboard element. There's kind of a harsh tartness that makes me think "grain whiskey" and leads into a little bit of fruit (apple with a dash of some citrus - maybe orange and pomelo?). P: The additional aging is readily apparent. I get a sweet toasted woodiness like some light caramels were mixed with mellow wood. It's also substantially smoother and more viscous than the regular Kilbeggan Single Grain. I get a hint of some sort of fruit that comes along with the grain tartness, but I can't place what it is. This is a kind of adequate palate in terms of richness and smoothness, but it isn't very complex and it isn't super enjoyable in the rich dimension or particularly smooth either. The regular Single Grain is more complex, though the end result with its tremendous harshness is quite inferior. Both have a lot of alcohol flavor to them, or at least grain imitating alcohol flavor. There's a dash of something not quite right with the way that the wood and caramel combine here. I want to blame artificial caramel or sulfur, but I don't think that it quite tastes like either. F: There's a bit of harsh pricklyness remaining, but nothing too much. Some rich, slightly musty wood that reminds me a bit of George Dickel BiB (2019) is there still, mixed with a dash of caramel sweetness. Neither a bad nor exciting finish. This is quite a boring dram and it still isn't very smooth. It might be a hair better than Pure Scot, but really they seem like they're about on the same level. Yeah, as the harshness comes out more and more, I think this might be a 7. I almost gave it an 8, but that harshness is a real problem. Wow, Kilbeggan is not impressing me.

Nose: sweet, floral, vanilla Palate: sweet, floral, smooth, vanilla, caramel, desserty, maple Body: smooth, spicy, woody, sugary Finish: spicy and long

Nose is very sweet with notes of vanilla and perhaps maple. The maple sweetness continues on as I drink. The overall palate is light and not very complex. The finish is pretty dry and leaves me with something to be desired.

Simple, straight-forward, pleasant and light. Grassy nose and the taste is dry, soft and uncomplicated. Burn free and short finish.