Erogers100
Tyrconnell 10 Year Port Cask Finish
Single Malt — Ireland
Reviewed
June 20, 2017 (edited August 25, 2020)
Visual: In the glass it is a light amber color/pale gold color. Thin, but lasting legs after a swirl.
Nose: Initially hot, with an assertive aroma of red apples accompanied by something like magic marker. After some rest, the heat diminishes, along with the marker smell. The apple aroma persists, and is joined by crème brulee with fresh berries, but a little lighter on the vanilla than a typical crème brulee. Some fruity port wine essence sneaks in, as well, not surprising given the final maturation. Interestingly, the ex-bourbon barrels don’t lend much other than the faint vanilla in the crème brulee. My guess is they aren’t first fill ex-bourbon barrels.
Palate: The initial flavor is sweet honey and hay, followed by a definite malty graininess and strong cereal grain flavor mid-palate. There is some definite heat throughout the tasting experience, indicative of the 46% ABV – it perhaps reads more like >50% ABV.
Finish: The finish is fairly long, with continued and briefly growing, then slowly diminishing heat. The grain and malt continue, and are joined by the slightest hint of coffee, as well as a nuttiness. The expert notes on Distiller describe the finish as having an almond flavor. I don’t know that I’d get any more specific than to just suggest that the finish is nutty.
Empty glass: Mixed nuts and brown sugar.
Thus far in my somewhat limited experience with Irish whiskeys (which is about to get more robust, as I’ve acquired several MoM samples), I haven’t been bowled over. However, this one gets my attention. It seems more characterful than some I’ve had – perhaps owing to two distillations as opposed to three, as well as the port cask finish. I would give this dram four stars if it weren’t for the heat, which I thought was excessive for its ABV. In the absence of a half-star option, I’m giving it three stars.
Create Account
or
Sign in
to comment on this review
Soba I hear ya!
Yes even with ordering 50 samples a time shipping, customs fees, sales and duty tax adds 40 - 50% of the initial cost on so when your initially paying per shot twice the cost as if you bought a bottle then adding the rest on top it works out often triple, similar to bars. It's still my preferred way of tasting most times as as you say bars don't have the range and aren't cheaper, fixed price tasting sessions whilst cheaper per shot often contain stuff I've already tried or I'm not interested in plus I have to drink at a particular time and place and in large quantity and buying bottles of everything I want to try would be financially and relationshiply ruinous! :-)
Jason---this will help: https://www.travelex.co.uk/vat-refunds
Jason---that's exactly what I do---I'll just ship to the hotel. If you spend over a certain amount, you can get the VAT back at the airport
Great review. I've also debated whether it's worth shipping MoM samples over here to the states. Am traveling to the UK in a few months and if my hotel lets me, I'm going to ship 10-20 samples there and take advantage of the much cheaper in-UK shipping!
I suppose I justify spending a little over $100 USD on 10 samples with the notion that I might have saved $100 per bottle on 9 bottles of some whiskies I might not like. If I find the one gem that I don't mind seeking out and paying good money for to put on my shelf, then I've come out ahead. At least that's my convoluted logic for paying over $10 an ounce. I supposed I could achieve the same effect by paying $22 for a 1.75 ounce pour in a bar - but then there's the whole selection issue. I guess any way you look at it, getting alcohol via mail from overseas isn't cheap, nor is drinking in a bar!
Sorry while the Pound is down
Those shipping rates are outrageous, plus you have an additional customs fee. But f you're gonna buy, might as well while the £ is down
Soba, I'm certainly not set to 2019, but I've got enough for a little exploration of Ireland for a couple weeks!
Good to see your getting stuck into MoM sampling. I've been stockpiling like crazy recently...I justify the large orders due to the expense of shipping,customs fees etc. One more load end of the year and I'll be set to 2019 :-)