Powers John's Lane Release 12 Year

I previously worked very close to John's Lane, the site of the long-gone Powers distillery in Dublin. In fact I worked on Roe Lane which is the site of the long-gone Roe & Co distillery. That was once one of the largest distilleries in Dublin and now a brand resurrected by Diageo, who also have plans to build a new distillery on their Guinness lot. In any case, while I haven't yet tasted DIageo's new fare, I have enjoyed Midleton's output and this is one of my favourite Irish whiskeys. A little bit of water brings out the best in this, in my opinion, but it is still damn fine neat. The nose is tiramisu, chocolate, and toffee with a similar smooth taste and the characteristic spiciness of a pot still whiskey. I first received a miniature bottle of it in an excellent gift pack that included Redbreast 12, Green Spot, and Barry Crockett Legacy. Although not the standout of the four it is one of my go-to drams on an all too rare night out in Dublin. An easy 4 stars - often hitting 4.5 depending on my mood and the quantities imbibed.