Irish whiskey tasting, The Oak Barrel, Sydney, 7 Feb 2019. Whisky #5 Nose: Complex sweet grain aromas, malt, heavy and rich honey, dried figs, dates, leather and a little sweet pipe tobacco. The influence of the cask is persistent throughout the nose with its brawny oak character appearing behind every aroma, like the framework of a half-timbered cottage. This is "gentled" by an underlying honey-sweetness and a hint of vanilla (and the tiniest whiff of coconut). Palate: A commanding and rich arrival with a delightfully buttery, oily texture. Sweet cereal grains in the beginning developing flavours of raisins and sultanas soaked in golden syrup. Oranges (both sweet fresh fruit and a little marmalade), marzipan and barley sugar sweetness appear as it develops in the glass (and a dash of water amplifies this). Finish: Medium/long. A lingering sweet fruity-cereal aftertaste. There is a hint of rye or bourbon about this nose, but it's unquestionably an Irish character, and specifically Midleton. The palate is more obviously Irish cereal/fruit. The more I taste from this distillery the more I respect it. This is also a whiskey that responds spectacularly well to water. Neat it is powerful but gentle, just as you would expect from a cask-strength Irish whiskey, however water does it no harm at all, morphing it into a softer and less challenging character. (I split my tasting dram and added water to one half, then compared the two samples over the space of 20 minutes. They were equally delicious). On the nose, water transmutes the oak presence slightly into a more aromatic sandalwood and camphorwood character. Lovely! On the palate water dampens the intensity of the high proof and allows the soft dusky heart to emerge. Delightful whisky. It's the standard 12 year old Redbreast turned up in intensity in all dimensions. It was the standout of the evening's tasting. "Excellent" : 88/100 (4.5 stars)