The Busker Single Pot Still (Single Collection)

Not a great follow up after the Royal Brackla. But good overall. Would like to try again in a neutral setting. Paired with: DC Need to try again.

Great all round . My favorite Buskers by far.

I always want to say something substantive in a tasting. If nothing else, I like to believe that every whisky you buy has a story behind it, and I think that's interesting. Why did you reach for that particular bottle on the shelf instead of the other? If you've lived with the bottle a while, what type of evolution did your journey with that bottle go through. And if the bottle is astoundingly good, I want to hear all about the tasting notes and complexity of it. On the other hand, sometimes there's not much substantive to say. I first read about Busker in Whisky Advocate and the high 80s review they gave most of the variations (blended, single pot still, single malt) cross-referenced with the lower prices, piqued my interested. Only thing is that they didn't sell Busker in Pennsylvania. Where they did sell Busker was in Jersey, and though they didn't carry the Single Malt, they had the Blended and Single Pot Still. And since I like Redbreast and Green Spot, and since I'm for the most part now averse to blended Irish in anything aside from mixed drinks (the Tipperary is a good one, anyone make that?), I was curious to see what a Single Pot Still that was $27 cheaper tasted like. And now, to the tasting notes: it tastes $27 dollars cheaper. Which doesn't mean it's undrinkable or even terrible, but the nose is like a mix of candied red apple (which I always expect in an Irish whisky) and vanilla with a slight tinge of nail polish (or perhaps nail polish remover...since, um, I don't regularly engage with either nail polish or nail polish remove but grew up with sisters in the house). On the palate, this one is sweeter than most Irish whiskies, if you can even imagine that, with a mix of lacquered cherry lollipop and Robitussin (which spell check doesn't recognize here but which I believe I've spelled correctly; and for those of you not in the know, that's cough syrup). The finish is short with a quick burn of more cherry candy. And so, in the end my assessment is either that you spend an additional $7 for Kilbeggan Single Pot Still (which I own and haven't tasted yet but have to imagine is better than this), drop the extra $27 on Redbreast 12 or Green Spot (both of which are light years beyond this) or turn this into Tipperaries (probably the best option). I'm giving this a 2.75 because I gave my first review here of Writer's Tears Copper Pot a 2.75 and they're equivalent in quality. When asked to choose between the two, it's a toss up, but I'd be likelier to spend the money on Writer's Tears. Anyway, here's the Tipperary recipe if you're in the mind for it: 1 1/2 ounces Irish whiskey 1 ounce sweet vermouth 1/2 ounce green Chartreuse 2 dashes Angostura bitters Garnish: orange twist Cheers! Oh, and p.s., I love the bottle design here. It won't make me give it a higher rating, but I figured I'd mention that. Lovely bottle.

A warm entry on the nose with notes of vanilla pecan and honey lemon. The initial flavor is quite easy going and approachable with a smooth maltiness and touches of s’mores, albeit not as sweet. A fine and friendly Irish which is great as a shot, or used in an Irish Coffee