Writers' Tears Double Oak

N: Lemon and baked goods. Slightly woodsy. Some toffee and, of course, caramel. P: Vanilla and citrus. Sweet tropical fruit, like mango maybe, but a little softer. Cinnamon spicy finish, but super smooth. Little bits of slightly burnt baked apple pie around the edges of the mouth. Very tasty. Really delightful. Worth keeping on hand.

Nose - Shortbread cookies, berries, cinnamon and other baking spices, a hint of oak/vanilla, and cooking fruits (apples/pears). Palate - Full-bodied and incredibly rich. Cereal and graham crackers, dark berries, milk chocolate, toffee, cinnamon spice, and pepper. Finish - Long-lasting. Coats your tongue and is not overly harsh. Excellent combination of complex flavors. I enjoyed Irish Tears' Copper Pot, but I felt that with a name like "Writers' Tears", there should be drama. It should be something complex enough to warrant the name. I found Copper Pot's smell underwhelming. The flavors were good but almost overly-sweet and vanished quickly. Looking at Double Oak side by side with Copper Pot, Double Oak is much darker in color and looks more like Green Spot. Double Oak also comes in a higher ABV at 46% (non-chill filtered) instead of Copper Pot's 40%. Some of my favorite whiskies are experimental whiskies finished in different barrels, so between the finishing and higher proof I was very earger to try this one out. The good news is that Writers' Tears Double Oak delivers on all 3 criteria with more of everything. It has an intriguing aroma. Where Copper Pot smelled like green apples and malt, Double Oak is reminiscent of freshly baked apple pie with all of the notes of sugar, browned pie crust, baked apples, and cinnamon. On the palate, Double Oak is packed with interesting flavors that sit in harmony without being overly sweet. The flavors also coat your mouth and stay with you for much longer on the finish. I was not expecting enough changes to justify the price gap between Copper Pot and Double Oak, but I was pleasantly surprised. Like Teeling, this is another interesting twist on standard Irish whiskey and I like it.

It wasn't bad, but I was disappointed due to the price point. First smelled blueberry on the nose, then other dark fruits, some cocoa, and bubble gum. Palate was strong oak - a little too much - and dark chocolate bitterness. Not much complexity. Very straight forward. Short bitter finish.