Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey

Easy going, not very complex but suitable to drink

Cracked open the mini-bottle and took a whiff: smells just like a light American beer (e.g., Coors Light). Seriously. So i dumped it into my rocks glass -- neat, of course -- and took another nasal inhalation. Yup, that is Coors Light if i ever smelled it! Oh gawd, what's it gonna taste like? Oooh, okay, that ain't no beer. Whew! I'm getting smooth honey. Nice. Hints of orange peel in the retro-hale. Getting some vanilla as well. Wow, not bad, not bad at all. Overall, honey & that traditional "Irish whiskey" flavors are the most dominant. Rating based on neat sipping.

The “original triple blend Irish whiskey” certainly does earn its name, functioning as a low-cost standard by which to judge most other Irish blends. All three spirits seem to lend some flavor, but not tons. At the core of both the nose and palate is that very traditional sweet, bready quality that Irish blends so often have. It’s accompanied by suuuper subtle fruit notes, and the sherry casks lend an ever so gentle spice to it. These flavors play together so smoothly that none of them really jump out, and you’d be easily forgiven for missing a note or two. To sum it up, its wickedly easy to drink, and very balanced, but not the liveliest whiskey you’ll ever try. It’s not exceptionally memorable, but it is smooth as butter and versatile. Which is why, for $25, you might as well keep this on hand for mixers, shots, and maybe the occasional sip. (sidenote: plays realllly nice with ginger ale if that’s your thing.)