Mitchell's practice of marking casks with a daub of colored paint gave Blue Spot its name, and some say it is the best value in Irish whiskey. A bit shy a first, the nose reveals orchard fruits, butter cookies and hints of banana. Barley sugar, allspice and hazelnuts appear, but it needs water to open up. The intense and juicy-sweet arrival is led by ripe pears, pineapple and mango before dry pot still spices start to shine through. Red berries, spearmint and resinous oak fade in the slightly sharp finish. Does it live up to the hype? Well almost, but I find it rather feisty. RATING: 3.9/5.0 stars ≙ 86 pts → FIRST-CLASS [-]