Review - Connemara Peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey
This one is unique in that it is the only Irish Peated Single Malt Whiskey widely available today. Connemara Original is perfect for those scotch lovers that would like something just a bit lighter to enjoy on a hot day or with light dinner. Pour a big glass and call it good as this is one you could sip on all evening.
Rating 3 Glasses
Distillery: Cooley Distillery (Beam Suntory)
Years Aged: NAS
Proof: 80
Local Price (USD): $47.95
Availability: Widespread
Tasting Notes
Color & Consistency: Straw colored with slow legs.
Nose: Peat, grass, butterscotch, light smoke & buttered popcorn.
Taste: Very thin on the tongue, almost watery. Earthy sweetness with light spice.
Finish: Lingering light spice with just a touch of peat and toasted oak.
Conclusion: This one is unique in that it is the only Irish Peated Single Malt Whiskey widely available today. Double distilled (instead of the more common triple distillation for Irish whiskeys) in two small copper pot stills with large necks at the famous Cooley Distillery (Part of the Kilbeggan Family and owned by Beam Suntory, Inc). This causes the distillation process to take twice as long and is thought to produce a more refined product with greater flavor. Connemara Original is perfect for those scotch lovers that would like something just a bit lighter to enjoy on a hot day or with light dinner. Pour a big glass and call it good as this is one you could sip on all evening. For us Connemara fits in a unique space, being a lightly peated and soft whiskey at only 40% but if what you are looking for is that peat & smokey hit, you’re better off spending your Benjamins on a Highland or Islay Scotch.
Review - Redbreast 12 Year Old Cask Strength Irish Whiskey
Smoothest cask strength we've ever had. It was a great introduction to the brand and now we know why everyone has such high opinions of Redbreast. It's flippin' good (did I happen to mention the pancakes?). Great Irish for an over-proof lover and if we could find it again we would buy it just the same.
Rating 4 Glasses
Distillery: Midleton Distillery
Years Aged: 12
Proof: 114.4
Local Price (USD): ~$99.00
Availability: Uncommon
Tasting Notes
Color & Consistency: Dark amber syrup. Great on pancakes.
Nose: Even though high ABV not a heavy burn. Turkish delight. Candy, mild citrus, very sweet.
Taste: Vanilla and smooth as a babies bottom. Toasted oak and cherries
Finish: Decently long. Good oily lingering and caramel corn.
Conclusion: Smoothest cask strength we've ever had. It was a great introduction to the brand and now we know why everyone has such high opinions of Redbreast. It's flippin' good (did I happen to mention the pancakes?). Great Irish for an over-proof lover and if we could find it again we would buy it just the same.
Review - Slane Irish Whiskey
Like getting an allergy shot in the middle of summer and then, because you were such a good boy, stopping at a Tastee-Freez for a creamsicle. Smooth thanks to triple distillation but complex due to the different casks (Virgin, Seasoned & Sherry) used in maturation.
Rating 4 Glasses
- Distillery: Sourced
- Years Aged: NAS
- Proof: 80
- Local Price (USD): $34.95
- Availability: Widespread
- Local Price (USD): $34.95
Background
In 2015 Brown-Forman purchased all shares of Slane Castle Irish Whiskey Limited. Brown-Forman also owns a multitude of other brands such as Jack Daniels, Woodford Reserve & Old Forester to name just a few.
Tasting Notes
- Color & Consistency: Bright brass. Fat and chunky slow legs.
- Nose: Tangerine, alcohol, medicinal & toasted oak
- Taste: Sherry, alcohol & caramel
- Finish: Long and good. Sherry comes through at the end and creamy. Slight bit of oakiness.
- Conclusion: Like getting an allergy shot in the middle of summer and then, because you were such a good boy, stopping at a Tastee-Freez for a creamsicle. Smooth thanks to triple distillation but complex due to the different casks (Virgin, Seasoned & Sherry) used in maturation. We were surprised to experience a good spicy burn even though the ABV is no higher than most other standard Irish whiskeys. We are of the opinion that Slane could potentially best Jameson or Jameson Black in a head to head competition. For the complexity and the depth of flavor the value is off the charts for us and it just goes down easy. Slane will most definitely be a staple in our liquor cabinets.
Review - Tullamore DEW Limited Edition Phoenix Irish Whiskey
We loved 12 Year and this is a welcome step in the right direction. It's sweeter with more heat but retains all of the characteristics that we have come to love in a good Tullamore.
Rating 4 Glasses
- Distillery: Tullamore Distillery
- Years Aged: NAS
- Proof: 110
- Local Price (USD): $54.95
- Availability: Uncommon
- Local Price (USD): $54.95
Background
- You really can't make this stuff up. Here's an excerpt from their website -
- "In 1785, Tullamore witnessed a devastating hot-air balloon accident. The resulting blaze nearly destroyed the town but immeasurably strengthened her people. Since that day, they placed a phoenix in the town’s coat of arms. Driven by their positive spirit, the town’s renaissance in the ensuing decades saw the establishment of the Tullamore distillery in 1829."
Tasting Notes
- Color & Consistency: Pale yellow with crossing legs.
- Nose: Astringent, sherry & vanilla.
- Taste: Healthy amount of alcohol gives a good burn with a little bit of spiciness & caramel.
- Finish: Decently long lasting heat with a sweet sherry rounding the finish line.
- Conclusion: We loved 12 Year and this is a welcome step in the right direction. It's sweeter with more heat but retains all of the characteristics that we have come to love in a good Tullamore. We feel that Phoenix could stand toe to toe with a number of great Scotch Whiskys in this price point and is a definite standout in the Irish realm. Love the higher ABV as we are all fans of high/overproof bottlings and would definitely buy it again if we had the chance.
Review - Green Spot Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
Its a pretty good Irish Single Pot Still Whiskey from Midleton but saying that it is fairly expensive for what you get is probably an understatement.
Rating 3.5 Glasses
- Distillery: Midleton Distillery
- Years Aged: NAS
- Proof: 80
- Local Price (USD): $69.95
- Availability: Widespread
- Local Price (USD): $69.95
Background:
The Spot Names
Red, Yellow, Blue & Green
The Mitchells matured their whiskey in casks under the streets of Dublin in their network of underground cellars. When their fortified wine casks were filled exclusively with Jameson spirit from the old Bow St. Distillery, they were marked with a daub or ‘spot’ of paint which identified how long the barrels would be matured for. Blue for 7 years, Green for 10 years, Yellow for 12 years and Red for 15 years—hence the name Spot Whiskey. - spotwhiskey.com
Tasting Notes
- Color & Consistency: Golden Amber, medium and quickly developing legs
- Nose: Orange, tangerine, wet dog & donuts. Light alcohol, cocoa
- Taste: Smooth, very light spice and clove. Good mouth feel.
- Finish: Medium finish of grain and spice. Buttery.
- Conclusion: Its a pretty good Irish Single Pot Still Whiskey from Midleton but saying that it is fairly expensive for what you get is probably an understatement. It would be a great gift for that Irish lover in your life or someone that can appreciate the more nuanced of distillates. For the money we most likely won't buy it again just because its good but not that good and unfortunately we had to knock it back on the glass rating solely due to that fact.