Powers John's Lane Release 12 Year

I gave this a less than favorable rating a few years back. Couple things. I’m a much more seasoned drinker now (whether that’s a good thing is up for debate), the last review was a bar pour, and it was from the older edition of this. The Irish whiskey market has also changed in the last few years. Redbreast 12 is getting more expensive, harder to find, and has taken what I think is a dip in quality (something something Sherry casks…). Yellow Spot (another 12 year old Middleton offering) is $110 where I live. Powers 12 however, is still $60-70, 46% ABV, and non chill filtered. I’d say that deserves another look, wouldn’t you? If you’re a single pot still fan, you’re gonna love this. Nose is rich with aromatic baking spices, toffee apple, and tonight I’m even getting a touch of cardamom. Taste (with about 4 mL of water) is full of depth and richness, milk chocolate, Manuka honey, baked apples. It’s fall in a glass. Because it’s non chill filtered there’s a rich coating mouthfeel that extends the finish on for a minute or more. Awesome. If you’re having a hard time finding affordable Redbreast and don’t want to drop the coin for one of the upscale Spot series, give this one another look. It’s a relative sleeper for now produced in the same stills as those other drams, but for either better presentation or value. Cheers!

I gave this a less than favorable rating a few years back. Couple things. I’m a much more seasoned drinker now (whether that’s a good thing is up for debate), the last review was a bar pour, and it was from the older edition of this. The Irish whiskey market has also changed in the last few years. Redbreast 12 is getting more expensive, harder to find, and has taken what I think is a dip in quality (something something Sherry casks…). Yellow Spot (another 12 year old Middleton offering) is $110 where I live. Powers 12 however, is still $60-70, 46% ABV, and non chill filtered. I’d say that deserves another look, wouldn’t you? If you’re a single pot still fan, you’re gonna love this. Nose is rich with aromatic baking spices, toffee apple, and tonight I’m even getting a touch of cardamom. Taste (with about 4 mL of water) is full of depth and richness, milk chocolate, Manuka honey, baked apples. It’s fall in a glass. Because it’s non chill filtered there’s a rich coating mouthfeel that extends the finish on for a minute or more. Awesome. If you’re having a hard time finding affordable Redbreast and don’t want to drop the coin for one of the upscale Spot series, give this one another look. It’s a relative sleeper for now produced in the same stills as those other drams, but for either better presentation or value. Cheers!

Really good but not as good as yellow spot

Nose features vanilla cream, butterscotch, sweetbread, nutmeg, white pepper, and hint of generic citrus. There’s an herb in there which is hard to pin down, but at gunpoint I’d say sage. Wood presence is minimal to non-existent. Decent strength and completely ethanol free. Warm and inviting. Palate opens with more heavy vanilla cream, cereal grains, butter, poppyseed muffin, clover honey, chocolate malt, and golden raisin. A welcome mild linseed oil taste keeps things lively. Flavors are more robust than the proof would indicate. Medium length finish finds the butterscotch promised in the nose, along with cake icing, pineapple, and sweet subtle oak. Mouthfeel is slick and creamy. Wow, this stuff is good. One of those whiskies that if people knew how good it was, it would fly off the shelf. At $80 it is priced appropriately for a 12 yr product of this quality. Maybe a shade short of the best of the “Breast” and “Spot” whiskies, but very solid nonetheless. Rebuy status.