Tullamore D.E.W. Phoenix

Tullamore D.E.W. Phoenix. Created as a limited edition NAS cask strength to commemorate the rebuilding of the town of Tullamore, which burned down as a result of a hot air balloon accident in 1785. The town was subsequently restored, an achievement that is celebrated by the annual Tullamore Phoenix Festival, and now, this bottling. Before I start my review, I'll say this: the town of Tullamore was resurrected from the ashes; however, the same cannot be said of this whiskey. Once it's gone, it's gone, so if you see one, I highly recommend that you nab it. Nose: Upon pouring, this one is all cinnamon and other baking spice, as one would expect of a 55 ABV whiskey. Given time, nuts, red berries, apple, shortbread cookie, brown sugar caramel reveal themselves. Reminiscent of a warm slice of apple pie. Of course, the cinnamon and spices remain present, but they mesh nicely with the other aromas given 15 or so minutes. Very nice. Palate: Once again, exposure to air is the key here. Very malty. Cinnamon, baking spice, and oak heavy as well. After I adjust to the heat, I get graham cracker, shortbread cookie, toffee, and vanilla, followed by raspberry, cranberry, and date. Toward the end of the palate, the spices kick back up. Finish: Very lengthy finish. All spice here: cinnamon, nutmeg, and oak barrel spice. Some cashew and almond in there. Satisfying way to cap a stellar dram. And it really packs a punch. When I first cracked this one, I thought I had found a front-runner for my new favorite Irish whiskey. Surprisingly, this one did not seem to improve with time, as most cask strength whiskies tend to do. With that being said, it's still top notch. It's only a slight step down from Redbreast 12 CS and it's more than $20 cheaper. Truly an exceptional value. This one is a true standout in the Irish category. While not the most complex, it's a robust and gritty whiskey that performs well above its price point. Calamity sets the stage for greatness. Past glory and success can be recaptured as long as the heart and soul remain the same. I think that's the message here. Or maybe the message is to think before you release an unmanned hot air balloon in the middle of a populated town. Either way, I hope this limited edition Phoenix sees a second life much like the town of Tullamore. It's damn good stuff, and I hope it becomes a component of the TD core range. Great stuff.

A note I don't love.

Loved this.