ContemplativeFox
Yellow Spot 12 Year Single Pot Still
Single Pot Still — Ireland
Reviewed
November 10, 2020 (edited April 29, 2021)
Rating: 17/23
N: This has a substantially different nose than Green Spot does. This one is simultaneously more restrained, less sweet, more oily, and characterized by richer, more dried fruit scents. I get some spicy wood and vanilla from the bourbon barrels on a slightly bitter, oily backing that is more watery than rich. The fruit smells are dried with sultanas being the big one, but also regular raisins and hints of dried orange peel and cherry. It's a good nose, though I would prefer it to be fuller and sweeter.
P: This is a fuller, richer palate than Green Spot has by a long shot. It immediately has sweet dried fruits (particularly sultanas, orange peel, and apricot) balanced by some quite spicy barrel that is unfortunately a bit harsh. On first sip alone, this is a big improvement over Green Spot and is a very good 12 year old whiskey. Some grain tartness comes out, bringing with it some harshness comparable to that in Green Spot, but it is not excessive. Oiliness is there providing an extra bitter layer to the backing. I'm not a fan of the oiliness, but it does at least let me know that this is a good Irish whiskey in spite of it having the usual flavor profile at its core. With a substantial dose of water, I do start getting the Green Spot bubblegum and cotton candy again, but it takes a while to get to that point. It's flawed, but it's a good palate.
F: The bitter oiliness lasts for a long time, mixed with spicy wood, hints of minerals and vanilla, and some wafts of the fruits. I don't love this finish, but I can accept it.
I would take this over Green Spot any day of the week, even if I had to pay up to get it. The added richness and maturity of the flavors here is a big improvement. This is a more challenging drink than Green Spot, but I really appreciate its increased maturity and nice finishing.
This is not an excellent whiskey though. It's impressive for a 12 year old Irish whiskey, but for $80 there are many others that I'd rather have instead. I can't imagine rating this higher than an 18 or lower than a 15, so it's probably a 16 or 17. I'll give it a 17 for now.
79.0
USD
per
Bottle
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Yeah, this is on the pricier end relative to scotch for sure @CKarmios . It's up there with the likes of Springbank in terms of price per year of age.
@cascode @ContemplativeFox If I were given an ax to grind I’d be mumbling nonsensical nothings about 12 YO whiskies in the €80 range
I regret not getting a bottle of Bushmill's 16 when it was under USD70 around here @cascode It's now USD90-110. That and this would be my VFM picks, possibly along with the Redbreast 15 or Lustau. I'll need to give the Powers John Lane 12 a try sometime since I've only been able to jsut the brand based on its base expression so far.
This, Powers John's Lane 12 and Bushmills 16 are my go-to, best bang for the buck, value and quality Irish whiskies. I'f I'm paying less I just buy Jamesons core expression. If can afford it I look at a pot-still Midleton like Barry Crockett legacy or Redbreast 21, but this here is right in the sweet spot for me.