Midleton Distillery post-tour tasting, 20 May 2024, whisky #3 Same thoughts as when I first tasted this four years ago. In the context of a flight of three whiskies (the others being Jamesons and Powers Gold Label) this certainly stood out as the best dram by far, but that would not be hard given the context. It's a good whiskey, but way over-hyped. "Good" : 83/100 (3.5 stars) ---------------------------------------------------------- Original review: Nose: Malt, green apples, peach, lemon zest, sweet herbs, fresh-cut hay, vegetable oil, a hint of vanilla. Palate: A fruity and malt-driven arrival that is a little oily in texture. The development brings an interesting combination of nutty (walnut and almond) and fruity (pineapple) flavours with some accompanying warm spice. Oiliness is noticeable throughout the palate but it's not a rich, creamy oiliness. More like sunflower oil. Finish: Medium/Short. A woody nuttiness that fades into a slightly bitter fruit aftertaste with a tinge of brine. I'm at a bit of a loss regarding the love this whisky receives. Overall it seems to me a good dram but nothing particularly special, and at the local price of AUS$100 there is no way I'd buy it over any similarly priced scotch single malt. Maybe it's just not a profile I find attractive. My impression of Irish whisky is mixed and I've tasted only a few expressions priced below $100 that I'd call good quality or value. On the other hand more expensive Irish whiskies, particularly those from Midleton, can be very good indeed. I'd happily pay 50% more than this for a bottle of Yellow Spot, and Barry Crockett Legacy, Midleton Very Rare, Powers John's Lane and the better Redbreasts are all well worth the expense. However, I just didn't get this one. "Good" : 83/100 (3.5 stars)