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.
Review - Jameson Caskmates IPA Edition Irish Whiskey
We’re split. Some said it’s better than the Caskmates Stout Edition and some said that we are crazy but one things for sure, the blend with the flavors and the aromas are spot on.
Rating 3 Glasses
- Distillery: Midleton Distillery
- Years Aged: NAS
- Proof: 80
- Local Price (USD): $34.95
- Availability: Widespread
- Local Price (USD): $34.95
Background:
- Jameson Caskmates IPA Edition is the second iteration in the Caskmates series. They have teamed up again with Franciscan Well Brewery to offer another unique beer cask finished whiskey. The brewery has taken the barrels originally used in maturing Jameson whiskey and filled them with IPA (Irish Pale Ale). Once the beer has been sufficiently finished off it is removed from the barrels and they are sent back to the distillery to be filled with Jameson once again.
Tasting Notes
- Color & Consistency: The color of Jameson, fast thin legs like speedy gonzales.
- Nose: Floral aroma of standing in a hop field, citrus & grapefruit. Like the nose of a good 100 IBU IPA.
- Taste: Little bit of spice, floral & grapefruit continues from the nose, lightly sweet but not overpowering.
- Finish: Bitter hoppiness, citrus rind & leather.
- Conclusion: We’re split. Some said it’s better than the Caskmates Stout Edition and some said that we are crazy but one things for sure, the blend with the flavors and the aromas are spot on. You’ll have to grab a bottle for yourself and try pairing it with your favorite IPA (Irish or India). For something different from the traditional Irish pallet we would definitely buy it again and offer that it would be a great whiskey to bring out at dinner.
Review - Knappogue Castle 12 Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Yes, it's clean, smooth, refined and has all of the great things you would expect from an aged selection out of Ireland maybe 5-10 years ago, but with all of the good competition recently attacking this price point it really seems hard to justify the purchase.
Rating 2.5 Glasses
- Distillery: More than likely Old Bushmills
- Years Aged: 12
- Proof: 80
- Local Price (USD): $34.95
- Availability: Widespread
- Local Price (USD): $34.95
Background:
- From the Knappogue Whiskey Website -
- "In 1966, Mark Edwin Andrews purchased Knappogue Castle, a 15th century castle in Ireland, which was then in ruins. He and his wife, a prominent architect, then embarked on an ambitious program of restoration, in an effort to return the structure to its original state of glory and grandeur. It was around this time that Andrews began buying casks of fine pot still whiskey from top distilleries in the country. The casks were further aged and bottled under what is now the Knappogue Castle label. His last bottling, a 1951 vintage aged 36 years, is revered by connoisseurs as the oldest and rarest commercially available Irish whiskey on the market. Many years later, his son, Mark Andrews III, would bring Knappogue 1951 and his father's legacy to the United States and other international markets."
Tasting Notes
- Color & Consistency: Dried straw, thin and quick legs.
- Nose: Cherry with a minor hit of alcohol, spice & vanilla.
- Taste: Underlying sweetness, fruit & grass notes. Cherry flavor follows from the nose and clean mouth feel.
- Finish: Medium & clean not oily. Decent spice.
- Conclusion: It's an Irish for sure but kinda run-o-the-mill if you ask us. We weren't able to discern many unique flavors or characteristics to set it apart from other similarly aged Irish selections. Yes, it's clean, smooth, refined and has all of the great things you would expect from an aged selection out of Ireland maybe 5-10 years ago, but with all of the good competition recently attacking this price point it really seems hard to justify the purchase. We would prefer other options in the $20-49 dollar range and as such had to knock it on the glass rating but you won't be breaking the bank if you decide to pick one up for you or a friend to try.
Review - Hell-Cat Maggie Irish Whiskey
This whiskey is aptly named as it has all the aspects of a traditional Irish Whiskey but rougher around the edges. For the price its OK and would definitely make for a good mixer. Just because of the backstory this would be a good conversation starter if brought to the party.
Rating 2.5 Glasses
- Distillery: Cooley Distillery
- Years Aged: NAS
- Proof: 80
- Local Price (USD): $21.95
- Availability: Widespread
- Local Price (USD): $21.95
Background:
This whiskey is named after Hell-Cat Maggie (fl. 1840–1845). This was the pseudonym of an American criminal and early member of the Dead Rabbits. She was a well-known personality in Manhattan's Five Points district and a noted fighter, her teeth reportedly filed into points and who wore long claw-like brass fingernails,[1] who fought alongside the Dead Rabbits and other Five Pointers against rival nativist gangs from the Bowery, most especially the Bowery Boys, during the early 1840s. Although there is little information on her life, she is one of the earliest female criminals of the "Gangs of New York" era and has been compared to later women criminals such as Gallus Mag and Battle Annie, the latter leading the female auxiliary of the Gopher Gang during the 1870s.[2][3] - Wikipedia
Tasting Notes
- Color & Consistency: Golden hay, thin.
- Nose: Sweet-ish (like the chef), light citrus and alcohol
- Taste: Perfect medicine for a cold like a Honey lemon Ricola. Smooth with hints of rubbing alcohol.
- Finish: Slight bitterness, fades quickly.
- Conclusion: This whiskey is aptly named as it has all the aspects of a traditional Irish Whiskey but rougher around the edges. For the price its OK and would definitely make for a good mixer. Just because of the backstory this would be a good conversation starter if brought to the party.
Review - High West Double Rye! Whiskey
Absolutely a great RYE and definitely a great value for such a well crafted whiskey. Pairs well with a cup-o-joe.
Rating 4 Glasses
- Distillery: High West Distillery
- Years Aged: NAS
- Proof: 92
- Local Price (USD): $34.95
- Availability: Widespread
- Local Price (USD): $34.95
Tasting Notes
- Color & Consistency: Brass doorknob straight out of the 80's with medium to thick legs.
- Nose: Spicy rye, allspice, grassy, vanilla. Jeff described it as a smoldering campfire.
- Taste: Cinnamon, fennel, caramel corn with a little bit of oak.
- Finish: Medium length with lemongrass and the all to familiar rye spice.
- Conclusion: Batch No. 17027. Absolutely a great RYE and definitely a great value for such a well crafted whiskey. Pairs well with a cup-o-joe.
