Tullamore D.E.W. XO Caribbean Rum Finish

Getting back on the review-writing horse after a very busy January. Between the usual holiday craziness as a pastor, my daughter's first birthday, my wife's birthday, my mom's birthday, and my siblings-in-law coming to visit...well that's why we have whiskey, now isn't it? I was surprised to see this brand spankin' new bottling (at least new to the US...it debuted in the fall in Ireland) already on the shelves in Madison. As a dram, it is an interesting corollary to Teeling Small Batch, which is also finished in rum barrels...and it showcases a bit of the difference between their house styles. Whereas Teeling comes across as lighter and more floral, with summery stone fruit, citrus, and a nice overlay of rummy brown sugar, Tullamore has a richer quality - butterscotch pudding, mashed ripe banana, bruleed pineapple. The rum influence certainly reveals itself, but differently. I wish there were a bit more complexity to the dram, plus the finish is a bit short and there's some young spirit jaggedness that the rum influence can't quite mask, but on the whole, this is an enjoyable Irish blend that's well suited for a casual dram in a comfy chair while watching The Good Place (your preferred tv pairing may vary).