Review #47 - Whisk(e)y #31 Bought just after we have finished the Bushmills Steamship Sherry Cask (which I have enjoyed surprisingly much), and similarly, bought at a great discount, paying 36 eur (including shipping) for the 1L bottle. It is relatively oily in glass with a golden-straw colour. Nose - sharp spice (grainy almost), oak, fresh fruit (red and yellow apples, pear), green, oily, honey. With oxidation the spice mellows out and the fresh fruit is brought forward, with sweetness and very prominent honey. Palate - creamy on the front end, spicy, some effervescence, oak, heavy vanilla and honey, prominent malt, and some sweetness, doughy, toasty. Finish - medium-long, slightly dry, woody, effervescent still, oak spice, bright actually, with a slightly bitter vegetal note on the after-taste...weird association but it tastes like celery root...this softens on subsequent sips, developing more into a grape note. Overall it is a decent whisky, not as rich, pleasant and complex as the Steamship Sherry Cask, which I got for the same price and I definitely prefer over this one. Unfortunately the rather strong vegetal finish takes away from the pleasant from the palate. However, this still shows great value given what I have paid for it, and the toasty malty note is really wonderful indeed. Rating System: 5.0 - Perfect 4.5 - Exceptional 4.0 - Very Good 3.5 - Good 3.0 - Decent 2.5 - Average 2.0 - Below Average 1.5 - Barely Drinkable 1.0 - Undrinkable 0.5 - JB