The final installment of the old Powers lineup is this here Signature Release. It’s also the only one that didn’t make the cut as they transitioned to the stout bottles (I much prefer this more slender look.) It was aged in ex-bourbon barrels and first fill Olorosso sherry casks. I guess they determined there wasn’t enough daylight between this and the Three Swallows to be worth keeping? It’s fitting to conclude my run of the old line with the installment they’ve decided to leave in the past. Nose: Almond, pecan, and walnut. Date and fig. Pound cake. Red grape. Craisin. Orange meringue. Caramel and vanilla. Honey. Maple sweetness. Palate: More of that pound cake. Date, fig, and raisin. Some vanilla and milk chocolate. Ice cream-like. Shortbread cookie and biscotti. Pecan. Caramel. Apple, pear, and apricot. Orange citrus and banana. Toffee and malt. Plum. It’s very plush. Finish: Shortbread cookie. Caramel, vanilla, and milk chocolate. Honeydew, apple, pear, apricot, and orange. More of the ice cream. Pumpkin spice. Cinnamon, white pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Moderate length. This one really surprised me. A lot of unique fruit and spice notes, and plenty of depth at 46% ABV. The profile is balanced, and there is no evidence of alcohol here—it’s just layers of fruit, nut, dessert, and spice from end to end. So how about VFM? So at $41, this far ahead of the basic Powers Gold, which is only $6 less. The Three Swallows is upwards of $60, and this was better than that without price even considered. VFM is more than there, and I’m giving this a rare 1/2 star boost from a 3.75 to 4.25. This is a really fine whisky, only exceeded by the John’s Lane 12 at the top of the distillery’s lineup in terms of quality. I’m all for the Irish adding rye whiskey to their lineups—what I’ve had has been solid—but they definitely dropped the ball by eliminating this from the range. 4.25/5.