Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey

Do you have a favourite blended whiskey? Tullamore Dew is a blend of triple distilled single malt, grain and pot still whiskies that are aged in both ex-bourbon and ex-sherry cask barrels.  The nose is light and refreshing. Initially I smell crisp green apples and honey with a dash of sea spray. Faint wood shavings, clove and nutmeg waft in over time. The flavour profile is quite mild with a thin mouthfeel. Soft shortbread sweetness quickly makes way for spices like black pepper and cinnamon to make a (subdued) appearance. The finish is fairly quick and lightly drying with tannic notes. I'd love to try a higher ABV offering from Tullamore Dew. I see a lot of potential that could benefit from turning up the volume. Honestly, at the price point, it's a good value buy as an easy sipper or for cocktails that benefit from a mild whiskey. 6/10 I'd love to hear if you've had their other expressions (and if so, what you think of them!).

Nose: Classic Irish. Buttery, with a solid hit of banana. Clove, nutmeg, and orange blossom all sit in the background. Some mango is mixed into the front. Metallic vanilla. A little oak. I could be convinced there's some red fruit/berry going on in here. Also catching a little cashew butter in there. Palate: Thin, buttery, metallic vanilla. The palate has a touch of cinnamon and black pepper with that clove-studded banana. The icing that comes with a tube of unbaked cinnamon rolls. The filling of a Twinkie, though not as cloying. You get the idea. Shortbread cookies. This is a great example of a top-heavy, bright, shiny whiskey, though there's some solid midrange filling things in. So mild, it's hard to say where on the palate this falls - maybe towards the front? I know people have opinions about the term "smooth", but this squarely fits that descriptor. Finish: Metallic vanilla. Banana. Clove. There's consistency going from each phase of the taste. There's the smallest hint of oak underneath everything. Medium-short length. Other notes: It's a budget Irish. Interchangable with Jameson, and that's perfectly fine. Not every bottle on the shelf needs to be a dense, rich, high proof adventure. Sometimes you just need a shot of something inoffensive and easy. This is that. Do I think everybody should buy this? Not necessarily this specifically - I think everybody needs to buy a budget Irish at some point or another. And I think everybody needs to have one in their cabinet pretty much at all times. Add this to the list of candidates to fill that spot. Cheers!