Powers Gold Label

Among the blended Irish whiskeys I've tried, this one is notable for its combination of flavor and value, but the latter may be an artifact of an unusually good deal I got. It has a nice aroma of hearty grain that I associate with Irish whiskey. There's also lemon, honey, and maybe sourdough bread. It's not a super complex nose as most of the elements are kind of pointing in the same direction, but it's undeniably warm and enticing. The taste is rich and full, with more thick, hearty fresh-baked-bread, and more honey. In the finish there is a hint of that sourdough tang and perhaps a whiff of cinnamon spice. Again, it's not very complex, but for a basic budget whiskey this is remarkably satisfying. It has substantial body and hearty flavor. I got a liter bottle for $22. I naively assumed I would be able to buy at this price again, and looked forward to it. At that price this is an absolute steal that blows stuff like Jameson out of the water and comes tantalizingly close to being the Evan Williams Bottled-in-bond of Irish whiskey. If I could get a liter for $22 on the regular I would probably never let myself run out of this. Unfortunately it appears I was just lucky with the deal I got. The typical price is more like $28 for a 750ml bottle, which is considerably more expensive. At that price it's still worth buying, and I will probably get it again at some point, but it's a tougher call because it's now in competition with stuff like The Busker, which has a single pot still for about the same price. In any case, a tip of the hat to Powers for making such a solid whiskey in the budget blended category.

Sweet, smooth with just a little bite. Solid for the price.

Nose: Honey Palate: orange, honey Finish: short sweet